theories of the family

• murdock - 4 functions of the family


  • sexual function - stable satisfaction of the sex drive

  • educational function - socialisation of the young into society’s shared norms & values

  • economic function - meeting its members economic needs such as food & shelter

  • reproductive function - reproduction of the next generation
• criticism of murdock


  nuclear family is in decline & other family structures become social norms
• parsons - 2 irreducible functions of the family

  • primary socialisation of children - equip them with basic skills & values e.g manners, respect, sharing

  • stabilisation of adult personalities - warm bath theory - mother creates warm, loving & nurturing environment
• functional fit theory


  • family adapts itself to meet needs of society

  • nuclear family the best type to meet the needs of industrial society

  • pre-industrial society - extended family better as all worked on the land - family provided employment, education, protection, healthcare

  • society began to provide functions once performed by the family
• geographical mobility 


  • being able to move to places where work is available
• social mobility


  • skilled workforce that has achieved status rather than ascribed
• evaluation of parsons


  • a lot of working class families stayed extended due to harsh conditions & a need for childcare
• family lost its functions


  • argued that the functions of the family have been supported by other institutions e.g the nhs provide care/safety, education helps with socialisation of children & media helps teach about the world
• evaluation 


  marxists would argue institutions can cut benefits & welfare for poorer families
• inheritance of private property


  • men make sure their property passed down to his legitimate heirs

  • nuclear family meant men sure their wives had their children so could pass on their property - ensured not shared with working classes

  • reinforces class inequalities
• evaluation of inheritance of private property

  • outdated as women now breadwinners & can have their own property rather than relying on men
• ideological state apparatus 


  • family pass on the ideology of the ruling class through socialisation e.g hierarchy & inequality are inevitable - parental power leads to belief that someone is always in charge
• evaluation of althusser 


  • assumes working classes are submissive & will not rise up against the ruling class & protest or strike
• unit of consumption 


  • argue wages are spent on useless commodities that people are convinced they need through advertising
• evaluation of unit of consumption

  • exaggerates the extent to which the family can escape from alienating work - ignores the fact some families can be a place of cruelty, neglect & violence
• liberal feminism


  • do not blame capitalism or men for unequal treatment of women

  • believe equality still does not exist

  • sommerville - women have greater freedom for paid work leading to greater equality within marriages - many men do not take on their full share of responsibilities but women’s improved social position means they can show these men the door
• evaluation of liberal feminism

  fails to challenge underlying causes of women’s oppression

  radical feminists argue revolutionary changes to deep rooted social structures are needed
• radical feminism


  • see exploitation of women as a result of men dominating society

  • patriarchy leads to subordination of women & children

  • greer 3/4 divorces applied for by women - women unhappy in marriage
• evaluation of radical feminism

  fail to recognise the progress there has been for women
• marxist feminism


  • women benefit capitalism by reproducing next labour force, acting as safety valve & acting as reserve army of labour

  • safety valve - ansley - women are ‘takers of shit’ - absorb husbands frustrations

  • reserve army of labour - women called to do ‘male’ jobs during the war & kept britain & capitalist economy functioning
• evaluation of marxist feminism

  • functionalists argue the family stabilises adult personalities and there is a warm bath theory rather than women acting as a safety valve