Sociological Perspectives

Sociological Perspectives

1. Traditional Marxists perspective on the family

   • Structural perspective on the family
     • Do not regard nuclear family as functionally necessary
     • Family contributes to the maintenance of society's structure
   • The nuclear family is concerned with teaching its members to submit to the capitalist class
   • Emphasises the way the family reproduces unequal relationships
   • Engles (1820-1895)
     • Monogamous nuclear family developed as a means of passing on private property to heirs
     • Women's position in this family wasn't much different from that of a prostitute
       • Provided sex and heirs in return for the economic security that her husband offered
   • Althusser(1971)
     • In order for capitalism to survive the working class must submit to the ruling class (bourgeoisie)
     • Family is one of the main means (and education system) of passing on ideology (ideas and beliefs)
   • Criticisms
     • A bit old fashioned
     • Women now work and have independent incomes
       • In some cases they are more successful than men
       • Women less likely to marry for economic security
     • People are now more likely to marry for love and affection rather than a social obligation

2. Functionalist perspective on the family

   • See the family as a vital 'organ' in maintaining body of society
     • Such as like the heart is important to maintain a human body
     • Different parts of family work together to maintain society
   • Murdock believes there are 4 main functions of the family
     • Sexual
       • Express sexuality in socially approved way
         • Including disapproval to incest, adultery etc
     • Reproduction
       • Family provide some stability for the reproduction and rearing of children
     • Socialization
       • Family's important unit of primary socialization
         • Children learn socially acceptable behaviour and culture of their society
       • Helps to build the shared ideas and beliefs (value consensus)
         • Functionalists believe important to maintain a stable society
     • Economic
       • Family provides food and shelter for family members
   • Parsons (1951)
     • Examined family life in the 1950's
     • Argued there are 2 basic functions of the family
       • Primary socialization of children
         • Learning and internalization of society's culture
           • Eg the language, history and values of society
         • Believes socialization is so powerful so becomes part of individuals personality
         • Argues only the family can provide emotional warmth and security
       • Stabilization of human personalities
         • Family helps to stabllize personalities by the sexual division of labour
         • Women have expressive role (providing warmth, security and emotional support)
         • Male has instrumental role (family breadwinner, leads to stress and anxiety)

3. Feminists

   • Marxist Feminist
     • The social reproduction of labour power
       • The family provides a place where children can be born and raised with a sense of security
       • The ruling class is supplied with a readily available and passive labour force for its factories and offices
         • Family achieves this in 3 ways
           • Providing a place for eating, drinking and relaxing, helping to ensure that members of the workforce are able to go to work each day
           • Producing and maintaining labour which is free of cost to capitalists
           • Socializing children into the dominant ideas in society
     • Family is a social institution responsible for reproduction responsible for the reproduction of labour power for capitalism
   • Radical Feminist
     • See patriarchy as main obstacle to women's freedom
       • System of male power and dominance
     • Attack the notion of the symmetrical family put forward by Young and Willmott
       • Women more likely to be the victims of domestic violence
     • Family is a social institution responsible for the reproduction of unequal roles for women and men
     • Socializes children into traditional gender roles
       • Men are 'breadwinners'
       • Women have the responsibility for housework and childcare
     • Family is an oppressive institution that only benefits men
       • Oppresses and exploits women
       • There is a 'dark side' to family life that includes violence and abuse against women and children