sociology

Family

Parsons

functionalist- two main functions: 1) primary socialisation (the idea that the family teaches the norms and values of society) 2) SOAP (stabilization of adult personalities), which refers to the emotional support provided to adult family members.

Murdock

functionalist- identified four key functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, economic, and educational. He believed that these functions help to maintain social stability and satisfy the needs of society.

Willmott and Young

Functionalist- believed there to be a ‘march of progress’ and the emergence of joint conjugal roles leading to the ‘symetrical family’

Murray

New right- dependency culture: the growth of single parent families has resulted in an over generous welfare state. to resolve this welfare benefits should be reduced and single parent families should take greater responsibility for themselves

Erdos

New right- single parent families have led to a decline in the role of fathers in the family (90% are headed by women) which is bad for society according to the new right

Engles

Marxist- the family pass on their income and property to their family which reproduces the class inequality

Althusser

marxist- the family is an ideological state apparatus which are concerned with passing on the ideology of the ruling class

Zaretsky

marxist- ideological functions of the family 1) buffer zone 2)power over children

Oakley

Feminist- women became excluded from the workplace and confined to the home which led to a ‘dual burden’ where they are oppressed

Ansley

Feminist- women absorb their husbands frustration and are the ‘takers of shit’

Dobash and Dobash

Feminist- ‘violence against wives’ (1979) heterosexual marriage legitimates violence against women

Beck

Postmodernist- we have more choice over our family and therefor it is more risky and leads to uncertainty

Giddens

Postmodernist- more choice leads to ‘pure relationships’ solely meeting each others needs

stacey

Postmodernist- family diversity has benefitted women- the ‘divorce extended family’