Functionslism And The Family Flashcards
(15 cards)
What are the two main traditional families identified by functionalist socialists?
-nuclear family: consists of the mother, father and their children.
-extended family: consists of relatives beyond the nuclear family.
What do functionalists believe are the two main roles within the nuclear family?
-instrumental role: the man, work get money and pay bills.
-expressive role: the woman cook, clean and nurture and care for their children.
What do they believe about the nuclear family?
The nuclear family is the best type of family because it’s essential for performing functions for family and members of society as a whole.
What did Murdock suggest are the 4 functions of the family and how did he come up with it?
-sexual function
-educational function
-reproduction function
-economic function
He analysed 250 societies and claimed some form of nuclear family existed in all. The nuclear family is UNIVERSAL.
What is the sexual function?
The members if the family are able to safely have sex which benefits the family as it provides pleasure but also benefits society as a whole because if sexual needs are met within the family then it prevents sexual crimes, as well as contraception used in sexual activities gives economical benefit.
What is the reproductive function?
The nuclear family allows for children to be born. It benefits the family because it keeps the family name going from generation to generation but also benefits society as a whole because it creates more people to work and provide for society and also ensures society is able to continue to exist.
What is the economic function ?
The economic function is that the nuclear family makes sure that basic needs are met, it benefits the family as it ensures kids have clothes and food and society as a whole because by buying the basic needs it economically benefits society.
What is the educational function?
The nuclear family teaches the correct norms and values, it benefits the family as it ensures children becomes active members of society and can integrate and benefits society as it ensures all members of society are dolloping expected behaviour.
What would be some evaluations of Murdocks functions of the family?
-feminists would say the family is a patriarchal institution that serves the needs of men and oppress women.
-Marxists would say the family meets the needs of the bourgeoisie not the whole of society, ensuring capitalism is not threatened.
What is Parsons functional fit theory?
Concentrated his analysis of the nuclear family in modern society and argued the family has evolved to meet the needs of a changing society (march of progress) the family lost its wider functions due to geographical mobility and structural differentiation.
What is Parsons geographical mobility theory as a argument for the functional fit ?
In the pre industrial era society was populated with extended families because people worked jn the land so more family members meant they were economic assets as they contributed with the work. For example the presence of older relatives meant that children could be looked after while their parents could go to work without worrying. In this time there was no requirement to be geographically mobile so large families were not a burden. However when people started to move from rural areas into cities in order to get jobs in factories this all changed. Work and the home was now more separated, families needed to be geographically mobile for work and so they couldn’t take large numbers of dependents with them to the city.
What is Parsons theory of the two irreducible functions?
Parsons updated murdocks theory and argued that in modern society the sate provided education and could perform an economic function and so the family had two IRREDUCIBLE FUNCTIONS:
-primary socialisation
-socialisation of adult personalities
What is Parsons idea of primary socialisation ?
Similarly to Murdocks educational role, parsons agreed that the family taught children social norms and values (primary socialisation), however it specifically taught children norms and values associated with their family. While other institutions like school and religion taught children the universal norms and values of society (secondary socialisation). If the norms and values are taught then it means that individuals can become successful members of society but also prevents any deviance from occurring.
What Murdocks idea of socialisation of adult personalities?
Families helped to prevent adults from behaving in disruptive or dysfunctional ways, instead of encourages them to conform to social norms especially at times of stress. Parsons famously described this as the warm bath theory which is where the man came home from a hard day at work and could relax into the family like a warm bath taking away all the stress and preparing him for her next day at work. This prevents outbursts from taking place.
What are some criticisms of Parsons theory of the two irreducible functions of the family?
-this paints a picture of the family that is too ‘rosy’, while families are certainly not a happy place for everyone as many people have negative experiences of family life and it can cause stress as well as relieve it.
-feminists argue that the family exists largely for the benefit of men. Ansley claimed that parsons warm bath theory suggests women in the family are seen as ‘takers of shit’.
