Outline and Discuss the View That the Nuclear Family Is Universal

1213 Words5 Pages
George Murdock, a functionalist sociologist, studied two hundred and fifty societies to see if the nuclear family is universal or not in 1949. Through his study, he identified four functions of the family. Murdock stated that “The family is a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children (own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults)”. His main argument was that the nuclear, or ‘cereal packet family’ is the most efficient family type for performing vital functions such as primary socialisation and emotional and economical support. Murdock’s view can be supported by several other points. Firstly, the other family types are statistically insignificant – they are in the minority, and so cannot be counted as part of his view. The Ik for example are only based in Northern Uganda, and so this family structure is not representative of all the families universally. Alternative family lifestyles can also be seen as the nuclear family ‘gone wrong’. An example of this is the reconstituted family – nuclear families have broken down into this new family structure that now involves re-marriage and step-parents/children. The extended family consists of (generally) three generations living under one roof. It is simply an extension of the typical nuclear family, and so even this family type is still classified as a nuclear family. The nuclear family is also seen as the ‘ideal’. Children living with both of their parents provides them with emotional and possible economic support, and does not cause upset (such as if the parents want to get a divorce). However, despite the support for Murdock’s view, there are limitations. There is cross-cultural and contemporary evidence that disproves his view. In 1959,

More about Outline and Discuss the View That the Nuclear Family Is Universal

Open Document