Functionalist perspective on the family
- Created by: mariawindsor23
- Created on: 03-04-16 09:58
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- Functionalist Perspective
- Functionalism
- Structural theory
- Consensus theory - empahsise shared norms & values not conflict
- assume each social institution exists for a reason- must have function/purpose
- Critisms of functionalist perspective
- Rose tinted view
- Marxists and feminists disagree with view that family meets all needs of society and its members
- Ignores dysfunctions of the family
- functionalists criticised for assuming all families happy & functional - many are dysfuntional
- Ignores family diversity in modern society
- perspective ignores modern family types ;like, single parent, homosexual etc
- Rose tinted view
- Peter Murdock
- sees family as an essential sub-system in society
- 1. Stable satisfaciton of sex drive - same partner - prevents social disruption
- 2. reproduction of next generation
- 3. socialisation of the young
- 4. meeting members economic needs
- Criticisms of murdock
- other instituitions perform these functions just as well
- Marxists & feminists - rose tinted consensus view - neglects conflict & exploitation
- Feminists - family serves mens needs & oppresses women
- Marxists - family meets needs of capitalism not its members
- Organic Analogy
- Functionalists see society as a biological organism
- Body system made up of different parts which function together & maintain/meet its needs
- Society also made up of lots of different 'parts' (institutions) which work together to meet needs
- Body system made up of different parts which function together & maintain/meet its needs
- Family plays role of maintaining social system - positive as it helps running of society as a whole
- Society also made up of lots of different 'parts' (institutions) which work together to meet needs
- Functionalists see society as a biological organism
- Parsons - 1955
- Industrial society has 2 needs which nuclear family better adapted too
- Geographica-lly mobile workforce
- industries in lots of different areas - people may need to move to get better jobs
- nuclear family easier to move than full extended family
- industries in lots of different areas - people may need to move to get better jobs
- Socially mobile workforce
- need skilled workforce - talented get promoted regardless of background as in modern society status is achieved not ascribed - makes social mobility possible
- Geographica-lly mobile workforce
- believed just two essential functions of family due to industrilisat-ion
- Primary socialisation of children
- 2 parents important for raising kids
- Stabalisation of adult personalities
- family place where adults can relax / release tensions - so can meet works demands
- Primary socialisation of children
- Criticisms
- Nuclear family existed before industrilisation
- Young & Willmott
- Dominant pre-industrial family was nuclear anyway
- Hardship of early industrial period led to rise in mum centered WC family
- Mum and daughters stayed close and offered emotional and physical support to each other
- Industrial society has 2 needs which nuclear family better adapted too
- Functionalism
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