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Functionalism and the Family - Coggle Diagram
Functionalism and the Family
George Murdock
Defines the family as: 'a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults'. Within the nuclear family there is a clearly identifiable male and female role model
Four functions of the family (universal)
Sexual
Reproductive
Socialising
Economic
The basic economic function of the family in any society is to provide food and shelter for its individual members
The family is a 'unit of production' where individuals work for wages and a 'unit of consumption' where they buy goods and services contributing to the circular flow of income
Bell and Vogel
The child can often be an emotional scapegoat for the tension of unresolved conflicts of the parents. They turn the problems of the marriage on to the child. They acknowledge that this is dysfunctional for the child, but it has a stabilising influence for the family as a whole and therefore society. Their work reinforces the notion that Functionalism is a macro-sociological theory that is mainly concerned with the whole of society.
Talcott Parsons
The nuclear family is important for the primary socialisation of children, ensuring that they learn the central value system of that society. Parsons argues that families 'are factories which produce human personalities'. Their personality must be kept stable. This is the second basic function of the family = the stabilisation of adult personalities.
Warm Bath Theory
The metaphor of the family as a warm bath where the husband arrives home from a stressful day at work and sinks into the 'warm bath' that his family provides. The stresses from the day at work are relieved by the comfort of the family home, so the male can return to work calm and stress free.
Gender roles in the family. Using biological differences as his basis, he argues that women perform an 'expressive function' meaning they provide warmth, security and emotional support. This is essential for effective socialisation. Men perform an 'instrumental function' being the breadwinner of the family . The breadwinner will be stressed and anxious but the expressive wife will provide love and understanding
'Loss of functions' thesis - the family does not perform the same functions it once did eg healthcare is now taken care of by hospitals. Parsons views this positively and argues that a process of specialisation (family helps with a small number of crucial roles now) and differentiation (different institutions perform specific functions for the family) has occurred.
Criticisms
Functionalists overplay the harmonious nature of the family eg NSPCC inspection 2013, there were 50,000 children on child protection registers in the UK
42% of marriages in England and Wales end in Divorce with negative effects on children involved (2012 Office for National Statistics)
Feminist Ann Oakley argues against Parsons expressive and instrumental roles as they promote an ideology that confines women to traditional roles in the home
Dobash and Dobash argue the existence of violent husbands and domestic abuse against wives
Parsons ignores the existence of same-sex relationships, lone parent families and modified extended families
Morgan argues against Murdock saying that the family may not be necessary and other institutions could take over the functions associated with the family