functionalism - role of family

what type of theory is functionalism?

consensus

what does this mean?

see society as harmonious and built on a shared set of norms and values

what’s it called when society is a system of different parts like a human body?

organic analogy

who talks about this theory?

durkheim

who says the nuclear family perform 4 essential functions for its members of society?

murdock

what’s murdock first function of the family?

1) stable satisfaction of sex drive (provides social order)

second?

third?

fourth?

2) reproduction of the next generation

3) socialisation of the young (into society’s value consensus)

4) meeting economic needs of members (e.g. food/shelter)

what are 2 critisms of murdocks theory?

1) other institutions or non-nuclear family’s could perform these functions just as well

2) murdock sees the world through rose tinted glasses

who says the second criticism?

marxists and feminists

feminists - families oppress women

marxists - families serve the needs of capitalism

what’s parsons theory called on the family?

‘functional fit’

what is this?

family performs different functions depending on societies needs and these functions affect their structure (family shape)

what do parsons see as the two family types?

nuclear and extended

what’s are the two basic types of society parsons sees?

traditional pre-industrial and modern industrial

which family ‘fits’ pre-industrial society according to parsons?

why?

extended family - lots of people under one roof which is good as families were a unit of production as well as consumption

which family fits modern industrial?

why?

nuclear - geographically and socially mobile

what does geographical mobility mean?

nuclear families are compact units that can move around to follow work

what’s social mobility?

• people can move through social classes, which is needed for a skilled workforce (science/tech). most talented should take these jobs regardless of background (meritocracy), there’s less tension as only 2 generations

what did parsons think changed for the functions of the family from pre-industrial to industrial?

pre-industrial families were multi-functional, industrialisation changed the structure to nuclear families (with consumption only) but also led to a loss of functions e.g. education to schools, healthcare to nhs

what are the two irreducible functions that this led modern nuclear families specialising in?

1) primary socialisation of children

2) stabilisation of adult personalities

what is stabilisation of adult personalities related to?

Parsons’ warm bath theory

what is the warm bath theory?

the family is a place for adult to relax/ reduce tension and creates fresh workers which is functional for economy

what are 3 peices of evidence against parsons?

1) the pre-industrial family was nuclear - late childbearing and shorter life expectancy meant grandparents weren’t alive for as long

2) industrialisation actually led to ‘mum centered’ working class extended families rather than nuclear - no welfare state

3) the extended family remains important today - still performs financial support, childcare and emotional support

who says this evidence against parsons?

Young and Wilmott