Indicative content with specification overview on the following contents:
- Theories > Functionalist, Feminist, Marxist, Postmodernist > with detailed evaluation and sociologist studies.
- Social Policy & the family > Sociological views and laws.
- Family Diversity > Causes, Theories...
Functionalist view of the Functions of the Family: Murdock Functions of the Family: Parsons
family is that the family is
one of the corner stones of
Ensures that adult sexual relationships are Agrees with Murdock that the family is essential in the
Socialisation
society. It performs essential primary socialisation process and ensuring the that
controlled and socially acceptable. This meant
Sexual
functions which support each generation are
social stability and social stable monogamous heterosexual
cohesion. relationships.
The stabilisation of adult personalities refers to the
The biological reproduction of the next
Socialisation Reproduction
Universal nuclear family is a emotional security which is achieved within a marital
Stabilisation of adult
family that consists of 2 generation – without which society cannot relationship between two adults. According to
generations, parents and continue.
personalities
Parsons working life in Industrial society is stressful and
children and Murdock the family is a place where the working man can
believes that this family return and be ‘de-stressed’ by his wife, which reduces
type exists all over the conflict in society. This is also known as the ‘warm
world and is the best family Socialisation of the young – teaching basic bath theory’
type. norms and values so that the next generation Stabilization is achieved the through the biologically
are fully integrated into society and maintain determined roles- Expressive and instrumental.
the social
Social institutions are the Evaluation
structures in society which
influence behaviour such Meeting its members economic needs –
Economic
as the family, education, producing food and shelter for example. Down plays the role of conflict in the family. In
particular the oppression of women and domestic
media and religion.
1 violence. The family is not always the safe and warm
place suggested by Parsons.
Parsons: Internal Criticisms Out of Date – Women now go out to work and the
2 biological roles as set out by Parsons no longer apply
as clearly.
Nuclear family is not universal, the structure of the family changes as the needs of
Best Fit Theory
the society changes. Pre industrial families were extended families with multiple
generations living together, where as post industrial families needed to be
Deterministic – Assumes that the members of society
geographically mobile and therefore became isolated nuclear families.
3 automatically take on the norms and values.
Some functions of the family as identified by Murdock have moved to other
Differentiation
Structural
institutions for example the economic function has be taken on by the welfare state Ignores family diversity – Assumes that all families are
and the NHS. best when nuclear however many family structures
4 are apparent in todays society and still fulfil the same
functions.
, Marxist Views Of the Family
Marxist view of the family is… Functions of the family: Marxism Other Functions of the family
Marxists believe that the family is a tool Key Thinker: Fredrick Engels Creating the next generation of
of capitalism and its main function is to workers.
Inheritance of
maintain capitalism and reinforce The isolated nuclear family means that men are able to
Wealth
social inequalities. confirm when a child is theirs and can ensure that wealth Reserve labour force – Women.
stays within the family through private inheritance. This
helps to maintain capitalism by keep wealth within the
private family rather than being distributed amongst the
community. Evaluation
Key Thinker: Zaretsky
Economic Base means The base Ignores family diversity –
Cushioning Effect
comprises the forces and relations of
-
The cushioning effect is similar to Parson’s Warm Bath Marxists only discuss the role of
production into which people enter to theory in that the family acts as a comfort from the stresses the nuclear family, by passing
produce the necessities and amenities and strains of society. However Zaretsky believes that the
of life. all other family types.
family allows a man to feel in control and powerful which
they don’t feel in the workplace due to bourgeoisie Deterministic –
oppression. This also maintains capitalism as it prevents the Overemphasises the role of
Superstructure means its culture, proletariat from recognising their oppression and starting a the family in maintaining
institution, political power structures,
roles, rituals, and state.
revolution.
Key Thinker: Zaretsky
- capitalism and ignores other
inequalities such as the role of
Unit of Consumption
the family in maintaining
Cushioning effect is similar to Parson’s Families play a vital role in the generation of profits for the patriarchy.
Warm Bath Theory, in that is suggests bourgeoisie. Firstly the workers are paid less than the
amount charged for the products they create. The family Negative View –
the family provides a Haven form the
harsh oppression and exploitation of
the capitalist world.
is then targeted by advertisers to buy the products they
have created by urging families to ‘keep up with the - Ignores the positive effects
that the family can have for its
Jones’ and targeting children ho use “Pester Power” to members.
ensure that they have latest things to prevent bullying.
Discusses the idea that the
Key Thinker: Althusser nuclear family is a social
Ideological state apparatus means the + construction and not
social institutions such as education, Marxists agree with Functionalists that the family is a key
Socialisation
the churches, family, media, trade
necessarily good for society.
part of the socialisation process. However Marxists believe
unions, and law, which were formally that the family socialises the next generation into the ruling Explains the existence of the
outside state control but which served
to transmit the values of the state.
class ideology and the unequal social hierarchy. This
maintains capitalism by ensuring the next generation
+ “dark side of the family”
accepts the ruling ideology as normal.
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