Functionalism

What type of perspective is Functionalism? What does this mean?

Structural Consensus

Social institutions shape our behaviour so society runs smoothly (in harmony)

What analogy do they use to explain how society runs harmoniously?

Parsons organic analogy

Society is like a human body: like how all organs are needed, all social institutions have their own job and are dependent on each other’s to ensure smooth functioning

What are the social institutions?

Family

Religion

Education

Media

The family is said to be the…

Beating heart of society

What is the family's job? What does this accomplish?

To teach children norms and values through primary socialisation

Ensures all members have similar goals and aspirations, creating a value consensus (social control)

What roles do each parent have? What does this include?

Mother takes on the expressive role, caring and nurturing the children while performing unpaid domestic labour such as cooking and cleaning

Father takes on the instrumental role, providing income, leadership, discipline, and making key decisions

Why does each parent embody their roles?

Because they’re biologically suited

What happens if a function/social institution fails?

Taught norms and values will breakdown, resulting in chaos and an anomic society (anomie)

Functionalism can be criticised for being ______ about the family and seeing society through __________

Overly positive

Rose tinted glasses

Functionalism ignores the ________ of the family which may involve ________ which mean that the family is not always _______

Darker side

Domestic abuse/violence

Harmonious

Feminists argue that functionalism is…

Oppressive to women as it ensures that they’re financially dependent on men, making it hard for them to leave