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Family and Households – AS Level

The family has essential


functions which it must
perform to meet the basic
needs of society and its
members
(Murdock/Parsons)

As society develops, the


functions become more
The family is a universal
specialised and some may
institution
be given up to other
specialised institutions

Functionalist
Perspectives

The isolated nuclear family There is a functional


is especially suitable for relationship between the
industrial society because it family and other social
is small and mobile institutions

Males and females are seen


as having different
functional roles in the
family
(Parsons)
Family and Households – AS Level

The nature of the family


is determined by the
economic system – in
It acts as an ‘ideological modern society it serves In early communal society
state apparatus’ the interests of capitalism the family was not needed
defending the status quo, – it only became necessary
patriarchy and power the with the accumulation of
role of the wife is to wealth and the need to
maintain the worker and defend it
absorb his frustrations (Engels)

The family provides a


It provides consumers to
steady supply of new
buy goods produced by Marxist workers for the economy
the economy
Perspectives at no extra charge

These workers are


By giving workers
socialised by the family
responsibilities, it
into discipline and the
encourages them to work
‘correct’ attitudes ff
and reduces their The family provides a obedience and
bargaining power ‘safety valve’ – a release conformity
from alienation and
oppression at work by –
thereby allowing that
oppression to continue
(Zaretsky)
Family and Households – AS Level

Feminism

Feminists see previous views All feminists agree that


Family life is very different
of the family as women are exploited in
for women and is a source of
‘malestream’ (Abbott and some way in society and in
male control over women
Wallace) particular within the family

Marxist
Feminists

Women not only provide


this unpaid role but also
Marxist feminists argue
Whereas men are provide a ‘reserve army of
that wives ‘serve’ workers,
oppressed by capitalism,. labour’ – extra, cheap and
produce and socialise new
Women are oppressed by temporary workers who
workers, procuring more
both capitalism and can be engaged and sacked
‘surplus value’ (profit) for
patriarchy as and when they are
the economy (Benston)
needed by the economy
(Brugel)
Family and Households – AS Level

Radical
Feminists

The oppression of women


as a result of male Historically and in other
deominiance through The socialisation of women cultures, women have been
biology and physical into the mother/housewife more independent – it was
strength. They view the role is seen as a form of largely men and
nuclear family as based on oppression industrialisation that ‘put
male power and supporting them in the home’
male power (Firestone)

Liberal Feminists

Liberal feminists advocate increasing gender equality through the law and changing values. They
claim that power relations and the division of labour within marriage have become more equal,
largely as a consequence of changes in women’s work patterns
Family and Households – AS Level

Stresses the pluralism,


diversity and fragmentation
of modern life

An important aspect of the


postmodern family is the See no overarching,
ability for the individual to dominant claims to truth –
make choices and for so there cannot be one
members to ‘make’ or dominant, most common or
‘construct’ their families ‘correct’ type of family
through interaction

Postmodernism

There can be no ‘normal’ or


Some feminists may see this
‘natural’ form of family
idea as a force of liberation;
relationships or roles – the
others, such as
nuclear family has become
functionalists, are likely to
fragmented and been
see it as a source of chaos
dismantled

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