THEORIES OF THE FAMILY - Functionalism

What do functionalists believe about society?

Society is based on a value consensus (a set of shared norms and values) into which each society socialises its members. This enables them to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs and achieve shared goals.

They see society as a system made up of different parts or subsystems that depend on each other e.g. family, education system and economy. The family is a basic building block of society.

Who is Murdock?

A functionalists

What is Murdock’s view (1949)?

He argues the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members. He accepts other institutions could perform these functions but the practicality of the nuclear family as a way of meeting these four needs explains why it is universal in all societies.

What are Murdock’s four functions of the family?

1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive - with the same partner, preventing the social disruption caused by a sexual ‘free for all’

2. Reproduction of the next generation - without which society could not continue

3. Socialisation of the young - into society’s shared norms and values

   1. Meeting its memebers needs - such as food and shelter.

Who are the Nair’s?

A matrilineal, joint family structure with all common ancestors under one roof with only women in the main house and men living nearby, with the oldest male with the decision making authority.

Who is Parsons?

A functionalist

What was Parson’s theory (1955)?

The Functional Fit Theory - the function a family performs depends on the kind of society in which is function. The function affects the structure. The family’ structure and functions fit the needs of its society.

What are examples of a functional fit society?

Pre-industrial society: extended family

Industrial society: nuclear family

Why is the nuclear family better suited to modern society?

More geographically mobile workforce - job opportunities spring up in different places so smaller families are easier to move around.

More socially mobile workforce - new technology needs a skilled workforce so those who are more talented can get better jobs and achieve higher status even if they started from poor beginnings.

What is the difference between ascribed and achieved status?

Ascribed status is what you are born with, achieved status is status you achieve in life.

What is social mobility?

People improving their social position

What does it mean to be geographically isolated?

Living away from people

What is a skilled workforce?

Workers who have a special skill or training

What is a unit of production?

The family produces/makes something e.g. food from a farm

What is a unit of consumption?

The family aims to look after itself, without help of external agencies

What does it mean to be self-sufficient?

The family ‘uses’ resources e.g. clothes, electricity, food.

What functions has the family lost in modern society?

Families are no longer a unit of production or self-sufficient, it is only a unit of consumption.

What are irreducible functions of the modern nuclear family?

Primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities (the family is where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet its demand - this is functional for the efficiency of the economy).

What are evaluation points of the functionalist view?

Downplays conflict, out of date, praises the nuclear family to the exclusion of family types, ignores the exploitation of women, ignores the harmful effects of the family and it is inaccurate.

How does Laslett (1972) evaluate Parson’s theory?

Study of English households from 1564 to 1821 found families in traditional preindustrial society were almost always nuclear. A combination of late childbearing and short life expectancy meant that grandparents were not alive for long after the birth of the first grandchild.

How does Young and Willmott evaluate Parson’s theory?

Argue that from 1900, the nuclear family emerged as a result of social changes that made the extended family less important as a source of support. These changes included higher living standards, married women working, the welfare state and better housing.

They also say that the extended family has not disappeared but continues to exist in modern society as it performs an important function e.g. financial help, childcare and emotional support).

How does Anderson (1980) evaluate Parson’s theory?

Refers to exchange theory, the idea that individuals break off or maintain family ties because of the costs or benefits involved. In a study of mid-19th century Preston (modern society), he showed how the harsh conditions of the time (poverty, sickness, early death, no welfare state) meant that the benefits of having an extended family outweighed the costs.

How does Fletcher’s (1966) study evaluate Parson’s theory?

Argues that the family hasn’t lost its functions. In pre-industrial society, poverty meant that functions (e.g. welfare, education) were often not carried out at all. Children were neglected, peasants cared more about their animals than wives. In modern post-industrial society, there are more, not fewer functions, that the family has to perform (e.g. parents now more preoccupied with children’s health, social services have increased the responsibilities on parents).

How would Marxist’s evaluate Parson’s Theory?

Argue the modern family has an economic role as a unit of consumption.

How would feminists evaluate Parson’s theory?

They see the modern family as a unit of production, women’s unpaid domestic labour produces a wide range of goods and services.