F&H 3.2 Theories of the Family and Social Policy

Question 1

Define value consensus

Answer 1

a shared set of norms and values

Question 2

Define ‘mum-centred, working-class extended family’

Answer 2

extended families based on ties between mother and their married daughters, who rely on each other for financial practical and emotional support

Question 3

Define ‘dispersed extended family’

Answer 3

a family not living in the same house, but interacts due to important functions it provides e.g. financial support

Question 4

What is the Functionalist perspective on the family?

Answer 4

They believe society is based off a value consensus theory - Sees the family as a key institution that maintains social stability and cohesion.

Question 5

What does Functionalist Murdock argue?

Answer 5

Argued the nuclear family is universal and performs 4 essential functions:

1. Sexual – stable satisfaction of sex drive
2. Reproductive – continuation of society
3. Economic – meets members financial needs e.g. food, shelter
4. Socialisation – socialisation of children into society’s shared norms and values

Question 6

What is Functionalists Parsons ‘Functional Fit Theory’?

Answer 6

Family structure adapts to society’s needs:

• Pre-industrial society = Extended family
• Industrial society = Nuclear family (more mobile)

Parsons argued that evolution of society involves a process of specialisation and structural differentiation.
This means that society develops and becomes increasingly complex, institutions specialise in fewer functions.
=
family has become a more specialised agency.

Parsons identified 2 key functions of the modern nuclear family:

• Primary socialisation of children – internalising norms and values
• Stabilisation of adult personalities – emotional support

Question 7

Provide criticisms of Parsons ‘Functional Fit’ and source of evidence to challenge the criticisms

Answer 7

• Young and Willmott found that extended families did not cut ties following industrialisation.
  The hardship of this period gave rise to a ‘mum-centred’ working-class extended family who relied on each other for financial and emotional support.
• Young and Willmott found that nuclear family has increased. This is due to the higher standards of living , married woman working and the welfare state.

HOWEVER:
- Anderson’s (1980) study of Preston in the mid-19th century showed the popularity of working-class extended families.
The benefits included using older family members for childcare whilst parents worked.

Question 8

Provide limitations of the Functionalist perspective on the family

Answer 8

• Marxists argue issues of conflict, class, violence and exploitation of women are ignored.
• Functionalists assume and their members are simply passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society to perform certain functions.

Question 9

What is the Marxist Perspective on family?

Answer 9

They criticise the family because they believe that the way the family functions, serves to preserve and perpetuate the un-liberating patterns of capitalism.

They claim it obstructs the emergence of a more enriching society because it operates in a way that protects and props up capitalism.

Question 10

Define Capitalism

Answer 10

Economic and political system which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than the state.

Question 11

Define ‘safety valve’

Answer 11

The family serve to allow discontented individuals to act out of their opposition to other elements

Question 12

Define ‘labour force’

Answer 12

All people who are of working age, and able and willing to do work

Question 13

Define ‘unit of production’

Answer 13

An individual or group responsible for making something

Question 14

Define ‘unit of consumption’

Answer 14

An individual or group responsible for buying things

Question 15

Define ‘pester power’

Answer 15

Media targeting children, who use ‘pester-power’ to persuade parents to spend more

Question 16

Define ‘monogamy’

Answer 16

A type of marriage or sexual relationship involving a singular, permanent partner

Question 17

List the 5 Marxist processes whereby families support and reflect capitalist relations

Answer 17

1) Families encourage and reproduce hierarchical, unequal relationships

2) Families act as a safety valve dampening down discontentment

3) Reproduction of labour power

4) Unit of consumption

5) Inheritance

Question 18

What does Marxist mean by ‘Families encourage and reproduce hierarchical, unequal relationships’?

Answer 18

• Children are socialised to accept patterns of authority and obedience. As a result, they are well practiced towards subordination and become subservient.
• Therefore, Marxists argue the habit individuals have of deferring to authority & accepting unequal relationships e.g. between males and females.

Question 19

What does Marxists mean by ‘Families act as a safety value dampening down discontentment’?

Answer 19

Zaretsky (1976) states that in capitalist societies, work is alienating and exploitive which leads to feelings of discontentment.
As a result, family becomes more important as its seen as the source of achievement and fulfilment.

However, this is solely an illusion because the family cannot meet its members’ needs. For example, it’s based on the domestic servitude of women.

Question 20

What does Marxists mean by ‘Reproduction of labour power’

Answer 20

By providing a place where children can be born and reared in relative safety, the family reproduces tomorrow’s labour force with the correct attitudes required.

Question 21

What does Marxists mean by ‘Unit of consumption’

Answer 21

• With capitalism the family has become the major unit of consumption.

-As a result, the media produces the latest products creating false needs & targets children who uses ‘pester power’ to persuade their parents to spend more.

-It implies that through purchasing , the family keeps the capitalist economy ticking over.

Question 22

What does Marxists mean by ‘Inheritance’

Answer 22

Engles (1884) said that the family had an economic function of keeping wealth within the bourgeoise by passing it on to the next generation as inheritance.

Due to inheritance, there was a rise of the monogamous nuclear family.

Question 23

What are the limitations of the Marxist perspective on the family?

Answer 23

• Marxists tend to assume that the nuclear family is dominant in capitalist society. This ignores the wide variety of family structures found in society today.
• Feminists argue that the Marxist emphasis on class underestimates the importance of gender inequalities within the family, & the family primarily serves the interest of men, not capitalism.
• It assumes that families and their members are simply passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society to perform certain functions

Question 24

What is the Feminist Perspective on the family?

Answer 24

They take a critical view of the family as they believe it oppresses women through the reproduction of inequalities between men and women.

Feminists argue that women are oppressed because they are socialised to be dependent on men and put themselves second place.

Question 25

List the 4 types of feminism

Answer 25

1. Liberal Feminism 2. Marxist Feminism 3. Radical Feminism 4. Difference Feminism

Question 26

What are the Liberal Feminist views?

Answer 26

Focuses on campaigning against sex discrimination, equal rights and opportunities for women. They argue that the two most effective ways to promote gender equality are: - Changing people's attitudes & behaviour through socialisation - Passing legislation to outlaw discrimination e.g., the Sex Discrimination Act (1975). They hold similar views to the 'March of Progress' theorists Young and Willmott.

Question 27

Provide a criticism for liberal feminists views

Answer 27

They fail to challenge the underlying causes of women's oppression and for believing that changes in the law or in people's attitudes will be enough.

Question 28

What are the Marxist Feminists views?

Answer 28

Argues that the main cause of women's oppression is capitalism, serving key functions for capitalism: 1) Women reproduces the labour force through their unpaid domestic labour. 2) Ansley (1972) argues that wives are 'takers of shit' who soak up the legitimate frustration their husbands feel. 3) Women are a 'reserve army' for cheap labour that can be exploited depending on the needs of the economy. Mitchell (1971), argues full gender equality in labour market can only be achieved of women are freed from their domestic responsibilities.

Question 29

What are Radical Feminist views?

Answer 29

Argues that patriarchy causes women's oppression. They claim the key division in society is between men and women arguing: - men are the enemy and source of women's oppression - Family and marriage are key patriarchal institutions in society. Many radical feminists focus their analysis on domestic violence. Dobash and Dobash (1970) see widespread domestic violence as an inevitable feature of patriarchal society arguing it serves to reserve the power that men have over women.

Question 30

Provide a criticism for radical feminism views

Answer 30

Somerville (2000) a liberal feminist argues radical feminists fail to recognise that women's position has improved considerably with better access to divorce, ability to choose whether to marry or cohabit.

Question 31

What are Difference Feminism views?

Answer 31

They believe it's wrong to generalise that most women live in conventional nuclear families who share similar family life experiences. - They argue that each individual regardless of background have different experiences.