Sociological Perspectives/ Theory of the Family Questions

What is Functionalism in sociology?

Functionalism is a theory that sees society as based on value consensus.

What do functionalists believe about society?

Functionalists believe that society is based on a shared set of values.

What role does the family play according to functionalists?

The family contributes to value consensus in society.

What does Murdock say about the Family?

The family performs 4 essential functions: Sexual, Reproductive, Economic and Educational. Also, the nuclear family is universal.

What theory did Parsons develop regarding family structure?

'Fit Thesis'

What does Parsons' 'Fit Thesis' explain about family structure?

It explains how the family has changed from an extended to a nuclear structure to fit the needs of society.

What are the two types of mobility that the nuclear family supports in modern industrial society?

Geographical mobility and social mobility.

What is Geographical Mobility?

This is where families can move to where the work is.

What is Social Mobility?

This is the movement of individuals between different social positions, Particularly in terms of class.

What are the two irreducible functions of the nuclear family according to Parsons?

Primary Socialisation and Stabilisation of Adult Personalities.

What are the segregated roles in the nuclear family as described by Parsons?

Expressive and Instrumental roles.

What is the 'Instrumental' role in the nuclear family?

The husband's role focusing on achieving success at work and being the breadwinner.

What is the 'Expressive' role in the nuclear family?

The wife's role focused on looking after the children and household, and addressing the family's emotional needs.

According to Parsons, why do men and women fit into their respective roles in the nuclear family?

Parsons argues that women are naturally suited to nurturing the family and men are naturally suited to being providers.

What is a criticism of the family structure regarding family diversity?

It ignores family diversity.

What do critics say about conflict within the family?

It ignores conflict and exploitations in the family.

How do feminists view the family?

They see the family as oppressing women.

What do Marxists believe about the family's role in society?

They believe the family serves the needs of a capitalist society.

What is the 'Warm Bath Theory' in relation to family and capitalism?

It describes how women cater to men after work, preparing them for the next day of serving a capitalist society.

What is the New Right?

The New Right is a political perspective with considerable influence on government policies.

What values does the New Right support?

The New Right supports 'traditional' family values.

What does the New Right believe about the family?

The New Right believes the family is the building block of society.

What type of family structure does the New Right consider best for children and society?

The New Right considers the nuclear family to be the best structure.

How does the New Right view the division of labor between men and women?

The New Right sees the division of labor with women as homemakers and men as breadwinners as natural and biologically determined.

What Factors do they see as being a threat to the familial ideology?

- Declining popularity of marriage

- Increase in cohabitation

- Number of births outside marriage

- Teenage pregnancy

- Homosexuality

- Liberal sex education

- Abortion

- Working Mothers

- Unmarried Mothers

What does Murray believe there should be a return to?

There should be a return to traditional family values which is supported by government policies and a less generous welfare state.

What is a criticism of the New Right ideology?

Welfare provision has economic and social benefits. Countries with more extensive systems of social protection tend to be richer and have less poverty.

What do Abbot and Wallace say as a criticism of the New Right ideology?

A return to traditional values will lead to the return of patriarchy and reverse any gains made by women.

What do Marxists say as a criticism of the New Right ideology?

The familial ideology (which is a system of values that emphasises the importance of the family and its roles within society) simply justifies capitalism.

What do Feminists say as a criticism of the New Right ideology?

The familial ideology simply justifies patriarchy and also lone female parents are being scapegoated for a lack of socialisation of their children in society.

What would Marxist feminists say as a criticism of the New Right ideology?

Moral panic within the capitalist media has demonised single mothers and working class people to justify cuts to benefits and services.

What is Feminism in sociology?

It is a conflict theory like Marxism. It views the family as oppressing women and serving the needs of men.

There are 4 main types of feminists and feminism has experienced 3 main phases

What are Liberal Feminists?

They focus on changes in policies and law to help to irradiate patriarchy in families. They have a positive view regarding changes in society to promote the rights of women.

What are Marxist Feminists?

They believe capitalism is the main cause for women's oppression. They see the family as performing several functions for capitalism through:

- Reproducing cheap labour

- Absorbing man's anger

- A reserve army of cheap labour

What are Radical Feminists?

They argue for patriarchy to be overturned the family must be abolished.

What are Difference Feminists?

They argue that not all women share the same experience, therefore feminism needs to account for variation in experience of women from different backgrounds.

What are some of the criticisms in Feminism?

Feminists assume the nuclear family to be the dominant form - when in fact there is greater diversity.

Individuals select their family relationships and act with choice. We should try to understand the meanings behind this.

What do feminists assume that families and its members are?

'Passive Puppets' shaped by the structural forces of society.

- However, women have and make more choices now in terms of their career for example and women are more likely to initiate a divorce

What Is Marxism in Sociology?

Marxists see the family as serving the needs of a capitalist society and maintain the status quo (existing social structure and values) of exploitation of the working class.

What does Engels say in terms of Marxism?

As society changed to become a capitalist economy. The privatised nuclear families were established to meet the needs of a capitalist society through the passing on of wealth. Women therefore became the property of men to enable men to know who their biological heirs were.

What does Zaretsky say in terms of Marxism?

Claims that the family cushions workers from the brutal realities of capitalism and in this way helps to perpetuate capitalism.

Capitalism is also ''propped up'' by the domestic labour of housewives who reproduce the future labour force.

The family is also an important consumer of the products of capitalism.

What does Althusser say?

The Family functions to promote and pass on capitalist ideologies to its members.

The family models capitalism, through promoting and encouraging conformity, and obedience to capitalism.

What do Functionalists say is a criticism of Marxism?

That the Marxist focuses on a negative view of the family rather than a positive.

What are some of the criticisms of Marxism?

- Assumes that the nuclear family structure is the dominant family structure

- Feminist focus on the dominance of men in the family, rather than social class

What do Postmodernists say is a criticism of Marxism?

Consumption is not always a negative thing, it helps individuals in constructing their own social identities.

What are the modernist theories of the family?

Marxism and Functionalism

What do modernist theories believe about society?

They believe that society has a clear cut and predictable structure.

What is the focus of modernist theories regarding family?

The nuclear family

What do postmodernists argue about society since the late 20th century?

Society has begun to move into a postmodern phase.

What are the two essential features of postmodern society?

Fragmentation of cultures and Rapid Change

What does fragmentation of cultures refer to?

Individuals are free to construct their own social identity, leading to a collection of different subcultures.

What has caused families to become less stable in postmodern society?

Rapid change and advance in science and technology.

What does the rapid change in postmodern society mean for generalizations about families?

It is no longer possible to generalize about families.

What do Beck-Gernsheim (2002) and Stacey (1996) argue about traditional family values?

They argue that the disintegration of traditional family values has resulted in a pick and mix culture of forming relationships.

How do Beck-Gernsheim (2002) and Stacey (1996) compare relationship formation to consumer culture?

They compare it by stating that individuals are trying different types of relationships, similar to consumer culture.

What has resulted from the pick and mix culture of forming relationships according to Beck-Gernsheim (2002) and Stacey (1996)?

It has led to extensive diversity in family structures and relationships.

What do Marxists criticize about the perspective on surveillance?

They argue that it fails to identify the capitalist class as the real beneficiaries of surveillance.

What do feminists criticize about the perspective on surveillance?

They argue that it ignores that men and patriarchal society are the main beneficiaries.

Who is the main thinker associated with the sociology of personal life?

Carol Smart

What theoretical influences shape the sociology of personal life?

It is strongly influenced by interactionist ideas.

How does the sociology of personal life contrast with other theories?

It contrasts with structural and post-modernist theories.

What does Carol Smart believe about family relationships?

She believes that individuals have more freedom to construct their own families but this is influenced by societal traditions and norms.

What do sociologists from the personal life perspective believe is important to understand family diversity?

They believe it is important to understand why individuals choose a range of different relationships.

What does the personal life approach recognize about relationships?

It recognizes that kinship is not the only significant relationship in people's lives.