Functionalists

• What did Functionalist, George Murdock, state were the 4 main functions that family provides to meet its members' needs?


  1. Stables the satisfaction of the sex drive- supresses societal disruption from a sexual free-for-all.

  2. Reproduction of the next generation to allow society to continue.

  3. Socialisation of the young into shared norms and values.

  4. Meeting its members' economic needs- like food and shelter.
• Describing the economic function- Male and female


  The nuclear family fulfils the economic function through the man working and providing for the family (the primary breadwinner being male was the social norm at the time of the research). It was the mans labour which produced wages which purchased food, shelter and clothing for his family.

  
  

  Females also provided a more domestic role that met the economical needs- often doing unpaid labour at home which contributed to a smoother running of the household and wider society.
• (AO3) Economic Function- Delphi and Leonard (women's wages)


  The fact that this states that women are not worthy of wages is a criticism which is used by Delphi and Leonard towards Functionalist explanations of family roles. Stating that the organisation of the family is patriarchal in nature.
• Describing the sexual regulation function


  The sexual relationships between men and women within marriage controlled and regulated sexual urges.

  
  

  It also promotes heterosexuality which ensured reproduction of the next generation of society.

  
  

  A final process this function did was to socialise children into gender-appropriate roles which prepared them for adult life
• (AO3) Sexual Regulation function- Temporal validity


  This explanation lacks temporal validity- society has developed and changed it's norms and values. For example, homosexuality is now accepted due to changing societal behaviours.
• Describing the education function


  Education refers to the socialisation by the family of their children. The children learn the norms and values of society through being taught these by their parents. These include gendered norms and values and allow children to fit into society and ensure that they are able to contribute to harmonious functioning of society.
• Describing the reproduction function


  Men and women reproduce and these children become the next generation of society. Gender socialisation prepares children to take on these roles by promoting social behaviours that will allow them to reproduce once in a stable heterosexual relationship.

  
  

  Without the function of reproduction, society could stagnate and this places strain on elder members of society.
• (AO3) Reproduction function-


  In contemporary society, heterosexuality is one of many sexualities that exist so it is not up to date.
• What main two functions does Parson state the family performs?


  Primary Socialisation and Stabilisation of Adult Personalities
• Parsons- Primary Socialisation (AO1)


  Parsons stated that families provided early socialisation of children into norms and values of society. Children will be taught how to act in certain situations and also be taught the core values of society (value consensus)- behaviours that allow them to fit into society and not become deviant. Parents reinforce the positive behaviours and sanction the undesirable ones so that children 'fit into' wider society.
• Parsons: Stabilisation of Adult Personalities (warm bath theory)


  Parsons stated that the family provides stability towards adult personalities. This is often referred to as the 'warm bath theory' which states that males coming home to the family was the equivalent of getting into a warm bath- soothing and washing the worries of work away. Families provide emotional security for members, allowing worries to be addressed within the comfort at home, in return allowing people to function normally in the public sphere. The family provides a sense of fulfilment which stabilises their personalities in contrast to the stresses of adult life.
• Parsons- Functional Fit Theory


  Parsons suggested that the nuclear family was formed as an adaption to industrialisation- families needed to be both geographically mobile in order to move towns and cities to look for employment, and socially mobile.
• Parsons- Sex Role Theory (instrumental and expressive)


  Parsons suggested that roles in the family were divided based upon biological characteristics and gendered socialisation. The instrumental role was taken up by the male- economic support through going to work and provides discipline. The expressive role was taken up by the female- emotional support and nurturing.
• Parsons (AO3)- Feminists, Gender roles (Temporal)


  Feminists criticise Parsons for stereotypical views of female role and expectations of females towards males. Also, gender roles have changed throughout time- dual-earner families, men are more involved in children's upbringing than in the past.
• Parsons (AO3)- Outdated view of society


  In recent times, compared to the past, family has lost some of its traditional functionality. Plus, there are more family types which Parsons research does not include.
• Parsons (AO3)- Ethnocentric view


  Parsons research was solely based upon the American nuclear family and American ideals. His work is theoretical rather than empirical, meaning there is little evidence to back up his findings.