Functionalist view of the family
- Created by: Kristina_
- Created on: 26-04-17 09:31
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- Functionalist view of the family
- Key Theorists
- Murdock
- Sexual
- Reproduction
- Socialisation
- Economic
- Parsons
- Primary socialisation of children
- Stabilisation of adult personalities
- Fletcher
- The Welfare State helps family perform their functions more effectively
- e.g. NHS means that with the help of doctors etc. its members are better looked after when they are sick
- Murdock
- Criticisms
- Overplays the harmonious
nature of the family
- The family isn’t that idyllic
- Feminists would argue it ignores the dark side of the family
- Morgan points out that Murdock
makes no reference to alternative family types
- Ignores how other family types can also perform the 4 main functions
- Parsons ignores how children create their own
personalities
- Therefore this view ignores the effects of other institutions
- Idea of gender roles has been criticised by feminists
- Argue that women perform the triple shift, which benefits males
- Overplays the harmonious
nature of the family
- Key ideas
- The Family is sought
as a place of comfort, and helps to relieve stress - Warm Bath Theory
- This helps the family perform their functions more effectively and make life better for their members
- Functionalists
believe that the family is functional
and it is universal
- Family is a necessary part of society - The Organic Analogy
- The Family is sought
as a place of comfort, and helps to relieve stress - Warm Bath Theory
- Social policies functionalists would promote
- The Child Support Agency - To make absent fathers pay for their children
- Sure Start
- Working families tax credit - if both parents work then they have a tax break
- Policies to support the traditional nuclear family e.g. taxes that promote married couples
- Key Theorists
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