Functionalist View on Family

• Functionalists see the family as a positive institution for social order and economic support

Functionalist Perspective

• Murdock (1949) argues the family universally performs four essential functions
  • Sexual: Stable satisfaction of the sex drive within monogamous relationships
  • Reproductive: Producing the next generation for societal survival
  • Economic: Providing food, shelter, and financial support
  • Educational (Socialization): Teaching norms and values to children
• Ignores diversity like lone-parent and same-sex families, viewing the nuclear family as the only proper structure
• Parsons (1955) Functional Fit Theory states families adapt to societal needs
  • Pre-industrial society had extended families for agriculture
  • Industrial society shifted to nuclear families for mobility
• Two irreducible functions of the family identified by Parsons
  • Primary socialization: Teaching children culture and values
  • Stabilization of adult personalities: Providing emotional support
• Ignores family conflict and domestic abuse and is outdated because extended families still exist

Marxist Perspective

• Marxists argue the family serves capitalism by maintaining class inequality
• Engels (1884) states in early societies, property was collectively owned, changing to private property with capitalism
  • The monogamous nuclear family emerged to pass down property benefiting the ruling class
• Ignores emotional bonds in families and is outdated because women now have more independence
• Zaretsky (1976) says the family is a safe haven as an illusion away from capitalism, and still reinforces exploitation
  • Reproduces labor power by raising the next generation of workers
• Not all families prioritize capitalism, some resist consumerism.
• Althusser & Poulantzas say families transmit ruling-class ideology, making inequality seem natural
  • Encourages false class consciousness, preventing revolution
• Deterministic and assumes people are brainwashed and ignores family resistance

Feminist Perspectives

• Feminists argue the family reinforces patriarchy and oppresses women
• Somerville (2000) states progress has been made with laws on equal pay and changing attitudes
  • Inequalities still exist like the gender pay gap and domestic responsibilities
• Too optimistic by failing to address deep-rooted patriarchal structures
• Marxist Feminists - women serve capitalism by reproducing labor, absorbing men's frustration (Ansley: "takers of shit"), and being a reserve army of labor
• Focuses too much on class; ignores women’s increasing economic independence
• Firestone states patriarchy is the root cause of female oppression
  • Men control women through violence, marriage, and housework
  • Separatism suggested as a solution with women-only households
• Ignores women who enjoy family life
• Difference Feminists critique other feminists for assuming all women experience oppression the same way
  • Women of different ethnicities, classes, and sexualities have diverse experiences
• Ignores common issues like domestic violence

Family Diversity

• Rapoports (1982) identifies five types of diversity
  • Organisational: Family structures vary
  • Cultural: Ethnic groups have different family structures
  • Social Class: Class impacts family like
  • Life-Stage: Family structure changes with age
  • Generational: Attitudes to family life differ across generations
• Murray (1990) argues lone-parent families harm society

Changing Patterns in Families

• Marriage rates declining due to secularization, women’s independence, and fear of divorce
• Cohabitation is increasing, but many couples still marry eventually
• Divorce rates increased due to Divorce Reform Act 1969, declining stigma, and women's financial independence
• High divorce rates do not mean people reject marriage because many remarry

The Domestic Division of Labor

• Parsons (1955): Men = instrumental role, women = expressive role
• Bott (1957): Joint vs. segregated conjugal roles
• Young & Willmott (1973): Symmetrical family with men more involved
• Oakley (1974): Symmetry is exaggerated and women still do more housework
• Dunne (1999): Lesbian couples more equal
• Edgell (1980): Men make major financial decisions
• Pahl & Vogler states men control money
• Dobash & Dobash find domestic violence is about male dominance
• Women now earn more, but the gender pay gap still exists

Demography & Social Policy

• Decline in birth rate is due to contraception and changing female roles
• Decline in death rate is due to improved healthcare
• Aging population results in a higher dependency ratio
• Some argue immigration offsets aging population issues
• New Right says policies should encourage nuclear families
• Feminists - policies reinforce patriarchy like lack of childcare funding
• Some policies promote gender equality like paternity leave

Exam Tips

• Use key theorists in every paragraph
• Contrast perspectives
• Include examples like policy changes and statistics
• Plan 20/30 markers using PEE (Point, Explain, Example)