theories of family

Question 1

what type of perspective do functionalists have

Answer 1

a consensus perspective

Question 2

what type of perspective do Marxism have

Answer 2

a class conflict perspective

Question 3

what type of perspective do feminists have

Answer 3

a gender conflict perspective

Question 4

what do functionalists believe about the family

Answer 4

functionalists believe that society is based on value consensus which society socialises into it members

Question 5

value consensus

Answer 5

a set of shared norms and values

Question 6

what do functionalists compare society to

Answer 6

biological organism like the human body because it is made of different parts that depend on each other each is vital to the well being of it’s members

Question 7

what needs do functionalists believe the family meets

Answer 7

essential needs such as the need to socialise children

Question 8

what four functions does Murdock believe the family performs for society to work harmoniously

Answer 8

• satisfaction of sex drive: prevents social disruption of “free for all”
• reproduction without this society wouldn’t continue
• socialisation: of the young shared values and norms
• economic needs: food and shelter (societies needs)

Question 9

criticisms of Murdock’s theory of the family

Answer 9

feminist reject this “rose-tinted” view of the family it neglects conflicts and exploitation, serving men and oppressing women

Marxists argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not society as a whole.

Question 10

what does Parsons suggest about the family

Answer 10

the functions that the family performs will depend on the kind of society which it is found

Question 11

what two kinds of family structure does parsons identify

Answer 11

the nuclear family: parents and dependent children (industrial society)
extended family: three generations living under one roof

Question 12

what family type does the modern industrial society fit

Answer 12

the nuclear family

Question 13

what family type does the pre-industrial family fit

Answer 13

the extended family

Question 14

what two essential needs does industrial society have

Answer 14

geographical mobile workforce-move where there is work

a socially mobile workforce- industrial society is based on evolving science and technology, requires a competent work force. Nuclear family is better for this

Question 15

what is loss of functions

Answer 15

the family ceases to be a unit of production: work moves into factories and the family becomes a unit of consumption only. it loses most of it’s other functions to other institutions such as schools and the health service

Question 16

what two essential functions does the nuclear family perform

Answer 16

socialisation of children-equip them with basic skills and values

stabilisation:

Question 17

what is the Marxist perspective of the family

Answer 17

believe the functions of the family are performed purely for the benefit of the capitalist system.

Question 18

what functions do Marxists see the family fulfilling for capitalism

Answer 18

inheritance of property: key factors of what shapes social institutions is made of production (who owns and controls forces e.g. raw, materials, land) wealth is linked to family

Question 19

what does Engels suggest about the family

Answer 19

monogamy became essential for inheritance for inheritance of property. rise of the nuclear family represented a “world historical defeat of the female sex”

Question 20

“primitive communism”

Answer 20

no private property, all members owned the means production. no family but a “primitive nude”-forces of production developed, wealth increase, private property developed

Question 21

what do functionalists mean by the family performing key ideological functions for capitalism

Answer 21

ideology: a set of beliefs that justify inequalities and persuade people to accept a capitalist society

Question 22

what way do functionalists believe the family performs key ideological functions for capitalism

Answer 22

family does this by socialising children into accepting hierarchy and inequality are inevitable

Question 23

what does parental power accustom children to do (Marxists)

Answer 23

accustoms them to the idea that (a man) has to be in charge and accept orders from a man.

Question 24

what functions does Zaretsky believe the family performs

Answer 24

family offers an apparent “haven” from the harsh world of capitalism, but it is an illusion e.g. exploitation of women

Question 25

what does capitalism exploit

Answer 25

the labour of workers, makes profit by selling products for more than it costs to produce them

Question 26

how does the family generate profits

Answer 26

1. advertisers urge families to "keep up with the joneses" by buying all the latest presents 2. media targets children who use "pester power" 3. children who lack "latest" clothes gadgets, mocked by peers

Question 27

criticism for marxist perspective of the family

Answer 27

ignores wider family structures and assumes the nuclear family is dominant feminists: family serve the interest of men, not capitalism, more gender inequalities than class inequalities

Question 28

what do feminists suggest about the family

Answer 28

the family oppresses women e.g. domestic division of labour/ domestic violence

Question 29

what feminist believe is gender inequality created by

Answer 29

society

Question 30

what do liberal feminists campaign against

Answer 30

sex discrimination and equal pay rights

Question 31

what do liberal feminists argue about

Answer 31

hold a similar view to the march of progress, gradual progress towards gender equality, overcome by laws and attitudes, but will need further reforms to reach full equality

Question 32

what gradual progress do liberal feminists believe there is in the family

Answer 32

men are doing more domestic work, sons/daughters have more equal aspirations

Question 33

criticisms of liberal feminists

Answer 33

failing to challenge the cause of women's oppression and believing people's attitudes will be enough to bring equality

Question 34

what do Marxist feminists believe about the family

Answer 34

main cause of oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism

Question 35

what functions does women's oppression perform for capitalism

Answer 35

- women reproduce the labour force through unpaid labour and socialising the next generation of workers - women absorb anger that would be directed at capitalism - women are a reserved army of cheap labour when extra worker are needed

Question 36

what does Ansley suggest women are

Answer 36

takers of sh*t who soak up frustrations of men

Question 37

what do radical feminists suggest about society

Answer 37

all societies are ruled by men

Question 38

what do radical feminists believe the key division of labour is between

Answer 38

men and women: 1. men are the enemy and the source of women's oppression 2. men benefit from women's unpaid labour and sexual services

Question 39

what do feminists believe about the patriarchal system

Answer 39

patriarchal system needs to be overturned, family must be abolished. achieved through "separatism"-women live independently

Question 40

what do radical feminists argue for

Answer 40

"political lesbianism" heterosexual relationships are oppressive because it involves "sleeping with the enemy"

Question 41

criticisms of radical feminists

Answer 41

liberal feminists argue that radical feminists fail to recognise women's positions have improved considerably e.g. job opportunities ' sommervile argues sexual attraction would make separation difficult

Question 42

what do difference feminists argue

Answer 42

argue we cannot generalise about women's opinions

Question 43

what do difference feminists argue about different women's experiences

Answer 43

lesbian, heterosexual women, white and black women have different experiences of the family

Question 44

how do black feminist view the family

Answer 44

positively as a source of support

Question 45

what two weaknesses do personal life perspective believe other theorists suffer from

Answer 45

1. They assume that the traditional nuclear family is dominant 2. they are all structural theorists. interactionist and postmodernist ignore the fact we have some "meanings" rather than the functions.

Question 46

the sociology of personal life

Answer 46

this is a new perspective of families. it is influenced by interactionists ideas and argues in order to understand families, we must start from the point of view of the individual and the meanings they give to relationships