Family and Households: Theories

Question 1

Functionalists

Answer 1

See the family as a important subsystem-a basic building bloc of society

Question 2

Murdock

Answer 2

family performs 4 essential functions: stable satisfaction of sex drive, reproduction of next gen, socialisation of young, meeting members economic needs

Question 3

Marxists + Feminists

Answer 3

reject Murdock’s rose tinted view. argue functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation of women + capitalism

Question 4

Parsons

Answer 4

function of family depends on the of society its founded in.2 family structures: nuclear +extended family.2 societies: modern industrial + traditional pre industry

Question 5

Parsons

Answer 5

when society industrialises family changes from extended to nuclear + looses many functions.2 function: primary socialisation + stabilisation of adult personality

Question 6

Young + Willmott

Answer 6

pre industrial families were nuclear not extended e.g. weaving industries

Question 7

Laslett

Answer 7

English households between 1564-1821 were almost always nuclear

Question 8

Young + Willmott

Answer 8

hardship of industrialisation led to mum centred w/c extended family. ties between mothers + married daughters

Question 9

Anderson

Answer 9

during mid 19th century the exchange theory explains that harsh conditions meant extended family maintenance outweighed costs

Question 10

Young + Willmott

Answer 10

nuclear family emerged as a result of social changes e.g. higher living standards + working women

Question 11

Marxists

Answer 11

functions of family are performed to benefit capitalist system e.g. inheritance of property ideological functions + unit of consumption

Question 12

Marx

Answer 12

primitive communism=earliest classless society. all members owned means of production communally

Question 13

Engles

Answer 13

promiscuous horde-no restrictions on sexual relationships

Question 14

Engles

Answer 14

monogamy became essential for inheritance of private property-men were certain of paternity of their child being legitimately theirs

Question 15

Marxists

Answer 15

women can only acheive liberation from patriarchal control with the overthrow of capitalism

Question 16

Zaretsky

Answer 16

family performs ideological function by offering safe haven from exploitative world of capitalism. illusion based on domestic servitude of women

Question 17

Poulantaz

Answer 17

family plays role in generating profit through: Ads to keep up with latest products, pester power (target children)+children mocked for not having latest product

Question 18

Feminists

Answer 18

Marxist emphasis on class and capitalism undermines importance of gender inequalities

Question 19

Functionalists

Answer 19

Marxists ignores real benefits family provides for its members

Question 20

Liberal feminists

Answer 20

there has been gradual progress-men are doing more domestic labour

Question 21

Ansley

Answer 21

wife’s=takers of shit, soak up frustration of their husbands due to alienation at work

Question 22

Greer

Answer 22

argues for the creation of all female households instead of heterosexual families

Question 23

Somerville

Answer 23

radical feminists fail to recognise women positions have improved considerably .heterosexual attraction makes separatism impossible to achieve

Question 24

Tipper

Answer 24

children saw their pets as part of the family

Question 25

Nordqvist + Smart

Answer 25

researches doner conceived children-what counts as family if not genetically linked.

Question 26

Nordqvist + Smart

Answer 26

some emphasise importance of social relationships however difference in appearance leads to curiosity of doners identity. makes relation with doner complicated