Theories of the family

• How do functionalist see the family?

  A basic building block of society
• What is one of the four essential functions that the family perform argued by Murdock (1949)

  Stable Satisfaction of the sex drive : with the same partner, preventing the social disruption caused by a sexual 'free-for-all'
• What is one of the four essential functions that the family perform argued by Murdock (1949)

  Reproduction of the next generation: without which society could not continue
• What is one of the four essential functions that the family perform argued by Murdock (1949)

  Socialisation of the young: into society's shared norms and values
• What is one of the four essential functions that the family perform argued by Murdock (1949)

  Meetings its members' economic needs: such as food and shelter
• Feminists criticism of Murdock's approach

  Feminists argue functionalism neglects exploitation, Feminist see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women
• Marxists criticism of Murdock's approach

  Marxists argue that functionalism neglects conflict, Marxists argue that it meets the needs of capitalism, not those of family members or society as a whole
• What is the View of the Talcott Parsons

  In the view of parsons, the functions that the family performs will depend on the kind of society in which it is found.
• What are the two kinds of family structure parson distinguishes between?

  • The nuclear family of just parent and their dependent children
  • The extended family of three generations living under one roof
• Name one of the basic types of society and the family which 'fits' according to Parsons

  The modern industrial society - He argues that the nuclear family fits the need of industrial society and is the dominant family type in that society.
• Name one of the basic types of society and the family which 'fits' according to Parsons

  • The traditional pre-industrial society - He argues that the extended family fits the ned of pre-industrial society
  • from the late 18th century onwards, the extended family began to give way to the nuclear this is because the emerging industrial society had different needs from pre-industrial society's and the family had to adapt to meet these needs.
• What are the two essential needs parsons see the industrial society having?

  • A geographically mobile workforce
  • A socially mobile workforce
• How is the nuclear family geographically mobile?

  Parsons argue that it is easier for the compact two-generation nuclear family to move, the nuclear family is better fitted to the need that modern industry has for a geographically mobile workforce as they can easily move around the country to areas where their skills are needed. 
• How is the nuclear family socially mobile

  According to parsons the nuclear families isolated structure from its extended kin reduces conflict when younger generations attain higher social status than their parents and it is also better equipped to meet the needs of an industrial society as socially mobility promotes achieved status meaning individuals can rise through effort and ability
• What are the primary functions of the pre-industrial family?

  The pre-Industrial family was a multi-functional unit, serving as both a unit of production(e.g. family members working together on a farm) and a unit of consumption providing food and clothes.
• According to Parsons how did industrialisation affect the structure and functions of the family?

  Parsons argued that industrialisation led to a shift from extended to nuclear family structures and a loss of many functions. The family ceased being a unit of production as work moved to factories
• What is one of the 'irreducible' functions of the modern nuclear family, according to parsons?

  The primary socialisation of children - to equip them with basic skills and societal values in order for them to integrate them into society
• What is one of the 'irreducible' functions of the modern nuclear family, according to parsons?

  The stabilisation of adult personalities - providing a space for families to relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet its demands
• What did young and Wilmott(1973) about the family structure in pre-industrial society?

  Young and Wilmott argued that the pre-industrial family was nuclear, not extended, as Parsons claimed. They suggested that parents and children worked together, for example, in cottage industries like weaving.
• What did Peter Laslett find in his study of english households?

  Peter Laslett found that between 1564 and 1821, English households were almost always nuclear. He suggested that late childbearing and short life expectancy meant that grandparents were unlikely to be alive long after the birth of their first grandchild
• What did Young and Willmott argue about the family structure during early industrial period?

  They argued that instead of a shift to nuclear families, the hardship of early industrial gave rise to the 'mum-centred' working class extended family, based on close ties between mothers and their married daughters, who relied on each other for financial practical and emotional support
• What evidence supports Parsons' claim about the rise of the nuclear family

  Young and Willmott argue that from about 1900, the nuclear family became dominant due to changes like higher living standards married woman working, the welfare state, and better housing, making the extended family less important as source of support