Families

• Family

  Two or more people linked by birth, marriage, civil partnership, adoption or co-habitation based on long term relationships
• Conventional family

  A form of family that is based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed as a ‘normal’ family
• Household

  Either one person living alone, or a group of people living together
• Empty nest family

  When children reach adulthood and independence and leave the family home: leaving a couple alone
• Lone parent family

  A family where children are being raised by just one parent
• Symmetrical family

  A family where the domestic division of labour is equally shared
• Blended family

  A family unit where one or both parents have children from a previous relationship, but they have combined to form a new family. The parents may or may not then have children with each other.
• Nuclear family

  A couple and their depended children, regarded as a basic social unit
• Alternatives to families:

  Commune

  A group of people who share living accommodation, possessions, wealth and property
• Alternatives to families:

  Kibbutz

  A group of people who live together communally and value equality and co-operation between members in Isreal. Usually attached to a farm which makes most of the income.
• Alternatives to families:

  Polygamy

  A form or plural marriage, a man has multiple Wives. It is illegal
• Alternatives to families:

  Polyandry

  A form of marriage where a woman has multiple husbands, usually related. It is illegal and not as common.
• Child-limiting policies

  Governments ban parents from having multiple children. Stops the population from getting too big.
• Functionalist views on families:

  • Functionalists are interested in the positive functions of a family
  • They view the family as the cornerstone of society, as it prepares individuals to join the rest of society through primary socialisation
  • Functionalists think that the nuclear family is beneficial to all of its members and is necessary for society to run smoothly
• Who argued that the nuclear family fulfills four vital functions?

  Murdock
• What are the four vital functions of the nuclear family according to Murdock?

  1. Sexual
  2. Reproductive
  3. Educational
  4. Economic
• What is the sexual function of the nuclear family as described by Murdock?

  Marital sex encourages fidelity and commitment to the family, promoting stable relationships.
• Why is the reproductive function of the nuclear family important according to Murdock?

  Society needs new members to continue, which generally occurs within marital and family contexts.
• What role does the educational function of the nuclear family play in society?

  It provides primary socialization to teach children the norms and values of society.
• How does the economic function of the nuclear family contribute to society?

  It provides shelter, food, and money, which helps meet children's needs and supports the economy.
• How do the four functions of the nuclear family interconnect according to Murdock's argument?

  Each function supports the stability of relationships and the overall functioning of society.
• Murdock argues that the nuclear family is universal, it exists in every known society, there is no alternative that can perform these functions well. He stated that the nuclear family is an inevitable part of society.
• For Parsons the function of the family has changed and now only has two basic functions:

  • Primary socialisation of children
  • Stabilisation of adult personalities
• Primary socialisation

  The socialisation which occurs during the early years of childhood.

  During the process of socialisation a child’s personality is moulded so that the core values of the society it’s immersed in become part of that child.

  Parsons argued families act like factories with the processes and systems available to it to continually ‘reproduce human personalities’ in a warm secure environment.
• During primary socialisation, two important tasks are achieved by the family. Firstly, the family must transmit the culture of the society to the children. The child must not only be able to learn about the norms and values of society they live in, but should also be able to ‘internalise’ these norms and values, making them part of themselves.
• Stabilisation of adult personalities emphasises the emotional security found within marital relationships. This acts to balance out the stresses and strains of everyday life faced by most adults. In addition, the function of the family is to allow adults to ‘act out’ the ‘childish’ dimension of their personality by playing with their children, using their toys, etc.
• The stabilisation of adult personalities is aided by the sexual division of labour within, particularly as the family is an isolated nuclear unit. Within the isolated nuclear family, members are allocated particular roles (role allocation) in order for it to function correctly. The sexual division of labour achieves these ends. By identifying two distinct roles for the husband and wife within the family this structure stabilises family members allowing the family to function.
• Parsons’ view can be criticised by arguing that:

  • His theory paints an idealistic view of the family that ignores the dysfunctional and harmful aspects of family life.
  • His theory does not explain the diverse form of family in Britain or around the world: other cultures may structure families in different ways
  • The theory ignores the child’s own role in shaping their personality
  • It ignores the other institutions that allow primary socialisation to occur, treating the family as an isolated unit and ignoring the ways that it depends on wider societal processes.
• All views from Murdock and Parsons are seen as out of date, unrealistic and sexist. They don’t consider other social classes, ethnicities and religion.
• Proletariat

  The ‘working class’, they have no ownership or power, they are the workforce or labourers
• Bourgeoisie

  The ‘upper class’, who own the means of production and private property. Marx thought of them as the ruling class, they have the economic power giving them political power.
• Radical feminists

  Men dominate and oppress women. The socialisation of women as housewives and mothers oppresses them. A matriarchal society is the aim.
• Marxist feminist

  Explore how women are oppressed by men and capitalism. They support their husbands so that they can contribute to the economy, and raise the next generation of workers- all for no money.
• Liberal feminists

  Argue that change has taken place through legislation, e.g. the 1970 Equal Pay act and 1975 Sex Discrimination act. They believe that improvements will continue by means of legislation and policy.
• Unlike functionalists, Marxists are very critical of the nuclear family. They don’t see it as meeting the needs of the individuals, but as serving the capital interests of society.
• Criticisms to Marxist approach to the family

  • Marxists ignore the fact that most people are satisfied with family life
  • Feminists point out that Marxists focus on the traditional nuclear family- ignoring the diversity of family today- outdated
  • Feminists say that female oppression is linked to the patriarchy rather than capitalism, they question whether female oppression would disappear in a socialist society
  • Marxists can be over negative of the family, ignoring the fulfilment people get from being part of a family.
  • They have no explanation of dysfunctional families, etc
• Feminist views of the family: Marxist feminist

  Men benefit more from family life than women. A woman’s role is to support the husband in a capitalist society, and produce the next generation of workers- at no cost to the capitalist class. This also benefits men as women cannot compete for promotions as they do not have the same experience, if they have taken maternity leave.
• Feminist views of the family: Radical feminist

  The nuclear family benefits men the most, because gender role socialisation results in boys and girls behaving in stereotypical ways, for example, the sexual division of labour.
• Feminist views of the family: Liberal feminist

  There is increasing equality between men and women- men having more paternity leave, and women can no longer be discriminated against due to having children.
• Canalisation

  The way in which parents channel their children’s interests into toys, games, activities that are seen as gender appropriate. This is the part of socialisation which reproduces traditional gender roles or inequalities overtime