theories of the family

• What do functionalists mean by value consensus?

  Set of shared norms & values
• How do functionalists compare society to the human body?

  Organic analogy – sub-systems and different parts all need to work together for society to function harmoniously
• What 4 functions did Murdock (1949) say that the family performed?


  Stable satisfaction of sex drive, reproduction, socialisation, economic
• Why did Murdock say the nuclear family was universal?


  Argued it was the best way to meet all needs of family through the 4 functions
• What criticism is made of the 4 functions identified by Murdock?


  Can be fulfilled by other institutions
• Why are other perspectives critical of the ‘rose-tinted’ view of functionalism?


  Ignores darker side of family life, oppresses women, serves capitalism
• Who came up with the ‘functional fit’ theory?

  Parsons (1955)
• What is ‘functional fit’ theory?
• How did industrialisation affect the family according to ‘functional fit’ theory?

  Move from extended to nuclear
• What is geographical mobility?

  Movement for jobs
• What is social mobility?


  Movement through social classes
• What criticism do Young & Wilmot (1973) make of ‘functional fit’ theory?


  Pre-industrial family was nuclear not extended, extended family has not disappeared – still there for support
• What are the two irreducible functions of the family identified by Parsons?


  Primary socialisation & stabilisation of adult personalities
• What is the ‘warm bath theory’?


  Family eases away the stresses of the day
• What are the gendered roles identified by functionalism?

  Instrumental & expressive
• Marxists see society as based on a conflict in society between which two groups?


  Bourgeoisie & proletariat
• For Marxists the functions of the family are performed to benefit what?


  Capitalism
• What was the earliest classless society called where there was no private property?


  Primitive communism
• What did Engels mean by the term ‘promiscuous horde’?


  No family, no restrictions on sexual relationships
• In Engels view why did the monogamous nuclear family come about?


  Inheritance private property
• What impact did the rise of the monogamous nuclear family have on women?


  Mere instruments of reproduction – oppressive
• According to Marxism how does the family act as an ‘ideological conditioning device’?


  Socialises children into acceptance of authority
• Why are Marxists opposed to capitalism?


  Capitalism exploits the labour of workers making a profit by selling the products of their labour for more than it costs to produce
• What is pester power?

  Media targets children who persuade parents to spend
• How is the Marxist view of the family criticised?


  Outdated, ignores patriarchy, too negative
• Why do feminists take a critical view of the family?


  Patriarchal oppression
• What action are liberal feminists concerned with?

  Campaigning against sex discrimination & changing policy
• What do liberal feminists mean by the ‘new man’?


  Involved in childcare & domestic labour
• What criticisms are made of the liberal feminist view?


  Too vague, lacks evidence, not enough action to change, ignores deeper structural factors
• What is the main cause of oppression according to Marxist feminists?


  Capitalism
• What does Marxist feminist Ansley (1972) say about the role of women in the family?


  Takers of shit
• What is the radical feminist view of marriage?

  Prison, men are the enemy
• What is meant by the term ‘political lesbianism’?


  Heterosexual relationships are inevitably patriarchal & so should be avoided – sleeping with the enemy
• What family type does Greer (2000) think people should live in?

  Matrifocal/matrilocal
• What criticism does liberal feminist Somerville (2000) make of radical feminism?


  Ignores progress made, heterosexual attraction means separatism will not work
• What criticism of feminist ideas do difference feminists make?

  Cannot generalise women’s experiences, class & ethnicity make a difference
• What weaknesses do functionalism, Marxism & feminism all share?


  Dated, assume traditional nuclear family, assume gendered division, structural so assume are all passive puppets
• How does the personal life perspective take a bottom up approach?


  Emphasises the meanings members of the family hold & how this shapes actions & relationships
• What counts as family for the personal life perspective that is often ignored by the traditional perspectives?


  Pets, dead relatives, close friends
• What is meant by the term fictive kin?

  Close friends who are treated as relatives