FAMILY - Functionalism

Question 1

What do functionalists argue in relation to society?

Answer 1

They argue that all institutions in society (societal institutions) have important roles to play in the smooth and functional running of society.

Question 2

What do functionalists argue in relation to family?

Answer 2

They argue that the family is no different to the institutions in society. They argue that the family has important functions for both society and for individuals.

Question 3

What four functions did George Murdock (1949) identify in relation to the family?

Answer 3

1. EDUCATIONAL
2. ECONOMIC
3. REPRODUCTIVE
4. SEXUAL

Question 4

What did Murdock identify in relation to the family’s educational function?

Answer 4

Children are taught the norms and values of society by their family - This is known as primary socialisation!

Question 5

What is Primary Socialisation?

Answer 5

This takes place when a child learns the values, beliefs, and attitudes of their culture and of society through their parents and their family; norms and values!

Question 6

What did Murdock identify in relation to the family’s economic function?

Answer 6

The family provides an economic function to all its members, by pooling resources and ensuring every member has everything they need to survive.

Question 7

What did Murdock identify in relation to the family’s reproductive function?

Answer 7

The family provides a reproductive function by producing the next generation of society.

Question 8

What did Murdock identify in relation to the family’s sexual function?

Answer 8

The family ensures that adults’ sexual relationships are controlled and stable for society.

Question 9

What was Talcott Parsons (1951) view on the family?

Answer 9

He UPDATED Murdock’s theory - He argued that in more modern, Western societies, the state provided EDUCATION and could perform an ECONOMIC function (through welfare provisions and social policy) but that the family still had two irreducible functions!

Question 10

What 2 functions of the family did Parsons say the state provided in modern society? HINT: 2 E’s

Answer 10

EDUCATIONAL function and ECONOMIC function!

Question 11

What two functions did Parsons identify for the family?

Answer 11

• Primary socialisation
• Stabilisation of adult personalities

Question 12

What is Primary Socialisation in regards to Parsons? EG: Values

Answer 12

Parsons agreed with Murdock that families taught children social norms and values. However, he also argued that the family specifically taught children the norms and values that were associated with their own family/community (particularistic values = Primary socialisation), whilst societal institutions (such as schools, the media and the government) taught children universal norms and values of wider society (universalistic values = Secondary socialisation)

Question 13

Are Particularistic values Primary or Secondary Socialisation?

Answer 13

Primary socialisation

Question 14

Are Universalistic values Primary or Secondary Socialisation?

Answer 14

Secondary socialisation

Question 15

What is the Stabilisation of Adult Personalities in regards to Parsons?

Answer 15

Parsons argued that families helped to prevent adults from behaving in disruptive or dysfunctional ways; instead, families encouraged their children to conform to social norms (especially at times of stress) - The family provides emotional support to its members.

Question 16

What is Parsons’ ‘Warm Bath Theory’?

Answer 16

This theory is the idea that, when a man comes home from a hard day at work, he could relax into his family like a warm bath; this would take away the stress of work and refresh him for his next day at work. Most of this ‘stress-relieving job’ would fall under the duties of the wife/the mother.

Question 17

What is one evaluation of the functionalist views towards families and households? HINT: Idealistic + negative experiences of family life!

Answer 17

A standard criticism of functionalist views of the role of the family comes from conflict theorists like Marxists and feminists who argue that this paints too rosy and idealistic a picture of family life. Families are certainly not like that for everyone. Many people have negative experiences of family life, and indeed they can cause stress as well as relieve it.

Question 18

What is another evaluation of the functionalist views towards families and households? HINT: Patriarchal society (men-dominating) + Outdated

Answer 18

Conflict theorists = Question whether the roles families perform really benefit the whole of society or really just benefit powerful groups within it. In particular, feminists argue that families exist largely for the benefit of men (patriarchal society).

These theories are outdated and suggest families are all traditional nuclear families with men going to work and women in domestic roles.

Question 19

What does the Marxist-feminist Fran Ansley say about the ‘Warm Bath Theory’? HINT: The role of women and men in regards to this idea!

Answer 19

The Marxist-feminist Fran Ansley offers a different perspective on Parsons’ warm bath theory when she describes women in the family as ‘takers of shit’. By this she means that men coming home from work may have their stress relieved by the family, but only by dumping it on their wives.