Functionalism

• Functionalists say that industrialisation changed the function of the family.
• Parsons (Functionalist) thought that the dominant family structure changed from extended to nuclear because it was more useful for industrial society.
• Lots of functions of the family in pre-industrial society are taken over by the state in industrial society.
• The nuclear family can focus on it's function of socialisation. The family socialises children into the roles, values and norms of industrialised society.
• Parsons said the industrial nuclear family is 'isolated' - meaning it has few ties with local kinship and economic systems. This means the family can easily move to where the work is (this is called 'geographical mobility')
• Family structure adapts to the needs of society.
• Functionalists say industrialisation changed ropes and status in the family.
• Status for an individual in pre-industrial society was ascribed - decided at birth by the family they were born into. Parsons says that in industrial society and individual's status is achieved by their success outside the family.
• The idea is that the nuclear family is the best for allowing individuals to achieve status and position without conflict. This allows for greater social mobility in society.
• Parsons says that specialised roles for men and women to develop within the family. He thought that men are instrumental leaders and women are expressive leaders in the family.
• As a functionalist, Parsons said these roles come about because they're most effective for society. Feminists and conflict theorists disagree - they say these roles come from ideology and power.
• functionalists are criticised for seeing the modern nuclear family as superior and for idealising history. Historical evidence suggests that there was a variety of family forms in the past.
• Laslett and Anderson say that the extended family was significant in industrial society.
• Willmott and Young said families have developed through three stages.

  • Stage one - Pre-industrial
  • Stage two - Early industrial
  • Stage three - Privatised nuclear
• Willmott and Young - Stage one

  Pre-industrial.

  Family works together as an economic production unit. Work and home are combined.
• Willmott and Young - Stage Two

  Early industrial.

  Extended family is broken up as individuals leave home to work. Women at home have strong extended kinship networks.
• Willmott and Young - Stage Three

  Privatised Nuclear.

  Family based on consumption, not production - buying things, not making things. Nuclear family is focused on its personal relationships and lifestyle. Called 'the symmetrical family' - husband and wife have joint roles.
• A key part of the definition of a symmetrical family is the idea that both partners work either part-time or full-time. The economic contribution of men and women is equally important.
• Helen Wilkinson argued that increasing numbers of women are working because the economy has moved away from the historically male dominated industry sector towards the traditionally female dominated service sector.
• Women's attitudes towards work and family have undergone a 'genderquake' - Wilkinson notes that, in early 1990s, women between the ages of 16 and 35 saw work and education as more important than having children.
• Women have gained economic influence in the family through employment - this changes the structure of the family because traditional gender roles within the family are broken down.
• In 2012, a survey of social attitudes found that 41% of women and 36% of men believed that the ideal structure of a family with dependent children was for men to work full time and women to work part time. This structure is seen as more desirable than only having a male breadwinner.