Functionalism (full)

Covering:

  • organic analigy
  • the functionalist view
  • criticisms of functionalist view
  • Murdocks views & criticisms (1949)
  • Parsons views & criticisms (1955)
  • Willmott and Youngs views & criticisms (1973)
  • Breakdown of extended family and increase in new privatized nuclear family
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  • Functionalism
    • Functions of the family
      • Murdock (1949)
        • 1.  Sex drvie
          • The need for sexual relations in a marriage
            • Criticism: people having sex outside marriage
        • 2. Reproduction
          • Need for children in order to keep the family going
            • Criticism: Couples may not want to have children
              • Some women are career oriented - impact of feminism
              • Introduction of contraception
            • Criticisms: same-sex marriage
        • 3. Socialisation of the young
          • Responsibility of typically the mother to teach the children right and wrong
            • Criticism: Children can go to nursery as well as other available services
            • Criticism: Dual Earner because mum and dad may need to both work
        • 4. Economic needs
          • The father providing food and shelter for family - typical bread winner
            • Criticism: Welfare State - mum and dad may not have to work
              • Criticism: Dual Earner because mum and dad may need to both work
      • Parsons (1955)
        • 1. Primary Socialisation of Children
          • children learn the accept the norms and values of society (sexual division of labour)
            • Criticism: Outdated and does not reflect equality in the household
        • 2. The Stabilisation of adult personalities
          • Expressive role - mum as carer and housewife
          • Instrumental role - dad as breadwinner
            • Untitled
        • Criticism: Parsons ignores the "dark side" of the family - e.g. domestic violence, child abuse
        • Criticism: He says that the classic extended family is dying out yet nowadays grandparents are often used as free child care
        • 'Fit Theory' that family adapts to society
        • "Warm Bath Theory" (1930s) - Women's role is that they need to look after the men in order for them to excel
          • Man is the breadwinner
          • Potential threat of domestic violence
      • Willmott and Young (19730
        • Symmetrical family
          • Roles in the family are becoming more gender neutral
          • Reasons why?
            • Feminism
              • Women have higher expectations thanks to impact and legacy of feminism
              • Emancipation of women
            • Structural Differentiation
            • Decline in stigma against working mums
            • Stereotypes are breaking
            • Rise in dual earners in families
            • Commercialisation of household goods
              • E.g. Dishwashers, hoovers, washing machine, microwave, fridge/freezer
        • Nuclear family
          • Functionalists believe that the nuclear family has become isolated and private
          • Not a lot of dependence on extended kin (wider family)
            • Geographically separated
          • Become more reliant on the Welfare State
            • Health Care (NHS)
            • Benefits
            • Education
            • Police
          • Industrialisation (1800-1920)
            • Decline in extended family and increase in nuclear family
            • Building of factories and decline in agricutlure
            • People having less children
            • Transport infrastructure
    • View of funtionalism
      • Organic Analigy
        • Society are like organs we need them all to function and work together
      • Nuclear family
        • Functionalists believe that the nuclear family has become isolated and private
        • Not a lot of dependence on extended kin (wider family)
          • Geographically separated
        • Become more reliant on the Welfare State
          • Health Care (NHS)
          • Benefits
          • Education
          • Police
        • Industrialisation (1800-1920)
          • Decline in extended family and increase in nuclear family
          • Building of factories and decline in agricutlure
          • People having less children
          • Transport infrastructure
    • Criticisms of functionalism
      • "Dark side" of family - Parsons
      • Feminism: patriarchy
        • "Family is bad because it's based on men"
      • Diversity of family types e.g. not just nuclear families we have step families as well as others
      • Doesn't consider alternative family types e.g. same-sex, polygamy.

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