Feneck Topic 1

Question 1

Murdock (1949)

Answer 1

Functionalist

• Nuclear family is universal and the best type of family for society

4 functions:
- Stabilisation of the sex drive
- Reproduction
- Socialisation
- The economic function

Question 2

Parsons (1951)

Answer 2

Functionalist
- functional fit theory: the family changed from extended to nuclear with industrialisation

-The nuclear family has 2 essential functions:
The stabilisation of adult personalities
Primary socialisation

Question 3

Engels (1884)

Answer 3

Marxist
- Primmitive communism
- Development Monogamous nuclear family
-this ensured that wealth was passed down to a legitimate heir and maintained the wealth of the bourgeoisie

Question 4

Zaretsky (1876)

Answer 4

Marxist
- Proletariat feel alienation in the workplace and the family is an escape from exploitation where men can feel valued
- This maintains false class consciousness as it stops workers from seeking change in the work environment

Question 5

Althusser (1971)

Answer 5

Marxist
- Ideological state apparatus which spreads ruling class ideology
- The family encourages children to be obedient and respect adults which benefits the capitalist system as it means the bourgeoisie have obedient workers who are productive

Question 6

Oakley (1974)

Answer 6

Liberal Feminist
- Conducted interviews with housewives in London
- Found that women did most housework - 15% of husbands has high level, of participation in housework
-25% had a high level of participation in childcare
- Argued against the idea that the division of labour in the home was equal

Question 7

Ansley (1972)

Answer 7

Marxist feminist
- Women are “takers of shit”
- The emotional support provided by women absorbs the anger that men experience in a capitalist society
- Women subconsciously prevent men from directing their anger and frustration at the real cause (captialism)

Question 8

Greer (2000)

Answer 8

Radical feminist
- The role of the mother is undervalued by society
- Separatism can solve patriarchy- the creation of female only households

Question 9

Firestone (1970)

Answer 9

Radical Feminist
- Main cause of gender inequality is biological fact if childbirth which puts women at a physical disadvantage to men
- believes we need to develop an artificial womb so that women can be free from the necessity of childbirth

Question 10

Smart (2007)

Answer 10

Personal Life Perspective

• focuses on the meanings people attach to their relationships and the range of personal relationships that are important to people
• eg: fictive kin (people who aren’t related by blood/marriage but are important to you)

Question 11

Nordqvist & Smart (2014)

Answer 11

Personal Life perspective

• carried out instructed interviews with parents who had donor conceived children
• Parents emphasised the importance of social relationships over genetic ones
• Also revealed concerns emailed over donors identity and possible donor siblings
• Lesbian couples had concerns over equality between genetic and non genetic mothers

Question 12

Stacey (1996)

Answer 12

Post Modernist
- Family diversity is permanent (no one dominant family type)
- Researched family life in California in the 1980s
- Dotty and Pam moved from living in traditional nuclear families bc they were unhappy in their marriages and created alternative family structures
- Gay/lesbian families develop family forms that best suit their interests

Question 13

Tipper (2011)

Answer 13

Personal Life Perspective
- conducted research with children and found that they frequently described their pets as “part of their family”