Assess the functionalist view of the family Functionalism is when everything in society has a role to play in day-to-day life. A prime example of functionalism in society is the family. The family is seen as a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It will involve at least two people who have a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children (their own or adopted) of the sexually cohabiting adults. 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.
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 socially cohabiting adults. He believed that there are 4 essential functions for the family to carry out. These are the sexual function, the reproductive function, the education function and the economic function. The
Secondary socialisation then is the socialisation we receive in later life from a range of different socialising agencies, such as peer groups, education, mass media and the work place. The three main sociological perspectives (Marxists, functionalists and feminists) all share different views on these socialising agencies (including the family). The first socialising agency I will be looking at is the first a person comes across -- the family. The family is a form of primary socialisation, and is seen as one of the most important agencies, socialising a child into norms and values and acting as a large influence and example for the child. Because of this, the family is very important as a socialising agency, as it teaches children what is right and what is wrong within our society, as well as norms and values, through using things such as sanctions to guide and control this learning process.
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.
Reproducationally, they will make the next generation. Economically the ideal is that the man will go out to work and provide food and shelter whilst the women will look after the house, cook and clean whilst looking after the children. The last function Murdock believes that the family should fulfil is education of socialisation; the children will learn the culture norms and values of society. However, Parsons a functionalist also focused on American families but argues that the family has two key functions. Primary socialisation, the children
Functionalists however argue that the hidden curriculum prepares younger generations for life in the work place, For example, we obey higher authority such as teachers, of which in the work place would be our employer. Unlike Marxists, Functionalists believe that social mobility is possible and education gives individuals the best chance to achieve their status. American Sociologist, Parsons believes that education is a secondary agent of socialisation, and the
line and evaluate the functionalist’s view of the role of the family in the society. Functionalism is a structural theory in that believes that the social structure of society is responsible for shaping us as individuals and determining our experiences and life changes. Functionalism looks at how the family, as an institution, helps in maintaining order and stability in society, and the significance of the family for its individual members. Two well-known functionalists who have written about the family are Murdock and Parsons. George Murdock had a study involving 250 families.
This supports the functionalist view that the education system prepares young people for their future work roles. Functionalists believe that the role of education is to create a sense of solidarity which will benefit society; they say the purpose of education and it's relationship to the economy is to provide specialist skills to equip people for the workforce. If people are well prepared for work after leaving school, this will benefit society as a whole. They believe that the brightest will take the top jobs and the rest will be allocated a job role that suits their skills. Furthermore, item A also says, "sociologists see the education system as performing a vital role in modern societies."
AS Sociology Terms Test Family Define the following term * Embourgeoisement, is the process through which the working class becomes more like the middle class by achieving relatively comfortable levels of financial security and material well-being. * Expressive Role, people who tend to pay attention to how everyone is getting along, and take care of things in the social group. * Extended Family, a family group of more than two generations of the same kinship living either within the same household or, very close to one another. * Family, a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household. * Fit Thesis, is the thought that the family is functional fit for society.
As Ehrenreicht says the Family is the place where we go for comfort and to relax, but it is that very notion of family being a safe haven makes it all that much... In my opinion the ideal family is a group of people that have emotional, blood, or legal ties. The ideal family to me includes a monogamous marriage between two adults who are socially and financial dependent. These adults should also care for young including biological children, adopted children, or mentoring for disadvantaged children. The parents should teach the children, and also provide proper education.