Theories of the family

• Functionalist perspective


  Society is seen as a system made up of different but interdependent parts or sub-systems, such as institutions like the education system, the economy, religion, the state etc. The function of any part is the contribution it makes to maintaining the social system as a whole.
• Functions of the family (Murdock)

  • Stable satisfaction of the sex drive
  • Reproduction of the next generation
  • Socialisation of the young into society's norms and values
  • Satisfaction of members' economic needs
• Parsons' 'functional fit' theory


  The kinds and range of functions that the family performs depend on the type of society in which it is found. This also determines what kind of structure the family will have.
• Types of family structure (Parsons)


  • Three-generational extended family (pre-industrial society)
  • Two-generational nuclear family (modern industrial society)
• Loss of functions (Parsons)

  • Primary socialisation of the young
  • Stabilisation of adult personalities
• Segregated conjugal roles (Parsons)

  • Male instrumental (breadwinning) role
  • Female expressive (nurturing) role
• Marxist perspective


  Sees modern capitalist society as divided into two classes: the capitalist class (or bourgeoisie) who own the means of production, and the working class (or proletariat) who own only their labour, which they are forced to sell to the capitalists in return for wages.
• Functions of the family (Marxist view)


  • Inheritance of property (passing on wealth)
  • Ideological functions
  • Unit of consumption
• Liberal feminism


  Gender inequality is gradually being overcome through legal reforms, policy changes, challenging stereotypes and changing people's attitudes and socialisation.
• Marxist feminism


  Capitalism is the main cause of women's oppression in the family, which performs several functions for capitalism: reproducing the labour force, absorbing men's anger, and providing a reserve army of cheap labour.
• Radical feminism


  Patriarchy (male domination) is the main cause of women's oppression. The family and marriage are key patriarchal institutions that must be abolished.
• Difference feminism


  Not all women share the same experiences of oppression - women of different ethnicities, class backgrounds etc may have different experiences of the family.
• Functions of the family

  • Stabilise the sex drive- prevents social disruption from free-for-alls
  • Reproduction of the next generation
  • Socialising the young- into shared norms and values
  • Meet members economic needs- food/shelter
• Parsons' view


  The nuclear family performs the 4 essential functions that meet society's and member's needs best
• Geographically mobile workforce


  • Industries rise/decline in different areas or overseas, so people move a lot for work
  • Parsons says the nuclear family is easier to move around and therefore fulfils this function better, than the extended family
• Pre-industrial families


  Multi-functional, units of production (working together on a family farm) and units of consumption [feeding/clothing members)
• Industrial society


  Families lose some functions as other institutions like schools and health service take over
• Socially mobile workforce


  • Society is constantly evolving, so workforces need to be technically skilled and competent
  • Someone's status in the force depends on talent/ability, not ascribed status based on family
  • Parsons says the nuclear family fulfils this function better because extended families have sons at home (father has higher status) even though at work they are above him, causing tensions
• Nuclear family's functions


  Socialisation of children (skills, society's values, etc) and stabilising adult personalities (family to relax and release tensions in order to go back to work refreshed)
• Functional fit theory


  • Family functions and structure depend on the type of society they're in
  • Nuclear family-parents and dependent children, fits modern industrial society
  • Extended family- 3 generations under one roof, fits pre-industrial society
• Engels' view


  The family evolved alongside the mode of production (who owns/control societal forces like tools and materials) as a class of men gained control, bringing about the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family
• Marxists say the family transmits a set of ideas/beliefs that justify inequality, and maintain capitalism by getting people to accept it as fair/natural/unchangeable
• How the family does this (Marxist view)


  • Socialising children so they believe hierarchy and inequality are inevitable
  • Parental power over children gets them used to the idea that someone's always in charge, preparing them for working life under capitalist employers
• Liberal feminism


  • Argues women's oppression is gradually overcome by changing attitudes via law charges like the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  • Believe we're moving towards greater equality but full equality comes from more forms and changes in attitudes/socialisation
• Marxist feminism


  • The main cause of women's oppression in the family is capitalism, not men
  • They link women's oppression to exploiting the working class so therefore argue the family needs to be abolished at the same time as a socialist revolution
• Radical feminism

  • Societies are founded on patriarchy, and society's key divide is between men and women
  • Men are the enemy source of women's oppression/exploitation
  • The family is a key institution of patriarchal society, so it must be abolished
• Difference feminism


  • Don't assume all women live in conventional nuclear families
  • Say we can't generalise women's experiences as lesbian, heterosexual, black, white, middle class and working class women all have different experiences of family
• Personal life perspective


  • Emphasizes meanings individual family members hold and how these shape actions/relationships, rather than structural top-down approaches
  • Looks at relationships beyond blood & marriage ties like friends, fictive kin, gay/lesbian chosen families, dead relatives, pets
• Personal life perspective argues that family performs the function of providing people with a sense of belonging/relatedness, but this can also be negative like those trapped in violent relationships or suffering with unhappiness/disrespect