Theories

Understand the functionalist, Marxist and different types of feminist perspectives of the family

Be able to analyse the similarities and differences between these perspectives

Be able to evaluate the usefulness of these perspectives on the family

How does the family fit into wider society? We will now look at the role or purpose of

the family and what it does for its members and society

‘what are the functions of the family?’ Functionalism

◦ A consensus perspective Marxism

◦ Class conflict Feminism

◦ Gender conflict

Function Norms Values Social order Expressive role Instrumental role Primary socialisation Biological analogy Dysfunction Functional prerequisites Family ideology Dark side of the family

Argue that society is based on a value consensus:◦ Set of shared norms and values◦ Allows individuals to cooperate harmoniously to

meet societies needs and achieve shared goals Society is made up of parts that depend on

each other e.g. the family, education system and the economy

Often compared to a biological organism

What similarities can you see between society and an organism such as the human body?

What differences are there between the two?

Look out of the window Describe the view from an ENVIRONMENTAL

point of view Describe it from an ARCHITECTURAL point

of view Describe it from a FUNCTIONAL point of

view

The family is seen, by Functionalists, as a particularly important subsystem

Murdock (1949) argues the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society:1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive2. Reproduction of the next generation3. Socialisation of the young4. Meeting its members’ economic needs

Argues the practicality of the nuclear family as a way of meeting these four needs explains why it is universal (found in all human societies)

Some argue they could be performed equally well through other institutions or non-nuclear family structures

Marxists and feminists reject this ‘rose-tinted’ view

Marxists and feminists argue that functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation◦ Feminists

See the family as serving the needs of men◦ Marxists

Argue it meets the needs of capitalism, not those family members or society as a whole

The family may meet other needs:◦ Welfare, military, political, religious functions

The functions it performs will depend on the type of society in which it is found

The functions the family has to perform will affect its ‘shape’ or structure

Parsons (1955) argues there are two types of family structure:◦ Nuclear family◦ Extended family (three generations living under

one roof)

Two basic types of society◦ Modern industrial society◦ Traditional pre-industrial society

The nuclear family fits the needs of industrial society and is the dominant family type in that society; the extended family fits the needs of the pre-industrial society

Post industrial revolution (late 18th C onwards) - extended nuclear

The society had different needs

1. A geographically mobile workforce◦ People need to move to where the jobs are◦ Parsons argues it is easier for the compact two-

generation nuclear family, with just dependent children, to move

2. A socially mobile workforce◦ Modern industrial society is based on constantly

evolving science and technology so requires skilled technically competent workforce

◦ Essential that talented people are able to win promotion and take on the most important jobs

◦ Status is achieved makes social mobility possible

It is for this reason that Parsons argues that the nuclear family is better equipped than the extended family to meet the needs of industrial society

The result of this is the mobile nuclear family which is structurally isolated from its extended kin without binding obligations towards them (unlike the pre-industrial extended family)

The pre-industrial family was a multi-functional unit◦ A unit of production◦ A unit of consumption

Therefore more self-sufficient Parsons argues that when society

industrialises the family not only changes its structure but also loses some of its functions◦ Family ceases to be a unit of production◦ Family becomes a unit of consumption only◦ Loses most of its other functions to other

institutions such as schools and the health service

The modern nuclear family comes to specialise in performing just two essential or ‘irreducible’ functions:◦ Primary socialisation◦ Stabilisation of adult personalities

Proletariat Bourgeoisie Ruling class ideology Exploitation Alienation Capitalism Capitalist Conflict Economic determinism False class consciousness Oppression Monogamous nuclear family Unit of consumption

Functionalists see society as based on value consensus

Marxists see society as based on an unequal conflict between two social classes:◦ The capitalist class◦ The working class

Marxists see all societies institutions, such as the education system, media, religion and the state, along with the family as helping to maintain class inequality and capitalism

The functions of the family are performed purely for the benefit of the capitalist system

The key factor, according to Marxists, in shaping society is the mode of production – who controls and owns societies productive forces (tools, machinery, raw materials, land and labour)

In modern society, it is the capitalist class that owns and controls these means of production

As the mode of production evolves, so too does the family

Marx called the earliest, classless society ‘primitive communism’.◦ No private property◦ All members of society owned the means of production

communally◦ No family as such:

Engels (1891; 1978) called the promiscuous horde Forces of production developed societies

wealth increased Development of private property Class emerged who were able to seize the

means of production

Monogamy became essential because of the inheritance of private property – men had to be sure of the paternity of their children to ensure the inheritance was legitimate

The rise of the monogamous nuclear family represented a ‘world historical defeat of the female sex’ – brought the woman’s sexuality under male control and turned her into a ‘mere instrument for the production of children’

Marxists argue that only through the overthrow of capitalism and private ownership of the means of production will women achieve liberation from patriarchal control

Classlessness = means of production are owned collectively, not privately

No more need for the patriarchal nuclear family (no need to transmit private property down the generations)

Family today performs key ideological functions for capitalism◦ Ideology = set of ideas or beliefs that justify

inequality by accepting things are ‘fair’, natural or unchangeable

Socialising children into believing hierarchy and inequality are inevitable◦ There is usually someone in charge (usually a

man)◦ Prepared for a working life in which they accept

orders from their capitalist employers

Eli Zaretsky (1976)◦ The family also performs an ideological function

by offering an apparent ‘haven’ from the harsh and exploitative world of capitalism

◦ This, however, is largely an illusion – the family cannot meet the needs of its members (based on the domestic servitude of women)

Capitalism exploits the labour of its workers selling the products for more than the pay of the workers

The family plays a major role in this◦ Advertisers urge families to consume the latest

products◦ The media target children who use ‘pester power’

tweens◦ Stigmatisation of children if they do not have the

latest fashion

Marxists assume the nuclear family is dominant ignores the wide variety of family structures

Feminists argue that the Marxist emphasis on social class and capitalism underestimates the importance of gender inequalities within the family the family is more beneficial to men than capitalism

Functionalists argue that Marxists ignore the benefits the family provides for its members such as intimacy and mutual support

Gender Patriarchy Reserve army of labour Power Triple shift Dual burden Patriarchal ideology Dark side of the family

Critical view of the family Oppresses women Unequal division of labour Domestic violence against women Gender inequality created by society (not

natural or inevitable) There are a number of versions of feminism

Campaign against sexual discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women◦ Argue women’s oppression is gradually being

overcome through changes in attitudes and changes in the law e.g. Sex Discrimination Act (1975) which outlaws discrimination in employment

◦ Believe we are moving toward greater equality full equality depends on further reforms and changes in the attitudes and socialisation patterns of both sexes

Gradual progress Men are doing more manual labour Way parents socialise their sons and

daughters is more equal than in the past similar aspirations

Fail to challenge the underlying causes of women’s oppression and for believing that changes in the law or attitudes will be enough to bring equality deep rooted social structure changes are needed

Main problem is capitalism◦ Women reproduce the labour force

Unpaid domestic work, socialising the next generation of workers and maintaining and servicing the current one

◦ Women absorb anger Fran Ansley (1972) states that women are the ‘takers of

shit’ – absorb their husband’s frustration For Marxists this explains male domestic violence against

women◦ Women are a ‘reserve army’ of cheap labour

Taken on when extra work is needed When no longer needed can return to their primary role as

unpaid domestic labour

Argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy

The key division in society is between men and women:◦ Men are the enemy – the source of women’s

oppression◦ The family and marriage are the key

institutions Men benefit from women’s unpaid domestic labour

and their sexual services They dominate women through domestic and sexual

violence or the threat of it

The patriarchal system needs to be overturned, particularly the family

They argue the only way to do this is through seperatism – women to live independently from men

Many radical feminists argue for ‘political lesbianism’◦ Idea that heterosexual relationships are like

sleeping ‘with the enemy’ Germaine Greer (2000)

◦ Creation of all female (matrilocal) households

Liberal feminist Jenny Somerville (2000)◦ Radical feminists fail to recognise that women’s

position has improved greatly Better access to divorce, job opportunities, control

over fertility, ability to choose whether to marry or cohabit

◦ Separatism is unlikely to work Heterosexual attraction

◦ She does recognise that women have yet to achieve full equality

These argue that every individual, and every woman has a different experience of the family

Black feminists argue that by looking at the family mainly as a source of oppression, white feminists neglect black racial oppression

Black feminists see the family as a source of support and resistance against racism

Other feminists argue that women still experience a greater risk of sexual violence, low pay

1. They all assume the traditional nuclear family is the dominant family type

2. They are all structural theories◦ Assume families and their members are simply

passive puppets manipulated by the structure of society

◦ Sociologists influenced by the social action view and postmodernism reject this view – ignore that we have this choice