Functionalists

Talcott Parsons

Fit thesis (nuclear family fits into the modern industrial society) warm bath theory (the home is a comfort device) Primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities, Instrumental and expressive roles

Murdock

Four functions of the family to function society: Sexual regulations, reproductive, socialisation and Economic

Fletcher

Neo Functionalist - Accounts for family change arguing they still take on traditional form, those remarry and form reconstituted or cohabiting families

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Argued that society works like a living organism each part contributes to the overall health and all social institutions have a role and if they do not work society cannot survive.

Robert Merton (1910 - 2003)

We learn our goals and the rules of behaviour from our society. This society governs our actions and we share our views of appropriate behaviour with others.

Margaret Thatcher (1988)

New Right- Described the nuclear family as “A nursery, a school a hospital, a leisure place, a place of refuge and a place of rest” as well as “the building block of society”

Charles Murray

New Right - Main sociological supporter for new right. Claims that the traditional nuclear family is threatened by the welfare state. He believed that young women had babies in order to gain money from benefits. And this meant young men didnt have to take responsibility for fatherhood. He also believed that the children of single parent families did not have a proper male role model and in turn grew up to be lazy.

Troubled families - New right

In December 2011 the TFP was launched to help realise Cameron’s ambition to turn around the lives of 120k troubled families.

New right policies

Tax allowance for married men whose wives didn’t work, child support agency 1993 fathers had to pay allowance when absent. Two child policy