Sociology Theoretical perspectives on the family

What are the main themes of the Functionalist Perspective?

- Family = positive for society and all its members from one generation to next.

- Family = Universal institution

- Males + Females ----> deifferent roles in the family

- Isolated nuclear family = Suitable for Industrila society - small and mobile

What did Murdock's study (1949) involve and conclude?

- Study on 250 different societies

- Argued Family = universal as it's the best way of adjusting to Societys basic needs

- Family performs 4 basic Function:

1) Sexual

2) Reproductive

3) Educational

4) Economic 

What did Parsons (1959) study involve and conclude?

- Based on modern societies

- The family performs 2 basic and irreducible functions:

1) Primary socialisation of children

2) Stabalisation of adult personalities

What are the possible criticisms of the functionalist perspective?

- Concentrates on harmony and ignores conflicts within the family ( Marxist) 

- Conservative view which defends the status quo - the way things are - doesn not allow for any change (Marxist) 

- Family = Not universal (New world Black Family, Kibbutz etc)

- It's becoming a minority in many societies 

- Family fulfills needs of society rather than the needs of its members (Marxist)

- The functionalist view of women's role within a family justifies oppression (feminists)

-The nuclear Family produces problems and misery as well as harmony e.g domestic violence (Feminists, Radical Psychiatrists)

What are the main themes of the Marxist Perspective?

- Unlike functionalism, Marxism emphasises conflict and inequalities - in paticular the dominance of the economy 

- Family = determined by economic system - modern society - capitalism

- Early communal society -----> Family not needed - only became necessary with accumalation of wealth and the need to defend it (Engels) 

- Workers socialised by the family into discipline and the 'correct' attitudes of of obedience and conformity

- Family acts as a safety valve -a release from alienation and oppression at work thus allowing oppression to continue

- Family acts as an ideological state apparatus - defending status quo, patriarchy and power ----> role of women = absorb husbands frustrations and maintain the worker

What are the possible criticisms of the Marxist Perspective?

- Presumes a nuclear family unit - dosen't take into account other households

- Too based on modern society - variations worldwide

- Too biased and negative - from an ideological position that condems the family as an agency of capitalist values

- The family serves the interests of men and patriarchy as well as capitalism (feminists)

- Too deterministic ----> assumes dominance of economy 

What are the main themes of feminist approaches?

- Feminists see other views as too 'malestream' (Abbott and Wallace)

- Family life = very different for women and is a source of male control

What do Marxist Feminists say?

- Belive women are oppressed by BOTH Capitalism AND patriarchy

- Argue wives produce and socialise new workers thus producing more profit for economy

- Women don't only provide unpaid role but also provide a 'reserve army of labour'

What do Liberal Feminists say?

- Claim power relations and division of labour within a marriage have become more equal ----> because of changes in women's work patterns(law and changing values)

What do radical feminists say?

- Oppression of women result of male dominance through biology and physical strength. View the nuclear family as based and supporting male power (Firestone)

- Socialisation of women into mother/housewife = oppression

- Historically & in other cultures women = more independent -men and industrialisation that put them in the home

What are the criticisms of the feminist perspective?

- Focus on negative aspects of family life

- Feminists assume families have a male haed who dominates the rest

- New right claim feminists undermine traditional family values

- In recent years, women gained more choices. Family life now more diverse.

What are the main ideas of the postmodern perspective?

- Stresses the pluralism, diversity and fragmentation of modern life.

- Isn't one dominant, most common or correct type of family.

- Can be nor form of 'normal' family - Nuclear family = fragmeted

What do feminists think about the postmodern view of the family?

Force of liberation

What do Functionalists think about the postmodern perspective on the family?

Source of chaos

What did Giddens suggest about the postmodernist ideas?

More reflexive approach to modern life

What are possible criticisms of the post modern approach?

Some see approach as an 'intellectual cul-de-sac'