Functionalist Accounts of the Family
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary advantage of cultural capital according to Bourdieu?

  • It provides families with social connections.
  • It consists solely of economic resources.
  • It offers children a head start in education. (correct)
  • It is only accessible to working-class families.

    • How do middle- and upper-class parents differ from working-class parents in terms of cultural capital?

  • They are better equipped to provide educational skills. (correct)
  • They provide less motivation for their children's success.
  • They have fewer connections within social networks.
  • They lack the resources to invest in their children.

    • What does social capital primarily refer to?

  • The personal relationships and networks individuals have. (correct)
  • The economic wealth of individuals within a community.
  • The educational background of families.
  • The geographical location of a family.

    • According to Putnam, what is a critical aspect of social capital?

    <p>Norms of reciprocity among individuals. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic best describes the networks of middle- and upper-class families according to Cohen and Prusak?

    <p>They are reinforced by trust and shared values. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of family do functionalists primarily focus on in their studies?

    <p>Nuclear family (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one critique of functionalist accounts of the family?

    <p>They are based solely on historical perspectives of nuclear families. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do functionalists view the roles of men and women in the nuclear family?

    <p>Women are often steered into the housewife role. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a negative aspect of the nuclear family identified in the critiques of functionalism?

    <p>Abuse of male power through domestic violence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of family dynamics do functionalists tend to overlook?

    <p>Different cultural practices influencing family life (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What assumption do functionalists make about families in their theories?

    <p>Families can exist without external societal influences. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact do functionalists claim the nuclear family has on society?

    <p>It provides support and stability for individuals. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group is primarily represented in the functionalist perspective of the family?

    <p>Middle-class families (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the family play in conjunction with other societal agencies?

    <p>It contributes alongside schools, media, and peers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is socialization perceived by functionalists?

    <p>As a one-way transfer of norms and values. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Marxist views, what primary function does the family enhance for capitalism?

    <p>To support the reproduction of the labor force. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes ideological control as outlined by Althusser?

    <p>Families instill values that promote the capitalist system. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What crucial aspect of family life does Zaretsky highlight?

    <p>The family is a place of significant consumption. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do Marxists view the relationship between family members and their economic roles?

    <p>Family responsibilities distract from political concerns. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What misconception does Marxism challenge regarding the family?

    <p>The family can be a source of class inequality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way do neo-Marxists add to the traditional Marxist perspective on family?

    <p>By introducing a cultural dimension to family-capital relations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do families contribute to ideological control according to the discussed theories?

    <p>By encouraging acceptance of ruling-class ideologies. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criticism is levied against Zaretsky's view of family life?

    <p>It neglects the emotional fulfillment families can provide. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do critics argue about the focus of both functionalism and Marxism on family life?

    <p>Both perspectives greatly underestimate family complexities. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one function of families that has significantly changed over time?

    <p>They have shifted from units of production to consuming goods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do Marxists view the participation of families in consumer culture?

    <p>As a method to reinforce class inequalities through consumption. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major concern in assessing the role of the family within a Marxist framework?

    <p>Identifying the family's role in maintaining social order. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Functionalist perspective

    A sociological view that highlights the positive roles of family in society.

    Two-generation nuclear family

    A family structure with two parents and their dependent children.

    Criticism of functionalism

    Critiques argue that functionalism idealizes the nuclear family and overlooks negative aspects.

    Social class impact

    Functionalism often ignores how social class influences family dynamics.

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    Role of women in family

    Functionalism tends to promote traditional roles for women, limiting aspirations.

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    Male dominance

    Functionalism may perpetuate male dominance in family decision-making.

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    Privatized nuclear family

    A family model that lacks support from extended family and community.

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    Viability of alternative families

    Functionalism fails to recognize other family types are valid and functional.

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    Cultural capital

    Non-economic resources that give families advantages, like knowledge and skills.

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    Social capital

    Connections within social networks that provide value and support.

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    Bourdieu's argument on education

    Cultural capital helps some children get a head start in education.

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    Impact of class on education

    Middle/upper-class parents provide better knowledge for workplace transitions than working-class parents.

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    Norms of reciprocity

    Mutual trust and understanding within social networks that enhance support and cooperation.

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    Primary Socialisation

    The process where children learn norms and values from their family.

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    Two-Way Process

    Socialisation involves mutual influence between parents and children.

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    Functionalist View

    A perspective seeing socialisation as a one-way transfer of norms.

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    Marxist Perspective

    Emphasizes conflict and the family's role in supporting capitalism.

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    Ideological Control

    Families propagate ideas that support capitalism and ruling classes.

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    Reproduction of Labour

    Families ensure the continuation of the workforce by raising future workers.

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    Consumption Role

    Families now primarily consume goods rather than produce them.

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    Political Stability

    Family dynamics contribute to maintaining social order.

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    Privatised Family

    Modern families focus on private issues over social injustices.

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    Eli Zaretsky

    Sociologist who analyzed family’s role in capitalism.

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    Ruling-Class Ideology

    Beliefs that support the capitalists' interests passed through families.

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    Symbolic Capital

    Status and recognition that can influence opportunities.

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    Critique of Marxism

    Challenges the perspective that only highlights family negatives.

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    Study Notes

    Functionalist Accounts of the Family

    • Functionalists initially highlighted the importance of family, especially the nuclear family, as a stabilizing force in society.
    • They emphasized the positive contributions families make to individual well-being.
    • This perspective, developed in mid-20th century America, focused on the nuclear family as the norm, overlooking social class and ethnic differences.
    • Functionalists often idealized the positive aspects of the nuclear family, neglecting negative aspects like:
      • Restrictions on women's aspirations due to societal expectations of the housewife role.
      • Limitation of men's involvement in childcare.
      • Dominance of men and potential for abuse.
      • Lack of support from wider kin.
      • Potential for nuclear family structures to contribute to mental health problems.
    • Functionalists saw only one family type, overlooking alternatives.
    • They also treated the family as a distinct unit, overlooking its interconnectedness with other institutions (schools, media, peer groups).
    • They view primary socialization as a one-way transmission of norms and values, forgetting children actively shape their parents.

    Marxist Accounts of the Family

    • Marxists see the family as supporting capitalism in various ways, contrasting with functionalist's harmony perspective.
    • Ideological Control: Families promote capitalist values, encouraging unquestioning acceptance of the system, as seen in Althusser's theory of the family as an ideological state apparatus.
    • Economic Role: The family is economically crucial to capitalism by reproducing the labor force and shouldering substantial costs during unemployment/illness.
    • Consumption Role: Families have become consumption units instead of production units, further benefitting capitalists. They are targeted by advertisers.
    • Political Role: The privatization of family life shifts attention away from wider social issues like inequality, creating political stability. The family can mask and direct power dynamics within.

    Neo-Marxist Perspective

    • Neo-Marxists introduce cultural elements into the family-economy relationship, adding dimensions beyond economic class struggles.
    • Cultural capital (non-economic resources): This suggests that some parents have more resources to support their children's education and socialization.
    • Social capital (networks and connections): This links family resources and access to opportunities. Middle- and upper-class families tend to benefit from broader networks, giving their children economic advantages.

    Criticisms of Both Perspectives

    • Both functionalist and Marxist views are criticised for potentially overemphasizing either the positive or negative aspects of the family.
    • Functionalism overlooks family diversity and negative aspects.
    • Marxism risks overlooking the emotional and social benefits of family life.

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    Description

    Explore the functionalist perspective on the family, emphasizing its role as a stabilizing force in society. This quiz delves into both the positive contributions and the overlooked negative aspects of the nuclear family structure, as discussed in mid-20th century American sociology.

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