Theories on Family PDF

IN A NUTSHELL Functionalists hold a consensus view of the family arguing that it plays a vital role in providing beneficial functions to meet the needs of society and its individual members. Alternatively, Marxists take a conflict view of the family, arguing it helps maintain class inequalities. Fem...

IN A NUTSHELL Functionalists hold a consensus view of the family arguing that it plays a vital role in providing beneficial functions to meet the needs of society and its individual members. Alternatively, Marxists take a conflict view of the family, arguing it helps maintain class inequalities. Feminists also hold a conflict view of the family, whereby they believe the family is the main source of oppression ot women. FUNCTIONALISTS THE ORGANIC ANALOGY The human body is made up of different parts that function together to meet its needs and maintain it. Functionalists believe society does the same, in which it is made up of interdependent parts (eg. the education system, the government, religion etc) that work together to maintain the social system as a whole. MURDOCK: The nuclear family performs four essential functions: Socialisation of the young Satisfaction of the member's economic needs Reproduction of the next generation Stable satisfaction of the sex drive PARSONS - THE FUNCTIONAL FIT The functions that the family perform depend on the type of society in which they are found: Pre-industrial society - extended family - had the function of production and consumption Modern society - nuclear family - have the function of social and geographical mobility The nuclear family has two irreducible functions: Primary socialisation of the young - equipping the next generation with basic skills and society's values. Stabilisation of adult personalities - enabling adults to relax so they can return to the workplace and perform their roles effectively. MARXISTS ENGELS: The family exists so men can pass their private property onto their biological offspring, notably a son. ZARETZKY: There is an ideological function of the family called the 'cult of private life' - this is the belief that we can only gain fulfilment from family life, which distracts attention from exploitation. POULANTZAS: Vuclear families are brainwashed into thinking capitalism is fair, which teaches lower generations how to conform and co-operate with the capitalist system. FEMINISTS (1/2) LIBERAL FEMINISTS Liberal feminists take a march of progress view in suggesting gender inequality is gradually being overcome through reform and policy change, which changes people's attitudes towards socialisation and challenges stereotypes. For example, the new man is becoming more widespread. MARXIST FEMINISTS Capitalism is the main form of women's oppression in the family and this performs several functions for capitalism: Reproducing the labour force - women socialise the next generation of workers. Absorbing men's anger - wives soak up their husband's frustration from being exploited at work. A reserve army of cheap labour - when not needed, women workers can return to their domestic role.