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Functionalism - Coggle Diagram
Functionalism
A structural theory
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for society to be stable and function effectively, individuals must have a value consensus - share same norms and values
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Murdock
stated that the family is so important that is universal. He claimed that the family performs four important functions.
economic
family supports each other economically, financially supports its members, particularly children
sexual
old promiscuous horde, now one partner
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Feminists critique, family life is unequal - men benefit more than the women.
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Postmodernist critique
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modern multicultural society has diversity of family and household types e.g single parent, homosexual etc. in 1950s divorce rate was low (2.5 per 100,000 marriages) and now 42% of marriages end in divorce.
Doesn't make sense to talk about the traditional nuclear family as being the normal or the best, or the only family type that performs essential functions
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The family has lost its importance, sociologists question the importance of the functions the family plays
Some of the functions the family performs are now being taken over by other institutions, e.g nurseries or playgroups which play an important role in helping young children to acquire the correct social skills, value and behaviours for society
The traditional nuclear family plays an important role in socialisation. Research evidence supports the functionalist theory that the nuclear family is the ideal type of society
It plays an essential role in the healthy social development of children and that other forms of families such as single parent families do not do as well in socialising their children into the accepted norms of society
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