FAMILY
REVISION
,SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
,FUNCTIONALISM
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Murdocks 4 • Reproduction of the next generation
Functions of the • Satisfaction of the adult sex drive
Family • Stable primary socialisation of the young
• Meeting economic needs
Parsons • Primary Socialisation
‘Functional Fit’ - Family teaching children values to
View on the Family help integrate them into society
• Stabilisation of the adult personality
- Family allows adults to relax and ease
tensions - effenciency of the economy
- Women generally ease tensions (warm bath
theory)
• Functions of the family suit the kind of
society it is found in. Nuclear family meets
needs of industrial society.
Chesters View on • Nuclear family still main family type
the Nuclear • Cohabitation acts as a trial run
Family • People experience a nuclear family at some
point in their lives.
Downplaying Conflict Being out of date Ignoring Harmful Effects
They see the family as idealistic Instrumental and expressive roles Assumes that are a robotic
but often downplay ‘darker side have blurred and done by both adaptation of society’s values.
of the family’ e.g. child abuse/ partners Children actively create their own
domestic violence personalities
, MARXISM
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Engels • Used to be a ‘promiscuous horde’ where
Inheritance of people slept around. Men then gave their
Property children property when they died.
• Increased private property and developed a
Capitalist class that’s owns means of production
Ideological Functions • Family socialises children into conforming
(ISA) inequality and hierarchy through parental power
resembling the workplace
Zaretsky ‘Haven’ • Family works as a haven from the harsh and
exploitative capitalist system. It calms down
tensions and prevents workers from revolting
A Unit of • Exploitation of the workers through cheap
Consumption labour
• W/C recycle capitalism through buying the
products back through techniques like branded
items and ‘pester power’
Ignores Family Diversity Ignores Gender Inequality Ignores Benefits
Only focuses on the nuclear Underestimates the importance of They ignore the benefits of
family making the idea outdated gender inequality in the family the family and what it
provides for society
And dark side of the family
REVISION
,SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
,FUNCTIONALISM
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Murdocks 4 • Reproduction of the next generation
Functions of the • Satisfaction of the adult sex drive
Family • Stable primary socialisation of the young
• Meeting economic needs
Parsons • Primary Socialisation
‘Functional Fit’ - Family teaching children values to
View on the Family help integrate them into society
• Stabilisation of the adult personality
- Family allows adults to relax and ease
tensions - effenciency of the economy
- Women generally ease tensions (warm bath
theory)
• Functions of the family suit the kind of
society it is found in. Nuclear family meets
needs of industrial society.
Chesters View on • Nuclear family still main family type
the Nuclear • Cohabitation acts as a trial run
Family • People experience a nuclear family at some
point in their lives.
Downplaying Conflict Being out of date Ignoring Harmful Effects
They see the family as idealistic Instrumental and expressive roles Assumes that are a robotic
but often downplay ‘darker side have blurred and done by both adaptation of society’s values.
of the family’ e.g. child abuse/ partners Children actively create their own
domestic violence personalities
, MARXISM
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Engels • Used to be a ‘promiscuous horde’ where
Inheritance of people slept around. Men then gave their
Property children property when they died.
• Increased private property and developed a
Capitalist class that’s owns means of production
Ideological Functions • Family socialises children into conforming
(ISA) inequality and hierarchy through parental power
resembling the workplace
Zaretsky ‘Haven’ • Family works as a haven from the harsh and
exploitative capitalist system. It calms down
tensions and prevents workers from revolting
A Unit of • Exploitation of the workers through cheap
Consumption labour
• W/C recycle capitalism through buying the
products back through techniques like branded
items and ‘pester power’
Ignores Family Diversity Ignores Gender Inequality Ignores Benefits
Only focuses on the nuclear Underestimates the importance of They ignore the benefits of
family making the idea outdated gender inequality in the family the family and what it
provides for society
And dark side of the family
