functionalism and the family

Question 1

what is the overall functionalist view of the family?

Answer 1

• families essential for the survival of society
  
  • good for individuals
  • benefit society as a whole
• ideal family consists of married, heterosexual couple with children (nuclear family)
• unit which forms a value consensus

Question 2

Talcott Parson: Warm Bath Theory

Answer 2

• nuclear families are best form of family
• nuclear families don’t require as much support as they used to
• women choose expressive roles; men are instrumental
• nuclear families are biologically natural and have developed through evolution
• the family provide comfort for a working man to come home to
• families develop patterns/structures appropriate to their culture
• provide the best environment to bring up healthy/well-socialised children (functional fit)
• extended family developed into the nuclear family

Question 3

George Murdock (1949)

Answer 3

• nuclear family is universal (studies 200 societies and found NF in them all)
• family has 4 main functions:
  
  • sexual: stable satisfaction of sex drive to prevent social disruption (men need to have sex)
• reproduction for the next generation
• socialises the young into societies norms/values
• meet members’ economic needs

Question 4

criticisms of Murdock

Answer 4

• feminists: ignores oppression of women
• out of date: nuclear family declining; gender roles are changing
• O’Connell (1981): family isn’t universal, however alternatives are rare

Question 5

criticisms of Parsons

Answer 5

• extended family wasn’t dominant in pre-industrial society
• extended families still common in 1970s
• extended families still very common today