family

• Murdock (Functionalist) FAMILY IS A UNIVERSAL INSTITUTION.

  The family performs four functions

  • stable satisfaction of sex drive

  • reproduction of next generation

  • socialisation into norms and values

  • meeting economic needs

  AO3 : murdock assumes families are nucleur
• Parsons (FUNCTIONALIST) functional fit theory

  Industrial society having two needs, family made smaller as a result.

  • geographically mobile workforce

  • socially mobile workforce

  Ao3 : shorter life expectancy made extended families uncommon in pre-industrial society
• Parsons (FUNCTIONALIST) Two Irreducible functions

  • socialising children into norms and values (manners)

  • stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)

  AO3 : rose tinted glasses
• Engels (MARXIST) Inheritance of property

  bourgeoise owned means of production , wanted to polarise wealth.

  • patriarchal monogamy into nucleur families essential, passed down property.

  AO3 : only relevant to capitalist societies
• (MARXISM) Unit of consumption

  Family is a unit of consumption.

  • Media target children, persuade their parents to spend more.

  Bourgeoise own businesses = profit

  AO3 : ignores emotional support families have.
• (MARXISM) Ideological function

  how institutions shape our beliefs and behaviour, children are socialised into believing hierarchy inevitable.

  • Parental power, always someone in charge MIRRORS workplace = Boss in charge. Passively accept.

  Creates a false class consciousness

  AO3 : functionalists
• Punchbag theory (MARXISM) Zaretsky

  male proletariat workers take out anger at capitalism on their family / wives.

  Domestic violence

  Anger is redirected to family , benefits bourgeoisie

  AO3 : Parsons warm bath theory
• Liberal Feminism

  March of progress.

  • Increasingly taking on instrumental role, men taking on expressive = balanced roles

  AO3 : Radical feminists, dual burden
• Radical Feminism

  Family oppressed women.

  • Dunne, lesbian couples more symmetrical labour wise.

  AO3 : ignores improvement of position of women, Unrealistic and extreme view
• Marxist Feminism

  Core source of women's oppression is capitalism.

  • Absorb anger (punchbag theory)

  Women benefit men AND capitalism.

  AO3 : charities combat domestic violence
• Difference feminism

  Women have diverse experiences in the family depending on sexuality, race and class.

  • Lone parent families , empower women headed.

  Family can be positive for women.

  Ao3 : neglects that all women still have many similar experiences (sexual assault, domestic violence)
• Tipper (PLP) definitions of family

  beyond traditional definition.

  • Pets apart of families.

  Broadens definition

  Ao3 : too broad
• Relationships with friends (PLP)

  friends living together.

  • tv normalised this ie. friends

  Practical, cost wise

  Ao3 : short lived arrangement
• Smart et al (PLP) donor conceived children

  • ERIN - mother of egg donor. Being a mum is defined in terms of time and effort put into raising child.

  Important perspective.

  AO3 : helps understand definitions of family and personal relationships / definitions