Theories of the Family

Organ analogy -- functionalism

→ Different parts of society perform functions which are vital to society’s wellbeing

→ e.g. family socialises children into other institution

Murdock -- functionalism

Family performs 4 essential functions to meet needs of society/its members

→ Sexual regulation

→ Reproduction

→ Economic cooperation

→ Socialisation/education

Evaluation of organ analogy/functions of family

→ Ignores conflict/exploitation -- **rose-tinted view**

Parsons -- functionalism

‘==**Functional fit theory**==’ family adapts to the functions it needs to perform in society

→ In modern industrial family, nuclear family meets needs so is dominant

→ Previously, extended family fit needs better

→ Industrial society requires a ==**geographically + socially mobile workforce**==

* Status is now ==**achieved**== rather than ==**ascribed**==, and this can cause conflict in the extended family as a son may become higher status than his father in work
* Easier for nuclear family to move than the extended
* Results in the ==**mobile nuclear family**==; structurally isolated from extended kin; may keep in touch but no obligation to

Loss of functions -- functionalism

→ Pre-industrial family was a unit of **production and consumption**

* More self-sufficient, provided for members’ health/welfare and met most needs 

→ Industrialisation meant family ==**ceased to be a unit of production**==

* Work moved into factories, education into schools

→ Means modern nuclear family ==**specialises in two irreducible functions**==

Irreducible functions of the family -- functionalism

→ ==**Primary socialisation**== of children

→ ==**Stabilisation**== of adult personalities

Functions of the family under Marxism

Benefit CAPITALISM, not the family

→ Inheritance of property

→ Ideological functions

→ Unit of consumption

Inheritance of property -- Marxism

→ Earliest societies had ==**primitive communism**==

* No private property, everyone owned means of production communally

→ Private property developed as wealth increased, **new class who could control the means of production**

→ Created the monogamous **nuclear family**

Engels -- Marxism

In earliest societies, no families. Instead, ==**promiscuous horde**==

→ No restrictions on sexual relationships

→ Monogamy developed because of the ==**inheritance of private property**==

→ This was the ==**world historical defeat of the female sex**==

* Put womens’ sexuality under male control

Ideological functions -- Marxism

→ Family socialises children into idea that **hierarchy is inevitable**

→ Parental power over kids prepares them for working life, where employer controls employee

Zaretsky -- Marxism

Family performs ideological function by ==**offering haven from exploitation of capitalism**==

→ Says this is an illusion; family cant meet its members’ needs

Unit of consumption -- Marxism

→ Capitalism exploits workers’ labour by selling products for profit

→ Family is a major market in selling goods; ‘==**keeping up with the Joneses**==’

→ Targets children who use ==**pester power**==

* May be mocked by peers if they lack the latest items

Criticisms of Marxist perspective

→ ==**Ignores family diversity**==; assumes nuclear family is dominant

→ ==**Underestimates importance of gender inequality in the family**==; too much emphasis on class

→ Ignores the ==**positive benefits family provides**== for its members

What do feminists say about the family?

→ It oppresses women

→ Nuclear family is patriarchal

→ Focus on issues like DV, unequal divisions of labour

Liberal feminism and the family

→ Campaign for equal rights, believe this is being **gradually successful**

* e.g. men do more domestic labour now

→ Recognise progress is still needed

→ Similar views to **‘**^^**march of progress**^^’ theorists like ^^**Young & Wilmott**^^

Evaluation of liberal feminism

Fails to challenge the **underlying causes of oppression**

→ Change in law/attitudes are not enough

Marxist feminism

→ Primary cause of womens’ oppresssion is **capitalism**; not men

→ Family must be abolished at the same time as capitalism is replaced with a classless society

→ Womens’ oppression performs functions for capitalism

Functions of womens’ oppression for capitalism -- mfem

→ ==**Reproducing**== the labour force

* and socialising the next generation of workers

→ ==**Absorbing anger**== otherwise directed at capitalism

* e.g. domestic violence against women by men

→ A ==**reserve army**== of labour

* taken on when extra workers needed, and let go first

Ansley -- MFem

Women are ‘==**takers of shit**==’ who soak up husbands’ frustration at capitalism

Women as a reserve army of labour -- MFem

→ e.g. during WW2

→ Women are the first to be fired, but also the first to be taken on when they need more workers

* **COVID**; women were first to be furloughed

Radical feminism

→ Say the key division in society is ==**men vs women**==; society is founded on patriarchy

→ Men are the source of womens’s oppression

* Benefit from their unpaid labour/sexual services
* Dominate via violence

→ Patriarchy needs overturned, and ==**must abolish the family**== (root of womens’ oppression)

Separatism -- RFem

Women must live **independently of men**

Political lesbianism -- RFem

Heterosexual relationships are inherently oppressive

→ ‘==**sleeping with the enemy**==**’**

Greer -- RFem

Argues for creation of all-female ==**matrilocal**== households

→ Instead of heterosexual family

Evaluation of radical feminism

→ Fail to recognise how womens’ position has improved

* More equal than in the past

→ ^^**Somerville**^^; Heterosexual attraction means separatism is unlikely to work

Difference feminism

→ We cant generalise womens’ experiences

* Gay/straight, white/black, middle/working class women all have different experiences of the family

Evaluation of difference feminism

→ Neglects how many women share experiences

What does the personal life perspective say?

→ Other theories suffer from weaknesses

* ==**Structural theories**==; assume families are passive puppets manipulated by structures of society
* ==**Ignores family diversity**==; assumes nuclear family is dominant

→ PLP is influenced by ^^**interactionist/postmodernist**^^ perspectives

→ To understand family today, we should focus on the ==**meanings people give to their relationships**,== not the family’s functions

Sociology of personal life

→ Influenced by interactionism

→ Bottom-up approach vs. Funct/Marx/Fem

→ Emphasises the **meanings people give to their relationships**

PLP view of family relationships

→ Not just based on blood/marriage

* ==**Relationships with friends**== being ‘like a sister’
* ==**Fictive kin**== like your mums best friend who you call auntie
* ==**Chosen families**== (support networks of close friends)
* ==**Relationships with dead relatives**== who live on through memory

Nordqvist & Smart -- PLP

What counts as family when your child is donor-conceived and isnt genetically related to your partner?

→ Some parents emphasise ==**social relationships**== over genetic ones

* Time put into raising the child, as opposed to genetics

→ Problems for lesbian couples; ==**equality between genetic/non-genetic mothers**==

Evaluation of personal life perspective

→ Helps understand ==**how people define relationships**== as ‘family’

→ Can be argued it takes ==**too broad a view**==; ignores whats special about blood/marriage relationships

→ Recognises that ==**relatedness may not be positive**==

* abusive relationships exist