Theories of the family

What functionalist sociologists talk about the family

Murdock, Durkheim, Parsons,

Murdock

4 functions of the family:

-stabilisation of sex drive

-reproductive function

-primary socialisation

-economic needs

Durkheim

Organic analogy

Parsons

Primary socialisation

Stabilisation of adult personalities- warm bath theory

-nuclear family better fits geographic mobility

-pre-industrial society favoured extended while industrial society favours nuclear

Who goes against Parsons on the nuclear family and what do they say

Willmott and Young

There were nuclear family families before Industrial Revolution

-extended family has an important role in Asian cultures

What feminist sociologists talk about the role of the family

Greer, Somerville, difference feminists

Greer

Radical feminist-

Advocates from all female households or matriarchal (when men move to where women live)

Somerville

Liberal feminist-

Criticises separation as she believes that heterosexual attraction makes separation unrealistic

What do difference sociologists say about the role of the family

-not all women experience family in the same way

-black feminists highlight that family can offer protection against racism

-reject universal image of white, nuclear family

What Marxist sociologists talk about the role of the family

Engels , Zaretsky

Engels

Families ensure passing on wealth through inheritance

Zaretsky

Family life distracts attention from exploitation

-family is a unit of consumption

What personal life perspective sociologists talk about the role of the family

Nordqvist and Smart, Tripper

Nordqvist and Smart

Research on donor-conceived children found that parents emphasised the importance of social relationships over biological

Tripper

Children see pets as part of the family

What new right sociologist talks about the role of the family

Murray

Murray

Preferred the nuclear family as they were less likely to rely on the state for benefits and could adequately socialise children