Functionalist view of families and households

• What is a nuclear family?

  A married couple with two or more children where the husband works and the wife is responsible for domestic duties
• What are the roles in a traditional nuclear family?

  Instrumental roles for men and expressive roles for women
• How do functionalists view the roles of men and women in nuclear families?

  They believe these roles are 'natural' and an extension of biology
• What characterizes symmetrical families?

  Men and women share roles equally, with men taking on more domestic duties and women working
• What is a nuclear family with a 'house husband'?

  A nuclear family where the wife is the breadwinner and the husband is responsible for domestic duties
• What are extended families?

  Families that include members outside the nuclear family
• What is a vertical extended family?

  A family with multiple generations living together, such as grandparents, parents, and children
• What is a horizontal extended family?

  A family where the same generation lives together, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins
• What are beanpole families?

  A multi-generation family that is long and thin, with few uncles, aunts, and cousins
• What defines lone-parent families?

  A family where only one parent is present in the household
• What are the two types of lone-parent families?

  Matrifocal and patrifocal families
• What are reconstituted families?

  Families formed when a nuclear family breaks up and merges with another to create a new family
• What are same-sex families?

  Families where two parents are of the same sex, which can be childless or have children
• What is polygamy?

  A marriage between one person of one sex and two or more people of the opposite sex at the same time
• What is polygyny?

  A form of polygamy where one man is married to several women
• What is polyandry?

  A form of polygamy where one woman is married to several men
• How did George Murdock define the nuclear family?

  A social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction
• What conclusion did Murdock reach about the nuclear family?

  He concluded that the nuclear family is universal and serves positive functions
• What method did Murdock use to study families worldwide?

  He examined and compared 250 societies
• Who is a prominent functionalist that views the family as an essential building block?

  Durkheim
• What critical functions does the family perform according to functionalists?

  The family benefits individual members and society as a whole
• What term describes how individuals are related to one another within a family?

  Kinship
• What are the four key functions of the nuclear family according to George Murdock?

  Sexual, Reproductive, Educational, Economic
• How does the nuclear family regulate sexual behavior?

  It creates emotional bonds, encouraging fidelity and commitment
• What societal value is placed on marriage according to Murdock?

  Marriage is seen as a goal that individuals should respect
• Why is the reproductive function of the nuclear family important?

  It ensures the survival of societies by producing new members
• What role do children play in the context of marriage according to Murdock?

  Children symbolize a couple's commitment and stabilize family life
• How does the family contribute to education in society?

  It transmits norms, values, and culture to promote social order
• What economic role does the family play for children?

  Children depend on parents for food, housing, and material possessions
• What is a criticism of Murdock's view on sexual relationships?


  It focuses only on heterosexual relationships
• How have women's attitudes towards childbearing changed according to criticisms of Murdock?


  Women have fewer children than previous generations
• What role do other institutions play in socialization compared to the family?


  Other institutions may play a greater role than the family
• What are some social problems that may arise from other agents of socialization?


  Teen pregnancy, crime, and anti-social behavior
• What are general criticisms of Murdock's view of the family?


  It is dated, ethnocentric, and politically conservative
• How do feminists view Murdock's image of the family?


  They argue it reinforces stereotypical gender roles and oppresses women
• What is the traditional family structure according to Murdock?


  A family consisting of a mother, father, and their children
• What example does Gough provide to challenge Murdock's view on family structure?


  The Nayar Tribe in South-West India
• What unique marital practice was observed in the Nayar Tribe?


  Women could have multiple men visit them after puberty
• How are children raised in the Nayar Tribe?


  Children are raised by mothers and their siblings
• What is the role of men in the Nayar Tribe regarding child-raising?


  Men have no obligation to child-raising