Sociology : Family : Perspective on the Family

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Functionalism - Murdock
Conducted a survey and found that the family has four residual functions; reproductive, economic, sexual and education.
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Functionalism - Leach
Talks about the cereal packet family, referring to the happy family that is placed on cereal packets.
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Functionalism - Parsons
Says the family has 2 irreversible functions - socialise the children and to stabilize adult personalities. Women perform an expressive role and men perform an instrumental role.
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Functionalism - Criticisms
No recognition offamily diversity, only talk about the nuclear family. Family is not functional for women as they are more likley to be a victim of assault within the family.
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Functionalism - Criticisms - Ansley
Criticises Parsons that that women are just takers of ****.
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Functionalism - Usefulness
Such a view on society helps to consider society on a alrge scale, and helps show how each institution is linked together as if they didn't all teach norms and values then society wpuldn't function. Helps to reduce conflict - value consensus.
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Marxism - Engles
The famil helps to ensure that the ruling class stay powerful and wealthy - any wealth goes to male sons through inheritance.
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Marxism - Zaretsky
Argues that there is weight to the argument that the family support capitalism. The system produces future workers and consumes the products that keeps the system going. Provides emotional support for when you are being exploited.
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Marxism - Benyon
The family acts as a diversionary institution that keeps the focus away from capitalism exploiting you.
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Marxism - Criticisms - Lasch
Argues the family is a haven in a heartless capitalist world, offering an escape from work and society.
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Marxism - Criticisms
Marxist view is overly negative and can ignore the satisfaction that the family provides people. Women are largely ignored.
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Marxism - Usefulness
Shows how a family will reduce the likelihood of a revolution and can explain why te w/c haven't realised their oppression and revolted due to the support from family.
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New Right - Murray
The reason for low achievers and juvenile delinquents is single parent families headed by women. The state benefit shouldn't be there to support families as children will lack work ethic.
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New Right - Denzin
He is concerned about the growth of female headed lone parent families and the number of children who aren't cared for by their parents.
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New Right - Criticisms
Welfare dependency is short lived, people are only on it for about 2 years. Not all children from single parent households are delinquents and low achievers.
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New Right - Usefulness
Helpful to consider how the family could be used to explain anti-social behaviour in men.
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Postmodernism - Beck
People can now make a range of decisions about the type of relationships and family structure they want/prefer.
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Postmodernism - Stacey
Sees roles in the modern family as ambivalent - meaning they are shifting depending on what the modern family need.
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Postmodernism - Morgan
He rejects the term 'family' in favour of families of family practices because there isn't one type of structure.
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Postmodernism - Criticisms
As a perspective it is very limited on what it offers compared to the others.
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Postmodernism - Usefulness
Looks to understand people's emotions and decision making rather than just focusing on the structure. Also considers diversity of the family structure and how this is caused by the decline in social stigma.
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Radical Psychiatry - R.D Laing
The family can cause mental health, especially schizophrenia. He sees the family as a tangled web of conflict and tensions that can pull children apart, resulting in psychiatric problems.
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Radical Psychiatry - Leach
Argues the family is a claustrophobic institution where parents fight and children rebel. Family life is like 'living in a chicken coop'. He also argues that extended families can relieve pressure.
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Radical Psychiatry - Cooper
Sees the family as a dangerous socialisation agent as it teaches you to be very obedient, teaching blind obedience to authority figures and keeps capitalism going.
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Radical Psychiatry - Criticisms
There is a lot of evidence that suggests schizophrenia is caused by chemical imbalances rather than behaviour learnt. The family does have harmonious aspects and there are positive values of family life.
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Radical Psychiatry - Usefulness
Helpful to consider that the family can be problematic and dangerous, givig a more rounded picture of the family.
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Feminists - Fredrich
Argues women are now forced into the double day - productive and reproductive labour.
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Feminists - Delphy and Lennard
If men are working full time then they control where the money is going.
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Feminists - Criticisms
Black feminists see the family as a haven and good for women. White feminists overstress the negativity of the family and its conflict, the family is a source of satisfaction for many women.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Talks about the cereal packet family, referring to the happy family that is placed on cereal packets.

Back

Functionalism - Leach

Card 3

Front

Says the family has 2 irreversible functions - socialise the children and to stabilize adult personalities. Women perform an expressive role and men perform an instrumental role.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

No recognition offamily diversity, only talk about the nuclear family. Family is not functional for women as they are more likley to be a victim of assault within the family.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Criticises Parsons that that women are just takers of ****.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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