topic 3: family and households

Functionalist views of the family; George Peter Murdock

It is vital for society and provides 4 things:

• satisfaction for the sex drive

• Reproduction of the next generation

• Socialisation for the young

• Economic provision like families buying food and shelter

Functionalist views of the family; Talcott Parsons

Family has 2 important functions:

• Family providing comfort, support, relaxation and emotional support from stress of life

• Primary socialisation of children like teacher norms, value and skill

Extended family

Family members outside the “nucleus” like aunts and uncles living with you

Reconstituted family

Where 2 nuclear families split up to form a new family like stepparents and step siblings

Lone parent family

A single adult living with their dependent children

Nuclear family

“Traditional” family, a married couple with their own dependent children

Non-family household

Unrelated individuals living together like housemates

Empty nest family

A couple who had children but they have now left the family home

Life courses

When an individual moves between different family and household settings over their lifetime

Single hood

People living on their own

Same sex family

When there is a gay couple living together, sometimes with children

Beanpole family

A vertically extended family of 4 or more generations

The family

People who share the same blood, relatives or people we live with

Cohabiting family

A family living together in one home

Family household

A residence or living space containing a family group

New rights views of the family

They believe single-parent families create troubled kids and think nuclear families are the best family

Feminists views of the family

Nuclear families are patriarchal because women work at jobs and do housework while men don’t and benefit the most from it.

David Cameron

Old prime minister who believed nuclear family is the best family type. He also believed that if you grew up with a single-parent family you would be troubled “likely to live in poverty, fail at school, end up in prison or be unemployed”

Double shift

When women have a paid job outside the home and is still expected to do the majority of the child work and housework.

Cereal packet family

Nuclear family where the mother and father are married and play the traditional roles with their dependent children

George Peter Murdock

A functionalist who believes family is vital for 4 things

• sexual needs

• Reproduction

• Socialisation

• The economy

Pryor and Rodger’s

New right sociologists who believed children in lone parent families will be troubled

Family ideology

Ideas about what a ‘proper’ family should look like

Talcott parsons

Functionalist who believes family has 2 functions

• providing support and comfort

• Socialisation

Charles Murray

New rights sociologist who believe single parent families will create troubled children

Delpy and Leonard

Feminists who believe families are patriarchal and that women do everything in the family home

Ann Oakley

Feminist who believes children are taught their place in the world is different based on gender

Dark side of the family

Domestic abuse taking place inside the home