Family T5 Flashcards
(46 cards)
What do functionalists believe society is based on?
A value consensus - a set of shared norms and values
This consensus binds society’s members and fosters cooperation.
What is the organic analogy in functionalism?
Society is seen as a body made up of interconnected organs representing different institutions
For example, the family is considered a vital organ for societal function.
According to Murdock (1949), what are the four essential functions of the family?
- Stable satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner
- Reproduction of the next generation
- Socialisation of the young into shared norms and values
- Meeting its members’ economic needs
These functions are crucial for meeting societal needs.
What do critics argue about Murdock’s view of the family?
Other institutions and family types can perform the functions identified by Murdock
Murdock acknowledges this but insists the nuclear family is best suited for these functions.
What is the feminist critique of the family according to the text?
The family oppresses women
Feminists argue that the family structure maintains gender inequality.
What do Marxists argue about the family?
The family meets the needs of capitalism rather than the needs of its members
This perspective highlights the economic exploitation within family structures.
What is Parsons’ ‘functional fit’ theory?
The functions a family performs depend on the society in which it is found
The structure of the family adapts to fulfill societal needs.
What are the two family types distinguished by Parsons?
- Nuclear family - parents and dependent children
- Extended family - three generations living under one roof
Each family type serves different functions based on societal context.
True or False: Functionalists view the family as a building block of society.
True
This perspective emphasizes the importance of family in maintaining societal stability.
What is Parsons’ ‘functional fit’ theory?
The theory that the functions a family performs depend on the society in which it is found.
What are the two family types distinguished by Parsons?
- Nuclear family - parents and dependent children
- Extended family - three generations living under one roof
In which type of society does Parsons argue that the extended family provides the best functional fit?
In a pre-industrial, agrarian society.
What were the two needs of the emerging industrial society that the extended family could not meet?
- Geographically mobile workforce
- Socially mobile workforce
Why is a nuclear family considered more suitable for a geographically mobile workforce?
Because it is more compact and easier to move than an extended family.
What does Parsons mean by a socially mobile workforce?
A workforce that can achieve status through effort rather than being fixed by ascription at birth.
What creates tension and conflict in an extended family according to Parsons?
When a son achieves a higher status in work than his father, leading to potential conflict.
What is the solution to the tension created in extended families?
The adult son should leave home, marry, and form a nuclear family.
How does Parsons describe the relationship of a nuclear family to its kin?
The nuclear family is structurally isolated from its kin, though they may keep in touch.
Fill in the blank: Parsons argues that the _______ family is better suited for modern industrial society.
nuclear
What does Laslett argue about family structure in pre-industrial society?
Laslett argues that the family was more likely nuclear due to late childbearing and short life expectancy, resulting in grandparents unlikely to be alive after the birth of grandchildren.
This challenges Parsons’ ideas about family types in pre-industrial societies.
According to Anderson, what role did the extended family play in mid-19th Century industrial society?
Anderson suggests that the extended family offered significant support, both financially and with childcare.
This indicates that the extended family was more prevalent than Parsons suggested.
What significant change did Parsons claim occurred in the family structure with the shift to industrial society?
Parsons claimed that the family changed from a unit of production to a unit of consumption as work moved into factories and other institutions.
This reflects the loss of many traditional family functions.
What are the two essential functions of the modern nuclear family according to Parsons?
- The primary socialisation of children
- The stabilisation of adult personalities
These functions are crucial for integrating individuals into society.
Fill in the blank: The primary socialisation of children equips them with __________ and society’s values.
[skills]
