Functionalist

For functionalist sociologists, the family is an important institution in society. They see the family's playing a number of important roles essential for the smooth running of society. However, other sociologists have emphasise different functions that families may fulfil in society. 

Applying material from the text above and your knowledge, evaluate the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family [20 marks] 

‘important institution’

• Helps social solidarity

• Nuclear family is a functional fit

• Murdock functions - education, reproduction, sexual, economic

• Without functions there would be anomie

• Explains the role of the nuclear family in society

• C - Nayar tribe - shows Murdock ignores family diversity

‘essential for the smooth running of society’

• Help maintains economy as they are a unit of consumption

• Children can use pester power to encourage parents to buy products

• Parsons - family was a unit of production in pre-industrial society and is now a unit of consumption

• Refined on the concept of the organic analogy - family is like an organ in society that keeps it together

‘different functions that families may fulfil’

• Maintaining capitalism is a function according to Marxists

• Zaretsky - prevents frustration from reaching wider society - family is a safety valve through abuse

  • Family acts as a safe haven where fathers feel in control compared to when they are alienated and exploited

• Also helps reproduce false class consciousness - shows children that life will always be like this

• C - ignores positive aspects of family