Review of Parsons 1.Subject matter Macro theory – Three subsystems functionally related to one another 2.Assumptions about social action Human behavior is predictable – Pattern variables create regularity of action 3.Methodology Deductive theory of social systems 4.Theoretical Objective Primarily description of a system

Lecture Map Scottish Enlightenment and Utilitarianism Rational Choice Theory Becker’s Model of the Family Sociobiology Feminist Perspectives on the Family

Learning Objectives Compare Parsons’ Volunteeristic Model of Action with Becker’s Rational Choice Model Be able to apply both to a family process – Ex. how a couple decides how many hours a the wife will work Know the difference between Feminist models at the theoretical level Know how they relate to Becker and Parsons’ models of the family

Theories of the Family: Gary Becker And Feminist Critiques

Placing Becker into the Theory Scheme 1.Subject matter 2.Assumptions about social action 3.Methodology 4.Theoretical Objective

Intellectual Background: Utilitarianism Utility has been used as a measure of the morality of society – The maximum utility for the maximum number of people should be achieved – The maximum good for the worst off (the individual achieving the lowest utility)

Adam Smith: Markets 1.Markets teach sensible behavior by rewarding those who buy cheap and sell dear and punishing the opposite 2.Markets lead people with different goods or skills to exchange 3.Markets do this without regulation – they work as though led by an invisible hand

Rational Choice Theory “All human behavior can be viewed as involving participants who maximize their utility from a stable set of preferences and accumulate an optimal amount of information and other inputs in a variety of markets.” – Becker (1976)

Maximizing Behavior People act as though they are seeking to maximize utility They need not be consciously weighing costs and benefits Imperfect information does not result in irrational decision making

Markets Market equilibrium Market instruments (prices): – Allocate resources – Constrain desires – Coordinates action

Stable Preferences “The assumption of stable preferences provides a stable foundation for generating predictions about responses to various changes, and prevents the analyst from succumbing to the temptation of simply postulating the required shift in preferences to “explain” all apparent contradictions to his predictions.”

Becker’s Model of the Family Market Human Capital Market Comparative Advantage Market Experience/ Education Household Human Capital Household Comparative Advantage Household Experience/ Education Household Specialization Market Specialization Optimal Productivity in both market and household sectors

Productivity Productivity is a direct function of experience and investments into capital

Specialization Increases Productivity If two household members have the same investments and comparative advantages both... “could be made better off if the member now specializing in the household did not invest in market capital and increased his investment in household capital.”

Theory of Comparative Advantage The resources of members of a household (or any organization) should be allocated to various activities according to their comparative or relative efficiencies – All differences in comparative advantage can be related to different experiences and other investments in human capital

Comparative Advantage in the Family marginal products in the market marginal products in the household

Becker’s (Gendered) Model of the Family Market Human Capital Market Comparative Advantage Market Experience/ Education Household Human Capital Household Comparative Advantage Household Experience/ Education Household Specialization Market Specialization Optimal Productivity in both market and household sectors

Sector Participation over the Life- course

Comparisons with Parsons’ Model 1.Subject matter 2.Assumptions about social action 3.Methodology 4.Theoretical Objective

Is Becker’s Model Falsifiable? Household work is assumed to have at least the same marginal productivity as market work – Else the household labor would be applied to the market – The theory yields consistent predictions concerning the returns to household and market labor (i.e. When marginal utility of the market is increased female household labor will decrease) but is there any way that behavior could be inconsistent with the theory (since he’s really not measuring productivity in either sphere) – Is it a useful framework?

Sociobiology Sexual differences are rooted in biology – They are often exaggerated by culture – Rigid social control could minimize differences

Feminist Theories of Families Diverse Perspective on the Source of Oppression and the Role of the Institution of Family – Liberal Feminism – Radical Feminism – Marxist and Socialist Feminism – Social Feminism

Liberal Feminism Upper class feminists Sought education, productive employment, political enfranchisement, legal and civil rights for women No radical changes to the structure of the family – Rather gainful employment, civil responsibility and intellectual development would allow women to develop their reasoning faculties and be better mothers and wives Mixed results

First Wave Liberal Feminists Mary Wollstonecraft John Stuart Mill Second Wave Liberal Feminists Betty Friedan Gloria Steinem

Liberal Feminist Critiques Sociobiology Becker Parsons

Radical Feminism Sexism permeates all social structures – Women’s oppression is rooted in control over their bodies – Female sexuality has been constructed to serve men The heterosexual family is inherently a locus of oppression for women – Reproduction – Sexual division of labor The role of childbearing is more ambiguous

Radical Feminist Critiques Sociobiology Becker Parsons

Marxist Feminism Women reproduce the workforce Marriage is prostitution – market inequality causes dependence The collective should replace the family – Reproductive work is a civic duty rather than personal sacrifice

Marxist Feminist Critiques Sociobiology Becker Parsons

Social Feminism Focuses on the strengths of women’s roles rather than deficits compared with men – “Maternal” virtues: peace, protection, nurturance

Social Feminist Critiques Sociobiology Becker Parsons

Classifying Gender Theories: Subject Matter Liberal Radical Marxist Social Micro ProcessMacro Process

Classifying Gender Theories: Assumptions about social action Liberal Radical Marxist Social Liberal Radical Marxist Social Predictable Norms Creative Interests

Classifying Gender Theories: Methodology Liberal Radical Marxist Social DeductiveInductive

Classifying Gender Theories: Theoretical Objective Liberal Radical Marxist Social ExplainPredict

Reading Question for Thursday Assignment 5 Do you think marriage rates are a good measure of social distance? Do you think a macro theory can explain who marries whom? Why or why not?