Role of the family revision

A strategy

Functionalist views on the role of the familyKey argument

Family = benefits for individual and society.Integration/shared values, emotional needs

Roles of family

• Nuclear family = ideal family

• Murdock = Reproduction/Education (socialisation), Economic (resources) and Sexual function.

• Parsons – (a) goodness of fit = geographic mobility (b) warm bath theory = emotional/psychological benefits (c) 2 irreducible functions of the family – primary socialisation & stabilisation of adult personality (help economy)

Evaluation points

• Ignores conflict in families (ie, arguments/abuse/domestic violence)• Ignores alternatives to nuclear families (diversity)• Ignores oppression of women• Ignores how family benefits capitalism• Ignores how other institutions can provide these roles/meet these needs• 1950s bias in theories – out of date

New Right views on the role of the familyKey argumentRoles of family

Evaluation points

Marxist views on role of the familyKey argument

Family helps to support capitalism – legitimate inequality and reproduce social relations of production.Performs ideological role to male capitalism seem normal.

Roles of family

• Engels – nuclear family = inheritance and passing on private property - family is oppressive to women – ‘sex in exchange for protection’ • Althusser – family is an ideological status apparatus – teaches the idea that working for capitalists is normal

• Zaretsky – family is a haven from capitalist oppression and effects of alienation (like warm bath) - Family is a buffer to revolution - Family is a unit of consumption – ‘pester power’ for products

Evaluation points

• Ignores benefits of families• Ignores how people marry for love• Out of date – many women today are independent and marry for love not

protection• Ignores how families meet basic human needs• Ignores family diversity – focused on nuclear family

Feminist views on role of the familyKey argumentRoles of family

Evaluation points

Comparative analysis tablesFunctionalism Marxism Feminism

Effect on individual

Links/effects on society

Other points

Evaluation