Theories of the family SCLY1 Functionalist/Marxist

Theories of the family SCLY1 Functionalist/Marxist

1. Functionalist

   • Murdock (1949)
     • Argues that the family is universal institution that performs four major functions;
       • 4) Education
         • Primary socialisation
       • 1) Economic
         • Breadwinner/ housewife rolese
       • 2) Sexual
         • Socially approved relationship (marriage)
       • 3) Reproductive
         • Male and female having a child
     • Murdock's research created familistic ideology
     • His research is dated
     • All data collected was secondary making it unreliable
     • Assumes the family is harmonious and ignores the conflict and exploitation
       • Ignores family diversity and assumes the nuclear family is the universal norm
   • Parsons (1955)
     • Argued the Nuclear family retains two 'basic and irreducible' functions.
       • 1) Primary socialisation of children
         • Links to Murdock's 'education' function
       • 2) Stabilisation of adult personalities
         • Not the same but similar to Murdock's 'sexual' function
       • Parson disagrees with Murdock and he believes in the loss of funtions
         • He argues that the economic function has been replaced by the welfare state and that the reproductive function has been replaced by modern reproductive technologies
   • "The family performs positive functions for individuals and society"
   • Tend to neglect the meanings families have for individuals and how family members interpret family relationships

2. Marxist

   • Engels (1884)
     • Passing on wealth
       • Argues that as private property becomes more important men who controlled it needed to ensure they could pass it to their own sons and this led to monogamous marriage
         • This also meant the women becoming private property of her husband, who controlled her sexuality to ensure he was the father of her children
   • Zaretsky (1976)
     • Argues that there is a 'cult of private life'
       • The belief that we can only gain fulfilment from family life, and this distracts attention from exploitation
       • Ideological functions
   • Althusser and Poulantzas
     • The family can be seen as serving the functions of an ideological state apparatus by socialising both pro-capitalist ideology and its own familiar ideology in order to maintain such family patterns over time.
   • "The family provides important functions for capitalism"
   • Tend to neglect the meanings families have for individuals and how family members interpert family relationships
   • Ignore the benefits that the family provides such as intimacy and mutual support
     • Underestimate the importance of gender equalities

3. New right theories; the family is the cornerstone of society, but it is under threat

   • Political rather than sociological

4. The new right is a victim blaming theory

   • However the New Right theory is closely linked to functionalism

5. Charles Murray

6. David Marsland