Perspectives Flashcards
(25 cards)
Functionalist perspective
What are the 3 family responsibilies?
- Preparation of children to fit into adult society
- Family is a functional pre-requisite.
- Fitting with other social institutions.
What are Murdock’s 4 functions of the family?
- Sexual
- Reproduction
- Socialisation
- Economic
What are Parson’s 2 functions of the family?
- Primary socialisation of the children
- Stabilisation of adult personalities
New Right perspective of the family
Traditional family is under threat
Traditional heterosexual nuclear family in the best means to bringing up children
Nuclear family = benefical in securing social stability
What does Charles Murray say about single parent families?
The growth of single parent families has led to an over-generous welfare state.
This has led to welfare dependency.
What does Erdos say abut single parent families?
Led to the decline in the role of fathers. 90% of families are headed by women, which is ‘bad’ for society.
Marxist perspective of the family
Family reproduces class inequality in teaching children to submit to the capitalist ideology.
Family is a core unit of consumption.
Engels
The family pass their property to legitimate heirs, this is what reproduces class inequality.
Althusser
The family is an ISA (Ideological state apparatus) which are concerned with passing on the ideology of the ruling class.
Zaretsky’s 2 ideological functions of the family
- Buffer Zone (safe haven)
- Power over children (pester power)
Feminist perspective of the family
Tne family is patriarchal
Highlights the inequality faced by women in the home and the public sphere
Oakley
Women have a ‘dual burden’
Sommerville - Lib fem
Policy changes will progress slowly towards egalitartian relationships.
What does Dobash+Dobash say about heterosexual marriage?
Heterosexual marriage legitimises violence against wives.
Ansley - ?
Women are the ‘takers of shit’ where they absorb their husbands frustrartion from the worklife.
What is the personal life perspective?
The family is unique to each person and the way in which we define our family will differ depending on our own interpretation of family.
Anyone can be part of our family, and we will all pass through different life stages.
Backett - ?
PLP (personal life perspective)
Family life is individual and for most parents a trial and error process.
Clark - Identified 4 types of marriage, what are they?
PLP
Struggling
Drifting
Establishing
Surfacing
Morgan - ?
PLP
‘Family practices’, it is what we ‘do’ that makes us part of the family.
Weeks/Smart - ?
Fictive relatives - Individuals who are not related by blood/marriage but are considered close family members due to strong emotional bonds.
Eg. Pets, friends, godparents.
What is the postmodernist perspective of the family?
Believe we can now choose our individual families.
Due to society being fragmented, we have the choice to construct our own family life in the way it best suits our individual needs.
Beck - ?
Postmodernist
We have more choice over our family and therefore it is more risky which leads to uncertainty.
Giddens - ?
Postmodernist
More choice leads to ‘pure relationships’ where both parties meet each others needs.
