THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE

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THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
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AIMS

• To see the main sociological theories of the
  family.
• To understand how different sociological schools
  interpret the family.

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FUNCTIONALISTS

• The family must have a function or a purpose.
• The family benefits its members and society as a
  whole.

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MURDOCK (1949)

• Identified 4 functions1. Sexual.2.
  Economic.3. Reproduction.4. Educational.
• No society has succeeded in finding an adequate
  substitute for the nuclear family, to which it
  might transfer these functions.

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TALCOTT PARSONS (1955)

• Family has become increasingly specialised in
  modern society.
• Many functions taken over by government, but the
  family is still vital.
• Family retains basic and irreducible jobs1.
  Primary socialisation of children.2.
  Stabilisation of adult personalities.

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CRITICISMS OF FUNCTIONALISM

• Ideal view of family life.
• Dark side of family life ignored it can be
  harmful for society.
• Little attention paid to diversity of family
  life.
• Parsons viewed as sexist man supports
  financially, woman supports emotionally.

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THE NEW RIGHT

• Norman Dennis George Erdos (2000)
• They fear the traditional, nuclear family is in
  decline.
• This is bad for society.
• Evidence lone-parent families, fatherless
  families, divorce, cohabitation, gay lesbian
  couples all increasing.

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CAUSES

• Breakdown of traditional family values.
• Over-generous welfare benefits.
• Influence of feminism.
• Increased sexual permissiveness.
• Greater tolerance of gays lesbians.

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CONSEQUENCES SOLUTIONS

• Primary socialisation not taking place.
• Welfare dependency.
• Two solutions1. Return to traditional family
  values.2. Change in government policy.

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CRITICISMS OF THE NEW RIGHT

• Blaming the victims for problems not always of
  their own making.
• Value judgements is the nuclear family always
  the best family?
• An idealised view of the past.

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TASK

• Divide into five groups.
• Turn to pages 37 and 39.
• Each group will take one question, discuss it and
  present their answer to the rest of the group.
• Set out how you would answer the question and the
  plan of your answer.

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MARXIST THEORIES

• Family serves to maintain the ruling class and to
  enforce capitalist values.
• Nuclear family developed from capitalism it
  allows the man to pass on his wealth.
• No doubts over paternity.
• Only one wife therefore no controversy over which
  heir inherits.

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MAINTAINING CAPITALISM

• The family is a means for1. Reproducing future
  generations of workers.2. Consuming the products
  of capitalism.3. Emotionally supporting
  workers.4. Socialising children to accept an
  unfair system.

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CRITICISMS OF MARXISM

• Is capitalism really unjust?
• Is the family really shaped solely by economic
  needs?

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FEMINIST THEORIES

• The family is an area where men oppress women.
• Domestic labour.
• Emotional support.
• Economic dependency.
• Male domination.
• Domestic violence.

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CRITICISMS OF FEMINISM

• Ignores positive aspects of family life.
• Ignores growing equality.

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How might a feminist analyse these magazine
covers?
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TASK

• Yesterday you looked at interpreting picture
  items in questions.
• Turn to page 40 and answer activity 6.
• Be prepared to read your answer out to the rest
  of the class.