Functionalist views on family

Functionalists views on family

Functionalists views on family

-contributes to maintenance of society

-contributes to the construction of an effective economy

-nuclear family

-aids the smooth running of society

G.P. Murdock

Thought that there are 4 main functions of the family.

Murdock's 4 functions of the family

Sexual

Economic

Reproductive

Education (Primary socialisation)

Criticisms of Murdock

-wrong to say that other institutions could not provide the needs of the family

-nuclear family isn't "universal"

-Sheeran argues that the mother is the core of the basic family unit

-doesn't account for same sex couples

Talcott Parsons

-1902-1979

-looked at historical development to see why the nuclear form has been so dominant

-families are factories providing warmth and support

Stabilisation of adult personalities

The family provides an outlet for parents childish behaviours.

Internalisation of society's culture

Teaching children about norms and values of society.

2 basic functions of family according to Parsons

-Primary socialisation of children

-Stabilisation of the adult personalities

2 processes within primary socialisation

-internalisation of society's culture

-structuring of the personality

Criticisms of Parsons

-over optimistic

-only regards American middle class

-sees socialisation as a one way process

-ignores how family sustains gender inequality

Effects of industrialisation

-extended family evolved into smaller units

-nuclear family was better suited for an achievement oriented society

Instrumental role in family

Male role as breadwinner

Expressive role in family

Looking after children and the household and providing support for rest of the family.

Need for structurally isolated family

-division of labour

-geographical mobility

-higher rate of social mobility

-growth of meritocracy

-development of welfare state

Warm bath theory

Family provides a comfortable environment for when you get home.

Criticisms of the warm Bath theory

-very idealistic

-bad from a feminist standpoint

Structural differentiation

The emergence of specialised agencies which took over the role of the extended family e.g. NHS, welfare system and education.

The nuclear family can focus on reproduction.

Fletcher

A functionalist who believed that Parsons was wrong.

Institutions have replaced functions of the family but parents are being watched and judged by healthcare, social workers etc.

Criticisms of the functionalist view on family

-very ethnocentric

-ignores exploitation of women

-both Murdock and parsons downplay the 'darker side of family'

-instrumental and expressive families are outdated

-doesn't count for diverse types of family

-modified extended family

March of progress studies

Family life progressively adapts to change in society and economy.

Young and Willmott

Wrote a book called the symmetrical family

Disagreed with Parsoms

Believed that extended family survived much longer than parsons claimed

Family has gone through 3 main stages