booklet 1 theories of the family Flashcards
(36 cards)
Murdocks 4 essential functions of the family? (func)
- stable satisfaction of the sex drive
- reproduction of the next generation of workers
- socialisation of the young
- meeting its members economic needs
who discusses the 4 essential functions of the family ?(func)
Murdock (functionalist)
what is a marxist criticism of Murdocks theory?
marxists see nuclear family as a unit of consumption to serve capitalism (zaretsky)
what is a feminist criticism of Murdocks theory?
the nuclear family harms women physically and emotionally
what is meant by functional fit? (func)
the functions the family performs depends on the kind of society their in
who discusses the functional fit (func)
Parsons (functionalist)
what are the 2 types of family (Parsons)
- extended family
nuclear family + further family e.g. grandparents - nuclear family
man + woman + dependant children
what are the 2 types of society (Parsons)
- traditional pre-industrial
agricultural, live in same village all life, family was self sufficient - modern industrial society
industrialisation, people move for work, society is meritocratic
what are the 2 essential needs the NF meets in modern industrial soc. (Parsons)
- geographically mobile workforce
move around for work - socially mobile workforce
no longer have obligation to kin, don’t need to help family with harvest for e.g.
can do your own work, not follow in families path
who discusses the loss of function (func)
Parsons (functionalist)
what is loss of functions + examples(func)
as families change from extended to nuclear, it looses functions
e.g. teaching children now done by education systems
providing care now done by healthcare systems
making clothes now done in the workplace
2 essential functions of modern NF (func)
- primary socialisation of children
teaches norms/ values - stabilisation of adult personalities
family provides stability and emotional security. ‘warm bath’
instrumental and expressive roles (functionalism)
Parsons
instrumental= bread winner, work, male
expressive = care giver, women
feminist criticism of Parsons
Oakley - gender roles are not biological they are socially constructed
new right view on NF
- beleive NF is cornerstone of society
- see gender roles as key feature of NF
- say gender roles are biological
- believe NF is in decline
- sees a growth in family diversity
- believe welfare/ benefits has led to an underclass (perverse incentive)
what does Engels discuss ? (marx)
inheritance of property
- families were now monogamous
- men needed to be certain of their child being theirs to pass down property
what was the earliest stage of society ? marx
primitive communism
- all members of soc owned means of production
- no family
- promiscuous horde
who discusses ideological functions ? marx
zaretsky
what is ideological functions
? marx
- family socialises kids into accepting hierarchy and inequality is inevitable
- parents powering over kids teach them their will always be someone in charge (later life bosses)
who talks about a unit of consumption? marx
zaretsky
what is meant by a unit of consumption? marx
- media urges families to consume latest products
- adverts target children - pester power
- family always buying from capitalist businesses
- serving capitalism
functionalist criticism of marxism
marxists ignore positive functions the NF provide society with
e.g. warm bath
post mod criticism of marxism
marxists focus on NF and ignore family diversity
feminist criticism of marxism
marxists focus too heavily on NF creating class conflict rather than the gender inequality in NF
