Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalism to our understand of families and households. Functionalists believe that society is based on shared values and a mutual understanding of these vaules, this is a set of shared ‘norms’ such as; wearing clothes in public, not eating with your mouth open etc into which society socialises its young. This means society can work harmoniously and meet its needs and goals. Functionalists believe that the family is regarded as a basic building block of society. Murdoch (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members.
Item 2B “For functionalist sociologists, the family is an important institution in society. They see the family as having a number of roles essential to the smooth running of society. For example, the family is seen as key to socialising children into the norms and values of society. Other sociologists argue that the functionalist view is too uncritical and ignores the conflict that takes place within the family.” For functionalist sociologists the family is an important institution in the modern day society. Functionalists like Murdock, Parsons and Fletcher see the family as having a number of essential roles to give a ‘smooth running society.’ George Murdock, a functionalist, looked at 250 societies in the US.
According to Parsons, husbands are the breadwinners and the wife has the nurtring and caring role and that this is based on biological differences between the sexes, a view shared by the New Right. However, this can be criticised using Willmott and Young’s findings, which show that men are now doing the housework and women are going out to work. This shows that family roles are socially constructed and hence not fixed as our society is always changing. Feminists such as Anne Oakley have criticised Willmott and Young’s finding’s stating that they are methodically flawed. She found that only a small minority of men did a significant amount of housework and childcare.
He claims that the family must provide the primary socialisation of children to certify the maintenance of society’s culture and the stabilisation of adult personalities - where responsibility for children gives emotional security and the family performs as a haven from the complications of the outside world. Other sociologists, in particular
Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households Functionalists believe that society is held together by social consensus; shared norms and values into which society socialises its members, in order to achieve what is best for society as a whole. The functionalist theory views the family as a social institution that performs certain essential functions for the benefit of the society (not the individual). The family is the backbone of society and if it fails to carry out the functions and pass on certain values and attitudes to its members, the family is labelled as dysfunctional and society is affected as a result. Thus, functionalists argue that the family is vital to society, helping to maintain order and stability. George Murdock (1949), a well-known functionalist, argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members.
For example, George Peter Murdock (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the need of society and its members, these are: Stable satisfaction of the sex drive, sex with the same partner will prevent social disruption in the family which will keep the family together. Reproduction of the next generation, without which the society will not continue. Socialisation of the young, teach children the norms and values of society at a young age so they will learn. Meeting its members' economic needs, making sure the family has food and shelter. However, some sociologists disagree with Murdock’s functions of the family and have criticised him.
Just as the human body is dependent upon each of the functions in order to survive, society is dependent on each of the sub-systems. The family meets some of society’s essential needs by socialising children. This is regarded as a basic building block of society. George Murdoch (1949) argues that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members. These include; stable satisfaction of the sex drive, reproduction of the next generation, socialisation of the young and meeting its members economic needs.
On top of this, the child’s status within the family is ascribed because it’s what they’re born in to. However, in society there are universalistic standards which mean the child is judged against standards which apply to all of society. These are essentially the laws of the country. Furthermore, the child’s status in wider society is achieved through merit. Parsons argues therefore that the role of education eases the transition between the family and wider society.
Key Assignment: Family Diversity Ujjol Rahman 1. The term 'neo-conventional' describes the type of nuclear family described by The New Right party and Talcott Parsons with its separation between the male breadwinner and the female housewife/homemaker 2. The difference between expressive and instrumental roles is that; The man/husband of the house has the instrumental role where he is responsible for achieving success at work and gaining income in order to provide for the family financially. The expressive role however is based on the female/wife of the house who's responsible for meeting the families emotional needs and socialization of the children. She is a full time housewife, rather than a source of income.
The functionalism theory is a perspective that sees society based on shared values into which members are socialised. The theory suggests that society is similar to a puzzle; there are a few different parts which need to fit together in order for society to function fluently. In this essay I will be assessing the contribution functionalism has on families and households with the supports of views from functionalists such as George Peter Murdock. George Murdock supports the functionalism theory however he believed that the key to functionalism is a basic family unit which is also known as a nuclear family. Murdock suggested that by living in a family which consisted of a mother, father and their biological child/ children, society would be enhanced ass teaching and learning the norms and morals of society would be best with a world which consisted of nuclear families.