theories (bits i forgot 27.05) Flashcards
(18 cards)
criticisms of Murdock
- the functions could be performed equally well by other institutions or non-nuclear families
- marxists/feminists reject his ‘rose tinted’ harmonious consensus view - family serves needs of men/capitalism
explain Parsons’ stabilisation of human personalities
need for work and money + lack of power + boredom + pressure to succeed = threatens to destabilise personalities
family stabilizes human personalities through the sexual division of labour
men - instrumental role - family breadwinner - stress and anxiety may destabilise his personality
women - expressive role - emotional support to male partner (warm bath theory)
who argued that when Britain began to industrialize in the late 18th century, the extended family began to give way to the nuclear family
Parsons
according to Parsons, when was the extended family replaced with the nuclear?
when Britain began to industrialize in the late 18th century
2 criticisms of Parsons
Young and Willmott - men are now doing more domestic work and women are doing paid work
Feminists - division of labour is unnatural and only benefits men
explain the privatised nuclear family
self contained / self reliant
Young and Wilmott - rising living standards have made the home a more attractive place to spend time
Parsons - structurally isolated - lost many of its functions and links to other institutions
family members know more about celebrities than people who live in their streets
what do young and willmott say about the privatised nuclear family?
rising living standards have made the home a more attractive place to spend time
what does Parsons say about the privatised nuclear family?
structurally isolated - lost many of its functions and links to other institutions
6 reasons for the decline in extended family life
need for geographical mobility / social mobility means that kin have less in common / growth in wealth and the welfare state / growth of meritocracy / different occupations, incomes and lifestyles can cause conflict / lack of support for kin in the isolated nuclear family
what is structural differentiation?
it refers to the way new more specialised social institutions emerge to take over a range of functions that were once performed by a single institution
who argues that the extended family went into decline in the 1960s? why?
Young and Wilmott
- changes in women’s positions
- geographical mobility
- new technology
- higher standards of living
has the family lost its reproductive function? include arguments for yes and no
yes - less social stigma around single parent families and lots of children are born outside of marriage, IVF
no - lots of people wait until marriage
has the family lost its function as a unit of production? include arguments for yes and no
yes - geographical and social mobility / meritocracy / what you know > who you know
no - still some family businesses / who you know is still very important for the upper classes
has the family lost its caring for children function? include arguments for yes and no
yes - parents can be neglectful / child minders, baby sitters, nurseries and schools
no - Young and Wilmott found that most of the income is spent on children / maternity and paternity leave / laws regarding child neglect
has the family lost its caring for the old/sick/poor/young function? include arguments for yes and no
yes - care homes / hospitals + NHS / welfare state
no - poor families may not be able to afford proper healthcare / emotional support
has the family lost its socialisation function? include arguments for yes and no
yes - schools and media make a great impact / cultural diversity
no - parents are the first care givers
has the family lost its education function? include arguments for yes and no
yes - many stay in school until 18 / higher education
no - key skills such as walking and talking / social norms and values
criticisms
