Similarly the operation of any society is dependent on its social institutions as they provide vital functions which maintain harmony, stability and solidarity within a society. G P Murdock and Talcott Parsons are the main Functionalists of family. According to Talcott Parsons the family has lost many of its functions, but still has two important functions. The primary socialisation of children: children learn norms and values in their society from their parents, who teach them what is right and what is wrong. Murdock argued that the nuclear family was a universal social institution and has four important parts to play in keeping society functioning: reproductive, economic, sexual and education function.
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.
Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of families and households. Functionalists have different views to how the family should be formed and the roles and responsibilities within them. There are how ever opposing theories form conflict theories. Functionalist sociologists believe that the family is vital for the build and survival of society. With family being the primary factor for being the way that we act functionalists believe it is important that the family socialises the children properly so that they can pass on these norms and values, This will there for ensure that the children will confirm to laws and rules.
Functionalism is based on the view that society is a system of interdependent parts held together by a shared culture or value consensus. Item A says, "while the family can provide young people with basic values and some useful practical skills." Functionalists believe that families socialise their children and teach them the values and norms of society and the item supports this as it talks about the family providing values. However, the item goes on to say,"it cannot equip individuals with everything they need in order to become fully functioning members of a large-scale society". This supports the functionalist view that the education system prepares young people for their future work roles.
On the other side of this issue we need to make sure any children involved still have adequate care and housing making sure it is still in the child’s best interest to remain in the home until the issue is resolved. Additionally, a human service professional can also help provide information regarding parenting classes for the parents. Another problem a client may face is to find good childcare for their child. For instance, a client may have a job, but is unable to pay for daycare for their children due to bills and the amount of income they bring in. It is very important that early on, the human service worker gains their clients trust
I would help the child to see that just because their parents and grandparents are education to a certain extent, doesn’t mean that’s how it has to be for them. I would encourage them to set their own goals and to work toward creating their own identity. Another way that I would help these students overcome generational poverty is to help them set goals, both short term, and long term. I would help them set some serious goals for their life and for their education in hopes that those goals will stay in their mind and push them to work as hard as they can to be successful and overcome the life that generations before them have laid out for
Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere assess the view that, in today’s society, the family is losing its functions. (24marks). Item 2B For functionalist sociologists, the family fulfils a number of important functions for individuals and for society, such as the socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities. However, some sociologists suggest that, in today’s society, these functions are being taken over by other institutions and the family is losing its importance. For example, nurseries and playgroups have an increasingly important role in the socialisation of young children whose parents are working full-time.
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
Does he have an ethical care obligation to his wife and his children? Should he ask for help from his supervisor to be trained in work-life balance? The answers to these questions are “yes”. Johnny does have an ethic of care obligation to his wife and his children. Research findings have pointed to the importance of care-oriented morality for human growth, especially identity and personality development.
An account is given of the application of the theory and how the various structures within society functions for the good and benefit of the whole as well as a reflection on the relevance of the theory in modern society. 1. Definition of structural functionalism Structural functionalism can be defined as, "…an idea of society being likened to a holistic, integrated system, but with a much stronger emphasis on the self perpetuation of the system which implies that the social institutions, which collectively form a social structure, function to maintain the harmony of the social whole."