Theories of the childhood

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Functionalism- Murdock
4 functions of the family- sexual, reproduction, socialisation, economic
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Functionalism- Criticisms of Murdock
Marxists- family meets the need of the capitalist system not the needs of family members, and does not benefit everyone equally. Feminists- family serves the needs of men and exploits women.
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Functionalism- Parsons
Functional fit theory- functions that the family performs will depend on what kind of society it is found in. He also argued that the society will also affect the structure of the family. identified 2 main types of family structure: nuclear, extended
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Functionalism- Criticisms of Parsons
Young and Willmott- the pre-industrial family was nuclear, not extended, with parents and children working together.
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Marxism- Eli Zaretsky
believes that the family performs additional ideological function. The family is portrayed as offering an 'escape' from the harsh world of work. However, it's an illusion as nuclear family cannot meet the needs of all its members (exploits women)
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Marxism- Inheritance of property
'primitive communism' where all members of society owned the means of production communally. However, as modern capitalist society emerged,society's wealth increased and private properties decreased. monogamy became essential to ensure inheritance.
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Marxism- Ideological functions
Ideas key for capitalism eg inequality, are taught and enforced. by socialising children into the idea that hierarchy and inequality are inevitable.
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Marxism- Unit of consumption
Advertisers target families and urge them to 'keep up with the Jones' by consuming all the latest products. The media target children who use pester power to persuade their parents to spend more. Children who don't are mocked by their peers.
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Criticism of Marxism
Nuclear isn't always applicable as there's other family types. Functionalists- ignore real benefits. Feminism- ignore gender inequality
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Feminism- Liberal
Similar views to march of progress but they don't believe full gender equality have been achieved. Study show men do more domestic labour. Parents socialise more equally.
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Feminism- Marxist
Women's oppression performs several functions for capitalism. Women reproduce the labour force. women absorb anger. women are a reserve army of cheap labour.
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Feminism- Radical
Men are the enemy. The way to achieve is through seperatism- women must live independently of men. argues for 'political lesbianism'.
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Feminism- Difference
Argue we can't generalise women's experiences. White feminists neglect black women's experience of racial oppression.
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The personal life perspective
Considers a wider view of relationship than just the traditional 'family' relationships based on blood or marriage; Kinship, chosen families, pets are family
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Criticism of The personal life perspective
Too broad of a view. rejects top down view theories. recognises that relatedness is not always positive.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Marxists- family meets the need of the capitalist system not the needs of family members, and does not benefit everyone equally. Feminists- family serves the needs of men and exploits women.

Back

Functionalism- Criticisms of Murdock

Card 3

Front

Functional fit theory- functions that the family performs will depend on what kind of society it is found in. He also argued that the society will also affect the structure of the family. identified 2 main types of family structure: nuclear, extended

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Young and Willmott- the pre-industrial family was nuclear, not extended, with parents and children working together.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

believes that the family performs additional ideological function. The family is portrayed as offering an 'escape' from the harsh world of work. However, it's an illusion as nuclear family cannot meet the needs of all its members (exploits women)

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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