1. Theories of the family

2. Objectives:
To outline the various sociological theories affecting the family
1. Functionalism
2.Marxism

3. Functionalist
Functionalists see society as based on value consensus: a shared set of norms and values (or culture). This culture enables members of society to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs and to achieve common goals.

4. Functionalist
Functionalists take a positive view of the family. They see it as performing beneficial functions for the family and wider society.

5. Functionalist
Organic analogy – society is like a human body, when one part breaks down the whole begins to crumble and not work.
How is society like a human body?
Connections task –

6. Connections task: Family and education Family and the workplace
Education and the workplace
How does what happens in one part influence what happens in the other?

7. Functionalist
Murdock ( 1949) argues that the family perform 4 vital functions.
Stable satisfaction of the sex drive: with the same marital partner . This avoids social disruption and ‘sex for all’
Reproduction of the next generation: without which society would cease to exist.

8. Functionalist
Socialisation of the young into society’s norms and values.
Satisfaction of members’ economic needs : e.g. providing food and shelter .
By performing these functions the nuclear family helps to maintain social stability. Murdock thinks the nuclear family is practical.

9. Functionalist
Talcott Parson’s (1955) Functional Fit theory : He argues that the range and functions that the family performs depends on the type of society it is found in.
3 generational extended family – pre industrial society
2 generational nuclear family –modern industrial society.
(functionalists ignore family diversity and assume the nuclear family is the norm)

10. Functionalist
Extended family was multifunctional – it was a unit of production and consumption. E.g. all the family worked the land and performed welfare.
Nuclear family – fits 2 key needs of the modern industrial society.
Geographical mobility
Social mobility

11. Functionalist The nuclear family has 2 functions :
Primary socialisation
Stabilisation of adult personalities – relaxing the workers before they go back to work (warm bath theory)

12. Marxist Society is divided into two classes:
1 Capitalist ( bourgeoisie )
2 Working class ( Proletariat )

13. Marxists (conflict perspective)
Capitalists
The minority capitalist class, or bourgeoisie, own the means of production such as factories, raw materials and land.
Working Class
The majority working class, or proletariat, own nothing but their own labour, which they have to sell to the bourgeoisie in order to survive.
The bourgeoisie exploit the workers and profit from their labour. This breeds class conflict which Marx believed would lead to the working class overthrowing capitalism and creating a classless, equal society.

14. Marxist
Marxists see the family as contributing to exploitation. The family is oppressive and performs several important functions for capitalism :
Passing on wealth
Ideological functions : the idea that we can only gain fulfilment in the family.

15. Marxist
The family is a unit of consumption and capitalists need consumers to buy their products. The family is an important market for consumer goods and therefore enables capitalists to make profits.

16. Zaretksy (1976)
Sees the family as the major support to the capitalist system
Socialisation of children
Reproduction of labour force
Emotional safety valve (ring any bells?)
Economic function – false needs
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17. Althusser (French Marxist)
Described the family as being part of the Ideological State Apparatus.