family theory

Question 1

functionalism

Murdock

Answer 1

• the family is universal
• desribed the family unit as the nuclear family
• any units larger than the nuclear family are the extended family
• the family performs 4 basic functions: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational

Question 2

functionalism

what are the four functions of the family according to Murdock?

Answer 2

1. sexual
2. reproductive
3. economic
4. educational

Question 3

functionalist

problems with Murdock

Answer 3

• Murdock’s idea of the family is too good to be true and ingnores conflict and exploitation in the family
• did not examine if the family performs all of the same functions in different societies

Question 4

functionalism

Parsons

Answer 4

• argued the warm bath theory - the family acts as a warm bath, soothing men when they come back from a stressful day at work
• family provides primary socialisation which allows the internalisation of socieites culture
• families produce human personalities and stabilise adult personalities

Question 5

functionalism

what is Parsons’ warm bath theory?

Answer 5

• the family soothes the man after a stressful day at work like a warm bath

Question 6

functionalism

Young and willmott - the symetrical family

Answer 6

• argue the emergence of the symetrical family - a family in which both husband and wife are in employment and share housework and childcare
• disagree with Parsons about how the family developed such as suggesting that the extended family lasted much longer than Parsons suggested

Question 7

functionalism

what do Young and Wilmott disagree with Parsons about?

Answer 7

• they disagree with Parsons about how long the nuclear family lasted
• they suggest the nuclear family lasted much longer than Parsons suggested

Question 8

feminism

Betty Friedan

liberal feminist

Answer 8

• came up with the concept of the feminine mystique
• since WW2, women have been persuaded that their only fulfilment lay in domestic labour
• the feminine mystique teaches that the highest value and commitment for women is the fulfilment of their own femininity
• women are denied the expression of their own identity

Question 9

feminism

where does Friedan say that women have been convinced their only fulfilment comes from?

Answer 9

• domestic labour

Question 10

feminism

what does Friedan say the feminine mystique teaches?

Answer 10

• the feminine mystique teaches that the highest value and commitment for women is the fulfilment of their own femininity

Question 11

feminism

what does Freidan say that women are denied?

Answer 11

• women are denied the expression of their own identity

Question 12

feminist

Ansley

marxist feminist

Answer 12

• elaborated on Parson’s warm bath theory
• suggested that the emotional support provided by women makes them a safety valve for the frustration of the husband working in a capitalist system
• the wife absorbs the husbands anger rather than the husband venting this onto the capitalist system so capitalism remains unthreatended

Question 13

feminism

what concept does Ansley elaborate on?

Answer 13

• Parsons warm bath theory

Question 14

feminism

according to Ansley, how do women act as safety valves?

Answer 14

• they provide emotional support for men
• they absorb the anger of the men

Question 15

feminism

millet

Answer 15

• nuclear family is a tool for the patriarchy to hold power over women
• children are socialised to accept traditional gender roles
• family controls womens bodies through marriage and childbirth

Question 16

Marxism

Engels

Answer 16

• The nuclear family arose with development of private property to allow private property to be kept in the family
• family evolved from polygamy to monogamous nuclear family
• Women had a subordinate role in the family
• Family reproduces labour power and socialises children to accept capitalist values

Question 17

marxism

when did Engels say the nuclear family arose/what caused it to form?

Answer 17

• the nuclear family arose with the development of private property

Question 18

marxism

why did Engels say that the nuclear family arose?

Answer 18

• to ensure that mens children were biologically theirs so private property could be passed down to their children

Question 19

marxism

what did Engels say womens role in the family mirrored?

Answer 19

• the womens subordinate role in the family mirrored their subordinate role in society

Question 20

marxism

what are the two key functions of the famiy according to Engels?

Answer 20

1. reproducing labour power
2. socialising children to accept capitalist values

Question 21

marxism

Marx

Answer 21

• the family has false needs

Question 22

marxism

how do the false needs support capitalism?

Answer 22

• the family buys products they do not need which help
• creates profit for the bourgiousie
• reinforces social inequality as the working class may not be able to afford these false needs

Question 23

marxism

Leach

Answer 23

• nuclear family is the ‘cereal packet image of the family’
• too much pressure in the family for members to live up to set expectations

Question 24

postmodernism

Carol Smart

Answer 24

• theories like functionalism make generalisations about family life which do not fit reality
• families/roles people are constructing have some individual choice but the choices that people are making are not free from external influences

Question 25

# postmodernism why does Smart criticise theories of individualisation of choice?

Answer 25

- smart criticises them for suggesting that peoples decisions are detatched from external influences

Question 26

# postmodernism what does Smart say impacts the choices individuals are making when constructing their families?

Answer 26

1. past experiences or family history 2. expectations of society 3. structural factors eg social class & gender

Question 27

# postmodernism what does Smart idea does agree with Giddens?

Answer 27

- that people now have more freedom to construct their own families and family relationships