Family - Functionalism

Question 1

What is a household?

Answer 1

A group of people living together who’re not always related by blood.

Question 2

What is a family?

Answer 2

A type of household in which the residents are related by blood or marriage.

Question 3

Name 4 functionalist sociologists who study the family.

Answer 3

Murdoch
Bellah
Parsons
Malinowski

Question 4

What are Murdoch’s 4 stages of the family? With brief description.

Answer 4

1. Sexual - stable adult relationships stops “free for all”.
2. Reproduction - society not exist without it.
3. Economic - pool resources to provide for each other.
4. Socialisation of the young - teach children norms/values.

Question 5

2 criticisms or Murdoch.

Answer 5

1. Possible to argue family needs could be met by institutions and other non-nuclear structures.
2. Viewing family through rose tinted glasses (ignoring abuse and neglect) say Fem/Marx.