Parsons: Family is a functional fit to society surrounding it - Nuclear family is uniquely suited to the needs of industrialised society
Functionalist: Thus if the Nuclear family is uniquely able to perform society's essential functions - we can therefore generalise on the type of family
Nuclear Family is natural and based on fundamental biological differences. Family is cornerstone of society performing as refuge, contentment and harmony
New Right perspective on lone-parent families:
lone mothers unable to discipline
boys have no male role model meaning they are delinquents with educational failure and socially unstable
lone parent families are poorer and thus a burden on the welfare state and taxpayers
