OVERALL VIEWPOINT OF THE FAMILY
Functionalism and the Family •
•
Society is based on value consensus; the family is
essential for socialising its members into this.
^ this enables them to meet societies needs and
achieved shared goals.
PARSONS: family has two main MURDOCH: family has four main functions • They believe every institution contributes to the
functions that are primary socialisation that are essential to the smooth running of smooth running of society (organic analogy). To them,
the family is the heart of society and unit of stability –
and personality stabilisation. society. DURKHEIM.
1. PRIMARY SOCIALISATION - process 1. REPRODUCTION – require new members of
through which children acquired the society for survival and children are symbolic KEY THEORISTS AND CASE STUDIES
basic principles of society from the for heritage.
Parsons, Willmott & Young (1973) and Fletcher (1966) – suggest the
family in the early years of their life. 2. SEXUAL – expressing sexuality in a socially
classic extended family has largely disappeared and the privatised
approved context.
nuclear family or the modified extended family has emerged as the main
2. PERSONALITY STABILISATION – family 3. SOCIALISATION – family is geared towards
family in society.
life also stabilises adult personalities primary socialisation to teach children ideals
• PNF – self-contained, self-reliant and home centred unit, free time
through marriage and enabling adults to and morals of society.
spent doing jobs around house and leisure time spent with rest of
satisfy childish impulses that could not 4. ECONOMIC – family provides food and shelter
family.
be indulged in public. for family members.
• ISOLATED PNF – family members will often care and know more
about celebs than real people living on their street.
CRITISISMS
Decline of extended family:
• Downplaying Conflict
o Both Murdoch and Parsons paint a very rosy picture of family life 1. Need small family for geographical mobility
o They downplay the dark side of the family – abuse, divorce etc. 2. Strengthened bonds between partners to protect family
o Children may become emotionally disturbed by conflict between parents and children may often be used stability
as a ‘scapegoat’ by parents 3. Need to avoid status conflict between ext. kin
• Being out of date 4. More meritocratic society – kin less useful – no longer ascribed
o Parsons view of the ‘instrumental’ & ‘expressive’ roles of men and women is very old fashioned status
o Relevant & applied in the 1950s but not today as both partners play both roles at various times 5. Reduced family functions – no need for ext. to care for sick
• Ignoring the explanation of women children etc.
o Functionalists tend to ignore the way women suffer from the sexual division of labour in the family
6. Higher rate of social mobility – weaken kin links as less in
o Undermines women’s position in paid employment
o Housework also cause stress leading to mental illness common, no time etc.
• Ignoring the harmful effects of the family
o Leach (1967) says that isolated nuclear families expect too much from one another and this stress
generally creates conflict within the family
MALE ROLE IN THE FAMILY: Parsons:
o Marxists like Laing & Esterson (1970) and Cooper (1972) argue that families can be a destructive & INSTRUMENTAL ROLE – bread winner, which leads to stress and anxiety which
explorative institution can destabilise his personality. Female will partly re-stabilise his personality.
o They see life in families as smothering the development of individuality, leading to obedience to authority
in later life – and contributing to schizophrenia
FEMALE ROLE IN THE FAMILY: Parsons:
o Feminist writers say functionalists play down the ‘darker side of the family’ including domestic & child
EXPRESSIVE ROLE – providing warmth and security and emotional support for
abuse/violence
the father and children.
, KEYWORDS OVERALL VIEWPOINT OF THE FAMILY
• There is conflict between proletariats and bourgeoisie.
conflict theory • See the family within the framework of a capitalist society, which is based on private property, driven by
bourgeoisie profit, and riddled with conflict between social classes with opposing interest.
proletariat • Nuclear family > concerned with control > teaches members to submit to the capitalist class > manifests in
capitalism equal relationships > which lead to conflict.
monogamous
ideological state apparatus
Marxism and the Family
false class consciousness
ENGELS (1820 – 1895): ALTHUSSER (1971): ZARETSKY (1976):
• Monogamous • In order for • Family is a major prop
nuclear family has capitalism to survive to the capitalist system.
developed a way of the w/c must submit • The capitalist system is
based on domestic Criticisms
passing on private to the r/c.
labour of housewives,
property to heirs. • Family is of the who reproduce to • Ignores the positive functions of family life and the benefits it
• ^ ideal way of ideological state create future provides for its members > functionalists
proving paternity and apparatus; alongside generations of workers. • Ignores the impact of ethnicity on family life
ensuring the the educational • The family consumes • Ignores family diversity and assumes the nuclear family is dominant
property was passed system and media. products of capitalism • Anthropologists have suggested that the emergence of the nuclear
onto the correct Meaning through and this is how the r/c family didn’t actually coincide with the emergence of capitalism
person social control, these maintain its profits.
• There is a lack of evidence for Engels view though Gough (1972)
• Women’s position in can pass on r/c • The family provides
argues it broadly correct
the family was similar ideology. comfort to alienated
workers so they carry • Whilst Somerville (2000) believes Engels exaggerates how well the
to prostitute – she • ^r/c tries to maintain family provides comfort as there is much conflict within families
on working.
provided sex & heir false class • 2003 report “Changing Britain, Changing Lives” by the institute of
in return for • Marxist feminists have
consciousness by education
said that this is very
economic security winning mind & o This report found that people are more likely to marry for love
much a male view on
her husband offered hearts of w/c the family, as much of and affection rather than as a social obligation, with a growing
emphasis on emotional aspects of relationships and personal
the work that may
fulfilment for both men and women.
make the family a
haven is done at the
expense of women.
Functionalism and the Family •
•
Society is based on value consensus; the family is
essential for socialising its members into this.
^ this enables them to meet societies needs and
achieved shared goals.
PARSONS: family has two main MURDOCH: family has four main functions • They believe every institution contributes to the
functions that are primary socialisation that are essential to the smooth running of smooth running of society (organic analogy). To them,
the family is the heart of society and unit of stability –
and personality stabilisation. society. DURKHEIM.
1. PRIMARY SOCIALISATION - process 1. REPRODUCTION – require new members of
through which children acquired the society for survival and children are symbolic KEY THEORISTS AND CASE STUDIES
basic principles of society from the for heritage.
Parsons, Willmott & Young (1973) and Fletcher (1966) – suggest the
family in the early years of their life. 2. SEXUAL – expressing sexuality in a socially
classic extended family has largely disappeared and the privatised
approved context.
nuclear family or the modified extended family has emerged as the main
2. PERSONALITY STABILISATION – family 3. SOCIALISATION – family is geared towards
family in society.
life also stabilises adult personalities primary socialisation to teach children ideals
• PNF – self-contained, self-reliant and home centred unit, free time
through marriage and enabling adults to and morals of society.
spent doing jobs around house and leisure time spent with rest of
satisfy childish impulses that could not 4. ECONOMIC – family provides food and shelter
family.
be indulged in public. for family members.
• ISOLATED PNF – family members will often care and know more
about celebs than real people living on their street.
CRITISISMS
Decline of extended family:
• Downplaying Conflict
o Both Murdoch and Parsons paint a very rosy picture of family life 1. Need small family for geographical mobility
o They downplay the dark side of the family – abuse, divorce etc. 2. Strengthened bonds between partners to protect family
o Children may become emotionally disturbed by conflict between parents and children may often be used stability
as a ‘scapegoat’ by parents 3. Need to avoid status conflict between ext. kin
• Being out of date 4. More meritocratic society – kin less useful – no longer ascribed
o Parsons view of the ‘instrumental’ & ‘expressive’ roles of men and women is very old fashioned status
o Relevant & applied in the 1950s but not today as both partners play both roles at various times 5. Reduced family functions – no need for ext. to care for sick
• Ignoring the explanation of women children etc.
o Functionalists tend to ignore the way women suffer from the sexual division of labour in the family
6. Higher rate of social mobility – weaken kin links as less in
o Undermines women’s position in paid employment
o Housework also cause stress leading to mental illness common, no time etc.
• Ignoring the harmful effects of the family
o Leach (1967) says that isolated nuclear families expect too much from one another and this stress
generally creates conflict within the family
MALE ROLE IN THE FAMILY: Parsons:
o Marxists like Laing & Esterson (1970) and Cooper (1972) argue that families can be a destructive & INSTRUMENTAL ROLE – bread winner, which leads to stress and anxiety which
explorative institution can destabilise his personality. Female will partly re-stabilise his personality.
o They see life in families as smothering the development of individuality, leading to obedience to authority
in later life – and contributing to schizophrenia
FEMALE ROLE IN THE FAMILY: Parsons:
o Feminist writers say functionalists play down the ‘darker side of the family’ including domestic & child
EXPRESSIVE ROLE – providing warmth and security and emotional support for
abuse/violence
the father and children.
, KEYWORDS OVERALL VIEWPOINT OF THE FAMILY
• There is conflict between proletariats and bourgeoisie.
conflict theory • See the family within the framework of a capitalist society, which is based on private property, driven by
bourgeoisie profit, and riddled with conflict between social classes with opposing interest.
proletariat • Nuclear family > concerned with control > teaches members to submit to the capitalist class > manifests in
capitalism equal relationships > which lead to conflict.
monogamous
ideological state apparatus
Marxism and the Family
false class consciousness
ENGELS (1820 – 1895): ALTHUSSER (1971): ZARETSKY (1976):
• Monogamous • In order for • Family is a major prop
nuclear family has capitalism to survive to the capitalist system.
developed a way of the w/c must submit • The capitalist system is
based on domestic Criticisms
passing on private to the r/c.
labour of housewives,
property to heirs. • Family is of the who reproduce to • Ignores the positive functions of family life and the benefits it
• ^ ideal way of ideological state create future provides for its members > functionalists
proving paternity and apparatus; alongside generations of workers. • Ignores the impact of ethnicity on family life
ensuring the the educational • The family consumes • Ignores family diversity and assumes the nuclear family is dominant
property was passed system and media. products of capitalism • Anthropologists have suggested that the emergence of the nuclear
onto the correct Meaning through and this is how the r/c family didn’t actually coincide with the emergence of capitalism
person social control, these maintain its profits.
• There is a lack of evidence for Engels view though Gough (1972)
• Women’s position in can pass on r/c • The family provides
argues it broadly correct
the family was similar ideology. comfort to alienated
workers so they carry • Whilst Somerville (2000) believes Engels exaggerates how well the
to prostitute – she • ^r/c tries to maintain family provides comfort as there is much conflict within families
on working.
provided sex & heir false class • 2003 report “Changing Britain, Changing Lives” by the institute of
in return for • Marxist feminists have
consciousness by education
said that this is very
economic security winning mind & o This report found that people are more likely to marry for love
much a male view on
her husband offered hearts of w/c the family, as much of and affection rather than as a social obligation, with a growing
emphasis on emotional aspects of relationships and personal
the work that may
fulfilment for both men and women.
make the family a
haven is done at the
expense of women.
