This view sharply contrasts the view of functionalists as they argue that the family benefits both the society as a whole and all the individual members. The Marxists will look at Engels and Zaretsky. Their theories outline ways in which the nuclear family contributes to the continuation of the capitalist system. Marxists see all society’s institutions, such as education system, the media, religion and the state, along with the family, as helping to maintain class inequality and capitalism. Therefore, for Marxists, the functions of the family are to benefit the capitalist system.
There are different views on the functionalism of the family and these views can change over time, between societies and between people in the same society. One man who expressed his functionalist view on the family was Murdock. He felt that the family was at the heart of society and that the nuclear family (mother, father and two or more children) was so useful to society it is inevitable and universal. This suggests that Murdock thought that the family was a natural part of society and happens all over the world. He felt that the family was multi-functional and could do a lot of things that needed to be done in modern day culture.
Thus, all 'classes', 'nations' and 'races' are meaningful political entities. This would mean that a collective group of individuals is capable of self-governing so that collective interests should prevail over individual ones. For example, Robert Owen, set up an experiment community 'kibbutz' system in Israel, whereby settlements are collectivily owned by their members. In this way, socialists upheld collective interests where the growth of state responsibility marks the advance of collectivism. Such view could be compared with the Burkean natural aristocracy.
Assess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today. Family diversity is the idea that there are a range of different family types, rather than a single dominant one like the nuclear family. It is associated with the post-modernists idea that in today’s society increasing choice about relationships is creating greater family diversity. The modernist view sees society as having a fairly fixed, predictable structure. The modernists see the nuclear family as being the best as it performs certain essential functions.
Social equality is the ability for all members of a given society to have access to the same basic rights surrounding security, voting, freedom of speech, education and health care. A greater degree of social equality is created by Labours government between 1945 and 1951 by implementing the creation of the welfare state. This gave citizens of Britain the access to state provided healthcare and equal opportunities in education. This is shown in source 6, taken form Nick Tiratsoo’s book ‘From Blitz to Blair’, describes how Atlee’s government ‘did establish a society with much less poverty and a significantly greater degree of social equality.’ This shows that Labour did create a greater degree of social equality between 1945 and 1951. Source 4 is an excerpt from the Labour party’s 1951 manifesto, within this excerpt they pledge to ‘press forward for greater social equality’.
Parson views the education system as being meritocratic, enabling everyone to have equal opportunities, and success being down to individual desire to succeed and ability. Parsons also viewed education as a bridge between family and society, enabling people
Sabrina sharkey per.1 9/9/13 In the quote from ''The Clean Slate'' the author Allan Bloom talks about family. This quote may have many possible meanings but my overall thought of this was , to actually make yourself part of the family you must love and commit. You must do certain things but also be part of the family . There are many reasons that led me to believe this. One is the line, ''It's base is merely bodily reproduction, but its purpose is the formation of civilized human beings. ''
Functionalism vs. Marxism The Functionalist theory believes in a family that is perfect for the industrial society in which we live. The family type more often described by modern functionalists is that of a nuclear variety, idealised as white, middle class, male & female, having children and holding typical western values. Functionalists believe that the family has vital functions to carry out; one of the main functions is passing on of traditional values, another main function would be the socialisation of children and, carrying on, the stabilisation of the adult personality. The Functionalist theory relies heavily on the nuclear family, It is of common belief amongst functionalists that the nuclear family with two parents and dependent children living together in a home is a necessity for the industrial society to thrive. Murdock, a functionalist, states that the family has four functions: sexual, economic, reproductive and educational, He argued that the family needs these four factors and he argues that they are the family's purposes.
Functionalist contribution to our understanding of the family Within sociology there are many different views on family whether it is a positive or negative part of society which includes functionalism, New Right, Critical views, Feminism and Marxism. They have a different functionalist contribution to our understanding of the family. Functionalist view the family as an institution which improves society by obtaining equilibrium, social order and stability while at the same time meeting the needs of all the member in society. They see the nuclear as positive fort society. For example, Murdock saw the family as reproducing the next generation and socializing them into the shared culture.
Julio Serrano EN-102 Prof. Ignacio Arana 5-6-09 Socialism: Unity and Common Interest Socialism calls workers to unite for a better community. This gives them a better work ethic (Walicki). Karl Marx once said, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" (Titelman). This is a very accurate summary of the basis of socialism. Everyone gives what they can and gets what they need.