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Topic 3 - Theories of The Family - Coggle Diagram
Topic 3 - Theories of The Family
Summary
Functionalists hold a consensus view that suggest that the family meets the needs of individuals and society as whole. Alternatively, Marxists take a conflict view of the family, arguing that it maintains class inequality. Similarly, feminists believe the family is the main source of women's oppression.
Functionalists
Organic analogy:
society is like an organism and is made up from different parts that work together (education system, gov, etc.) to maintain society as a whole.
Murdock:
4 functions of the family:
socialisation of young
stabilisation of adult personalities
economic
reproduction
Parons:
functional fit means that functions fit the society - pre industrial had the function of production and consumption and post industrial family had the function of geographical mobility.
The nuclear family has two irreducible functions:
Primary socialisation of the young - equipping the next generation with basic skills and society’s values.
Stabilisation of adult personalities - enabling adults to relax so they can return to the workplace and perform their roles effectively.
Marixsts
Engles:
the family exists so that men can pass their private property onto their biological offspring, notably son (primogeniture)
Zaretsky:
there is an ideological function of the family called the 'cult of private family life' - we can only gain fulfilment through family life, which distracts attention away from exploitation.
Poulantzas:
nuclear family socialises people that capitalism is fair, which teaches lower generations to conform and cooperate with the capitalist system.
Feminists
Liberal feminists:
take the march of progress view. For example the 'new man' has become more widespread.
Marxist feminists:
capitalism is the primary source of oppression for women in the family. The family performs several functions:
reproducing the labour force - women socialise the next generation of workers.
absorbing men's anger - wives soak up men's frustration from being exploited.
a cheap reserve army of labour - when not needed women can return to their domestic labour.
Radical feminists:
the family is a key institution in the patriarchy, meaning men benefit from women's unpaid labour and sexual services, as well as dominate them through threat of violence. Women need to separate themselves from men and be independent.
Difference feminists:
not all women share the same levels of oppression; class gender, ethnicity and differing experiences of the family.
New Right
A biologically based division of labour between a male breadwinner and a female homemaker is natural and biologically determined.
Families should be self reliant - reliance on state welfare which leads to a dependency culture and undermines traditional gender roles. Creates loan parent families which results in problems due to poor socialisation.
Personal Life Perspective
Smart:
Looks at relationships that individuals see as significant and gives a sense of identity, belonging and relatedness (pets, friends etc.). Interactionists believe that structural approaches assume that the traditional nuclear family is the dominant type of family. This ignores the increased diversity of families today.