the functionalist perspective
Functionalists see the family as a vitally important part of society. It as an essential 'building block' of society, and without it society would not be able to go on as it is.Murdock (1949) argues that the family poses four main functions;
Murdock accepts that other institutions could perform these functions, but the family has a sheer practicality to provide these functions which explains why the family is a structure found in societies all around the world.
Parsons believe the functions of the family depends on the kind of society in which it is found. The Nuclear family is more suited to in recent industrial societys, whereas the classic extended family was found in pre-industrial times. He discusses the reasons why the structure required has changed;
Criticisms;
- Stable Satisfaction of The Sex Drive
- Reproduction of the Next Generations
- Socialisation of the Young
- Meeting its Members Economic Needs
Murdock accepts that other institutions could perform these functions, but the family has a sheer practicality to provide these functions which explains why the family is a structure found in societies all around the world.
Parsons believe the functions of the family depends on the kind of society in which it is found. The Nuclear family is more suited to in recent industrial societys, whereas the classic extended family was found in pre-industrial times. He discusses the reasons why the structure required has changed;
- A geographically mobile workforce; In traditional preindustrial society, families often spent their whole lives working with their large extended families on farms. In modern society, the industrialisation meant people had to move to different parts of the country, and even different parts of the world for work. It was much easier for a two-generation nuclear family to pick up and move, than take their whole family with them.
- A socially mobile workforce; Parsons argues that the nuclear family is more adapted to todays industrial society because of the heavily based science and technology work available today. People who are intelligent and work hard are able to climb up career ladders despite their familys past history and achievements. Males are able to make a name of themselves outside of their fathers shadow, if they were to stay at home it would result in conflict in 'power' of the household, so to avoid conflict males are inclined to move out and live seperately, with no financial obligation to their extended family.
- Loss of functions; The preindustrial family was a multi function unit, where all the members worked together on the family farm to feed the family and make money. However, the industrialisation of society has meant the family has lost alot of its functions to the education and health system, as well as not being relied on to grow their own food. The family no longer need to live in a large extended group to survive and make money.
Criticisms;
- Many sociologists such as Young & Wilmott argue that the preindustrial family was mostly nuclear, and not extended as Parsons claim. On a study of families between 1564, to 1821 they found that the family structure was almost always nuclear. A combination of late childbearing and shorter life expectancy meant that grandparents often were not alive for the birth of their grandchildren.
- Young & Wilmott also argues that the rise of industrialisation did not necessarily kill off the extended family. Young and Wilmott argue that mothers and their married daughters often banded together whilst the men worked, and relied on each other for financial, practical and emotional support.
Marxism perspective
Marxists see the family as just another institution that reinforces capitalist society. This view contrasts sharply with the functionalist perspective, and believe that the function of a family is mostly a negative thing. It creates a 'false conciousness' of what society is really like. Marxists have identified several functions the family has for capitalism;
Criticisms;
- Inheritance of Property; Marxists argue that monogomy came about by the desire to establish paternity of the children they were passing down their fortunes and land ownership down to. The function of the family keeps the working and capitalist classes seperate, keeping the money in the families who have it.Engels argues that monogomy turned the woman into a mere instrument for the production of children.
- Ideological Functions; the family persuades and socialises people into accepting society and the capitalism in todays society. Children are socialised into believing that hierachy and inequality are an inevitable part of life, and that they need to learn to obey authority. Zaretsky argues that the family creates a false sense of a 'safe haven' away from the harsh capitalist world.
- A Unit of Consumption; By the rise of the nuclear family, and a step away from farm work, families are now relying on consumer goods to surive and live life. Families are shopping at supermarkets for food, instead of growing their own. Constant propaganda advertisements persuade families they need the latest products to 'keep up with the joneses' and that children who dont have the latest gadgets will be bullied and secluded. This consumption keeps the rich even richer.
Criticisms;
- Largely focus on the nuclear family, and ignore other family types such as single parent households, same sex households, and extended families.
- Functionalists argue that Marxism largely ignore the very real benefits that the family has to the people within it.
- Feminists argue that this theory largely ignores the gender inequality in families, and that the family serves the men and not capitalism.
Feminist perspectives
As a whole, the feminist movement believes that the function of a family is a negative thing for the women within it, and that the function of the family is purely to benefit the men within it, and oppress and restrict the women. There are many different branches of feminism, with the severity of their views varying.
Liberal Feminism; They have a similar view to the 'march of progress' view, they believe that womens oppression is gradually being overcome, and that we are moving towards a greater equality - but it hasnt fully happened yet.
Marxist Feminism; Marcist feminists argue that the oppression of women specifcally is not primarily from men, but from capitalism. The women perform several functions for capitalism, such as reproducing the next labour force, absorbing anger from their husbands that would otherwise be directed towards capitalism, and act as a reserve army for cheap labour.
Radical Feminism; Argue that the family is based on patriarchy. Men are the emeny, and are the source of womens oppression and exploitation. Men benefit from the womens unpaid household labour, and for their sexual services. They argue that the root of their oppression, men and the family structure need to be abolished. Women must organise themelves seperately from men.
Liberal Feminism; They have a similar view to the 'march of progress' view, they believe that womens oppression is gradually being overcome, and that we are moving towards a greater equality - but it hasnt fully happened yet.
Marxist Feminism; Marcist feminists argue that the oppression of women specifcally is not primarily from men, but from capitalism. The women perform several functions for capitalism, such as reproducing the next labour force, absorbing anger from their husbands that would otherwise be directed towards capitalism, and act as a reserve army for cheap labour.
Radical Feminism; Argue that the family is based on patriarchy. Men are the emeny, and are the source of womens oppression and exploitation. Men benefit from the womens unpaid household labour, and for their sexual services. They argue that the root of their oppression, men and the family structure need to be abolished. Women must organise themelves seperately from men.
TEACHING IDEAS
Group Activity; Give one of the three perspectives. Make a presentation on large A3 paper and present to the rest of the class. A few minutes long, where everyone has to get involved and hopefully speak. Involve evaluations of the perspective.
Practice Question; "Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households", do an essay plan together as a class on the board infront of the class. Discuss essay techniques, cover the topic involved. Work on evaluation skills and essay techniques.
Practice Question; "Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households", do an essay plan together as a class on the board infront of the class. Discuss essay techniques, cover the topic involved. Work on evaluation skills and essay techniques.
