AS Sociology - Families and Households functionalist perspective.

AS Sociology - Families and Households functionalist perspective.

1. A brief overview of functionalists.

   • They believe society is based on consensus.
     • It is harmonious, it meets the needs of society and the individual.
   • They believe in the organic analogy ->
   • They believe society is structural, it has clear fixed structures.
   • They take a macro approach.
   • Key theorists

2. Childhood

   • They believe that there has been a march of progress.
   • Childhood is a golden age. - Pilcher (1995)
     • Happiness and innocence.
     • Clear and distinct life stage.
     • It is separate from the adult world.
   • Children are protected from adulthood.
     • Therefore they are better socilalised.
       • And then they become better adapted adults.

3. Family diversity

   • Parsons sees the nuclear family provides the best 'functional fit' in society.
     • The roles within the division of labour are:
       • Expressive - The wife takes care of domesticity, emotions and raises the children.
       • Instrumental - The husband is the breadwinner and provides economical capital and provides for the family
       • These two roles allow the family to perform two essential functions:
         • The primary socialisation of children.
         • Stabilisation of adult personalities.
     • Other family types are considered dysfunctional.

4. Changing family patterns

   • They like marriage as it creates a 'functional fit'.
   • They are 'On the fence' about divorce, it's not a threat as remarriage shows committed to the idea of marriage.
   • Other family types are dysfunctional.

5. Social policy

   • The state acts on behalf of its member's best interests.
     • Fletcher (1966) argues the introduction of health, education and housing policies since the industrial revolution has led to the development of the welfare state that supports families.
       • For example, the NHS.

6. Role of the family

   • Murdock (1949) believes the family perform 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members.
     • 1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive.
     • 2. Reproduction of the next generation.
     • 3. Socialisation of the young.
     • 4. Meeting its members economical needs.
   • Parsons argues there is only two functions.
     • 2. The stabilisation of adult personalities.
     • 1. The primary socialisation of children.
     • He also says that the functions that a family performs depends on the society it is found in.
       • It performs a 'functional fit'.
       • He identifies two family types:
         • Nuclear family
           • Britain began to industrialise.
             • Industrialisation brought along two new needs:
               • 1. Geographically mobile workforce.
               • 2. Socially mobile workforce.
         • Extended family
           • In pre-industrial times this was the best 'functional fit'.
           • They needed to be self-sufficient.
             • A unit of production and consumption.

7. Couples

   • Parsons clear division of labour roles:
     • Instrumental
     • Expressive
     • Believes there are biological differences between sexes.
       • Women being more 'naturally' suited to the nurturing role
       • Men being more suited to the provider role.
   • Bott (1957) talks about two types of conjugal roles within a marriage.
     • Segregated conjugal roles
     • Joint conjugal roles
     • Young and Willmott found there had been a march of progress in Bethnal Green from segregated to joint over 20 years.
       • They call a family with joint roles a symmetrical family.
         • This march of progress is because of these certain social changes:
           • 1. New technology
           • 2. Geographical mobility
           • 3. Higher standards of living
           • 4. Changes in the position in women

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