Theories of the family

• Functionalism= Murdock's 4 functions of the family

  • Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
  • Reproduction
  • Economic production
  • Socialisation of young
• Marxism= the family acts as a "unit of consumptive", Engles housewife is a glorified prostitute
• Feminism= Ansley said "women are the takers of shit"
• Personal life perspective= Carol Smart and alternate family types

  • Friends
  • Fictive kin
  • Queer chosen family
  • Dead relatives
  • Pets