Unit 1 Families and Households - Family and Social Structure
- Created by: Elliott Rose
- Created on: 25-04-13 11:41
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- The Family and Social Structure
- What is a Family
- A family is a people that we are connected to through genetics or by law.
- Different types of family?
- Extended Family
- Nuclear Family
- Beanpole families
- Single Parent Families
- Modified extended families
- Reconstituted families
- Cohabiting family
- Functionalist theories of the family
- Functionalists only look at the positives of the family life which help society.
- Four functions of families discovered by Murdock 1949
- Economic function - acts as an economic unit ensuring the survival of the members by food and shelter.
- Sexual function - limiting sexuality to monogamous relationships.
- Educational Function - a stable environment helping their children socialize into society.
- Reproductive function - ensures there is a new generation to help society.
- Talcott Parsons 1959, 1965. Two functions
- Primary Socialization - the first and most important stage of socialization. Thus making sure children would internalize the norms and values.
- Stabilization of adult personalities - in isolated nuclear families they don't receive support from extended kinship. welcomed to a warm and secure home and allows them to express their childish personalities.
- Changing family structure - Parsons believes the family structure changes to fit the needs f society.
- Pre-industrial society extended families were the workforce on agricultural lands.
- Nuclear families slowly arrived as they were better for the industry.
- Industry needed a geographical workforce which is easier for nuclear families.
- A socially mobile workforce was needed as well which was easier for nuclear families as roles ascribed could be beaten by achieved roles.
- Nuclear families slowly arrived as they were better for the industry.
- Pre-industrial society extended families were the workforce on agricultural lands.
- Parsons argued that as society changes so does the family, they lose their roles. This is called structural differentiation - eg Welfare state.
- CRITICISMS: criticised for being outdated and optimistic about family life.
- Some societies don't have traditional families.
- It ignores the darkside of family life e.g. domestic abuse
- Feminist view the current society as patriarchal and sexist
- Postmodernists argue there are many viable alternatives to nuclear families being the best family.
- Ignores the evidence of non-dominance from extended family. Also the decline of nuclear family and family diversity.
- What is the main thought by Marxists
- Marx 1818-1883 and Engles 1820-1895 believed that power throughout society stemmed from wealth.
- Those who owned the means of production (land, capital, machinery) formed a powerful ruling class.
- They were able to exploit the subject class, therefore had to work for the ruling class
- Those who owned the means of production (land, capital, machinery) formed a powerful ruling class.
- Marx believes there were several different ruling and subject classes.
- In a capitalist society the ruling class (bourgeoisie) owned the factories, the working class (proletariats)
- Were not paid their full value. The bourgeoisie kept profit for their selves.
- The ruling class power derived from the means of production which they owned. This formed an economic base.
- Seeing as the bourgeoisie owned the economic base they then owned the non-economic institutions of society this being religion, family, media and the government.
- In a capitalist society the ruling class (bourgeoisie) owned the factories, the working class (proletariats)
- CRITICISMS
- Zaretsky has been criticized for exaggerating the extent family is used as an escape from work as family can also be neglect, cruelty and violence.
- Some families are anti-capitalist but still socialize their children into beliefs critical of the ruling class.
- Feminists criticize Marxists as they neglected the exploitation of womn
- Postmodernists criticize them for ignoring the variety of family types in todays society
- Functionalists believe the Marxists ignore the beneficial functions of the family for society.
- Marx 1818-1883 and Engles 1820-1895 believed that power throughout society stemmed from wealth.
- Feminist theories of the family
- Basic Principles of Feminism
- There is a fundamental division in society between men and women
- That women to some extent are exploited by men.
- The society is patriarchal. This mean male dominated. So society is run by males and not women.
- They also say 'malestream' sociology, is written and produced for men. Their studies neglect females roles such as housewife.
- Types of Feminists
- Feminist Theories
- Radical Feminist believe family plays a major role in the oppression of women.
- Germaine Greer 2000 - argues even today women remain subservient to their husbands. Single women seem happier, this is reflected by a high divorce rate instigated by women.
- Marxist Feminist believe that family benefits the capitalist system and in doing so exploits women.
- Margaret Benston 1972 - wives are used as rear cheap labour, and hlp maintain their husbands as workers at no cost to employers.
- Fran Ansley 1972 - believes that women suffer from the frustration caused by the alienating work they do for capitalist.
- Liberal Feminism - Jennifer Sommerville 200 believes women are still disadvantaged in families but criticize radical and Marxist feminists for failing to mention there has been progress.
- Women now have much more choice about marriage, to take up a paid job or when to marry. There is greater responsibility within family and most women still value relationships with men.
- Radical Feminist believe family plays a major role in the oppression of women.
- Basic Principles of Feminism
- The New Right
- New Right are ideas from policies and political parties from Britain. These views influenced some policies created by Conservative government. Margaret Thatcher and John Major 1979-1997
- New Right believe in free market capitalism, it believes the state should intervene as little as possible. Competition begins benefiting society and consumers as a whole.
- New Right believe that Nuclear Family is the way forward in society
- This is because it encourages self-reliance which helps decrease the state expenditure on Welfare. Also believe that it encourages shared moral values.
- Unlike functionalists they believe that family is an unstable institution, leading it to an increase in social problems.
- The New Right and policies.
- 1988 Margaret Thatcher changes taxation that cohabiting couples could not claim more than married couples.
- Abbots and Wallace 1992 - believe that the policy encouraged more people to live outside nuclear families and gave rights to those who weren't in need of them.
- Criticisms
- Rapoports 1989 saw increasing diversity as a good thing as it gives people greater freedom, to live in a style which best suits them.
- Some sociologists believe New Right exaggerate the extent of diversity in families.
- Feminists believe that the increase in divorce is beneficial for women who want to escape violent relationships
- Postmodernists see the declining dominance of nuclear families as part of wider changes which are seen as desirable.
- New Right are ideas from policies and political parties from Britain. These views influenced some policies created by Conservative government. Margaret Thatcher and John Major 1979-1997
- What is a Family
- Criticisms of Radial, Marxists and Liberal Feminists
- Radical Feminist believe family plays a major role in the oppression of women.
- Germaine Greer 2000 - argues even today women remain subservient to their husbands. Single women seem happier, this is reflected by a high divorce rate instigated by women.
- Liberal Feminism - Jennifer Sommerville 200 believes women are still disadvantaged in families but criticize radical and Marxist feminists for failing to mention there has been progress.
- Women now have much more choice about marriage, to take up a paid job or when to marry. There is greater responsibility within family and most women still value relationships with men.
- Marxist Feminist believe that family benefits the capitalist system and in doing so exploits women.
- Margaret Benston 1972 - wives are used as rear cheap labour, and hlp maintain their husbands as workers at no cost to employers.
- Fran Ansley 1972 - believes that women suffer from the frustration caused by the alienating work they do for capitalist.
- Exaggerating exploitation of women within the family.
- Largely failing to mention the increasing equality between men and women
- Not taking account of gender, age or ethnic differences.
- ignoring examples when men are sufferers of abuse in families.
- Radical Feminist believe family plays a major role in the oppression of women.
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