The nature and role of family in society

• What is the main focus of Section Four in the study material?

  The nature and role of family in society
• How are families and households defined in the study material?

  Families and households are not necessarily the same thing; a household is a group of people living together who may or may not have family or kinship ties.
• What are the main types of family mentioned in the study material?

  • Nuclear family: Two parents living together with dependent children.
  • Extended family: Three or more generations living together or close by.
  • Attenuated extended family: Families that are apart but keep in regular contact.
  • Lone-parent family: A single parent and their dependent children.
  • Reconstituted family: New families formed from previous relationships.
• What do functionalists emphasize about the role of the family?

  Functionalists emphasize the positive role of the family in society.
• Who conducted a key functionalist study on the family and in what year?

  Murdock conducted a key functionalist study in 1949.
• What did Murdock find in his study of 250 societies?

  Murdock found that some form of the nuclear family existed in all 250 societies he studied.
• What are the four basic functions of the family according to Murdock?

  1. Sexual: Provides stable sexual relationships for adults.
  2. Reproductive: Ensures the continuation of society through reproduction.
  3. Economic: Pools resources to provide for all family members.
  4. Educational: Transmits the values and norms of society to children.
• What are the two basic and irreducible functions of the family according to Talcott Parsons?


  The primary socialization of children and the stabilization of adult personalities.
• What is primary socialization?

  Primary socialization is the process by which children learn and accept the values and norms of society.
• How does the family stabilize adult personalities?

  The family provides emotional relationships that give support and security needed to cope with wider society.
• What criticisms are made against the functionalist perspective on family life?

  The functionalist perspective is criticized for idealizing the family and ignoring negative aspects such as conflict and exploitation.
• What do Marxists argue about the family in relation to capitalism?

  Marxists argue that the family benefits the bourgeoisie and disadvantages the proletariat.
• What economic function of the family did Engels highlight?

  Engels highlighted the function of keeping wealth within the bourgeoisie through inheritance.
• How does Zaretsky view the family in relation to the capitalist economy?

  Zaretsky views the family as a place where the proletariat can have power and control, relieving frustration from their work.
• What is the role of women as housewives in a capitalist society according to Marxists?

  Women's role as housewives ensures that workers are cared for and healthy, benefiting the capitalist class.
• How do Marxists view the family as a unit of consumption?

  Marxists view the family as a unit that desires to buy goods produced by capitalist industry, contributing to capitalist profits.
• What is a criticism of the Marxist view of the family?

  The Marxist view is criticized for being too negative and ignoring positive aspects of family life.
• What do feminists argue about the family?


  Feminists argue that the family exploits and oppresses women, maintaining the existing social order.
• What is patriarchy according to feminist theory?

  Patriarchy is the combination of systems, ideologies, and cultural practices that ensure men have power.
• What are the three main strands of feminist thought on the family?

  1. Marxist feminism: Exploitation of women is essential to capitalism.
  2. Radical feminism: Exploitation of women is due to male dominance.
  3. Liberal feminism: Cultural attitudes and laws allow discrimination against women.
• What do Marxist feminists argue about housework?

  Marxist feminists argue that housework is unpaid labor that supports capitalism by producing the next generation of workers.
• How do radical feminists view the family?

  Radical feminists view the family as a patriarchal institution where women do most of the work and men benefit the most.
• What do liberal feminists emphasize about the family?

  Liberal feminists emphasize the cultural norms and values reinforced by the family that support sexism.
• What criticisms are made against feminist theory?

  Feminist theory is criticized for portraying women as passive, ignoring shared power in families, and not addressing diverse family structures.
• What do New Right theorists believe about the nuclear family?

  New Right theorists believe the nuclear family is the bedrock of society and its values are best for society.
• What do New Right theorists blame for the breakdown of the traditional family?

  New Right theorists blame social policies on family, divorce, and welfare for undermining the family.
• What is the New Right's view on welfare benefits for single mothers?

  The New Right believes that welfare benefits create a culture of dependency and are detrimental to family structures.
• How do postmodernists view family diversity?

  Postmodernists view family diversity as a positive development that allows individuals to choose from various family structures.
• What does Judith Stacey argue about family structures in Western culture?

  Judith Stacey argues that there will never be one dominant type of family structure in Western culture again due to diversity and flexibility.
• What criticism is made against postmodern theory regarding family types?

  Critics argue that there is less variety in family types than postmodernists claim, and most individuals experience only one or two types of family in their lifetime.
• What are the warm-up questions related to family theories?

  1. What do sociologists define as a household?
  2. What are the key functions of the family, according to Parsons?
  3. Explain the ways in which functionalist and Marxist perspectives on the role of the family are similar.
  4. Explain the ways in which functionalist and Marxist perspectives on the role of the family are different.
• What are the exam questions related to family theories?

  1. Outline two ways that the Marxist view of the family might be criticized. Explain each.
  2. Evaluate the idea that the family performs the vital function of maintaining the existing structure of society.
  3. Compare functionalist and Marxist perspectives about the role of the family, covering pros and cons.