Role of the family in society

Role of the family in society

1. Functionalist Perspective

   • Murdock - Universal functions of the family
     • Studied 250 societies identified 4 functions of the family
       • Sexual - limiting sexuality to monogamous relationships preventing conflct from sexual desire
       • Reproductive - Ensure reproduction of a new generation vital for society
       • Economic - Acts as economic unit, ensuring survival of members by providing food & shelter
       • Educational - Provides a stable environment in which children can be socialised into the culture of society
   • Parsons - basic functions of the family
     • Primary Socialisation
     • Stabilisation of adult personalities
     • Changing family structure
       • Family changes to fit the needs of different types of society
       • Industry required geographically mobile workforce, difficult to achieve with extended family
       • Socially mobile workforce necessary
         • extended family status largely ascribed
     • Changing functions of the family
       • As society changes family loses some of its functions
       • Pre industrial carried out many functions in industrial society specialist institutions take over some of these functions this is called structural differentiation
       • An example of this is family healthcare and support which has been took over by the welfare state

2. Marxist Perspective

   • Economic Base and Superstructure
     • Power of bourgeoise stems fro means of production
       • Land, Capital, Machinery and labour power
     • Capitalism - Ruling class (Bourgeoise) and Working Class employees (Proletariat)
     • Because they control economic base they were able to control non economic institutions of society (media, government, religion and family)
     • Explains why Marxists see family as shaped in ruling class interests
   • Societal studies
     • Engels - family developed so that men could be certain of childrens paternity and controlling womens sexuality ensuring them property inherited to offspring
     • Zaretsky - Family is a prop to the capitalist system
       • Unpaid domestic labour of housewives reproduces workers at no cost to employers
       • The Family consumes commodities produced by capitalist companies
       • Provides comfort to alienated workers to carry on working

3. Feminist perspective

   • The family is a patriarchal institution maintaining male power and dominance
   • Radical Feminists - Patriarchal nuclear family dominates
     • Fail to acknowledge improvements
   • Postmodern feminists - more aware of increasing diversity
   • Liberal feminists - accept some moves towards equality
   • Emphasised Gender stratification