Functionalism highlights the consensus and order that exist in society, which focuses on social stability and shared public values. From this perspective, ineffectiveness in the system, such as deviant behavior, this leads to change because common components which adjusts to achieve stability. As soon as one of the parts of the system isn’t working how it should or it is dysfunctional, it affects all other parts and creates social problems, which then leads to social change. Functionalism doesn’t encourage people to take part in an active role in changing their social atmosphere, even when such change may value them. Instead, functionalism sees active social change as unwanted because of the countless parts of the society will compensate obviously for any problems that may arise.
* Socialisation which included the responsibility of teaching children what was the acceptable way to behave in society. * And the economic function which meant that food, shelter and financial security had to be provided for family members through working and this would be by working for the bourgeoisies. Also the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. That is, the family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families. In the process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state.
What is the functionalist perspective in sociology? According to the functionalist perspective of sociology, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's stability and functioning as a whole. For example, the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. That is, the family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families. In the process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state.
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
For example, nurseries and playgroups have an increasingly important role in the socialisation of young children whose parents are working full-time. Also, family life is much less stable than it was in the past and this undermines the traditional functions of the family. ________________________________________________________________________ From a functionalist opinion, they believe that the society we live in is based on an unwritten set of shared norms and values – a consensus. This is the consensus theory. This is primary socialisation which is taught mainly by families which teaches the young generation the norms and values.
In particular they focus on the nuclear family. The functionalist view of the family in society is that it maintains social order. They argue that the family is beneficial for the whole of society not just the individuals themselves. . A weakness in this argument is that it can be seen that functionalists adopt too much of an idyllic view of the family, an example being it ignores dysfunctional families such as abusive relationships.
However, some sociologists disagree with Murdock’s functions of the family and have criticised him. Some argue that these functions could be performed in other institutions equally as well as in the family, or by non-nuclear families. Marxists and Feminists reject his 'rose-tinted' harmonious consensus view that the family meets the needs of both wider society and all members of the family. They argue that functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation: Feminist see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women. Marxists argue that it meets the needs of Capitalism and not the needs of family members or society as a whole.
Nietzsche says, in his second essay, the primary objection to ascetic ideals is that ascetic priests must deny the value of this life; he portrays it as a link to the next life, rather than appreciating life as an end in itself. An objection to this claim, being unselfish, caring for the weak, loving one’s neighbor, submitting to “god,” might be better for the health of the community and may even have evolutionary benefits, even though in nature it does seem like the weak get “chosen”. As far as a moral life, they are at the same time a weak people because they have denied life for so long. In the long run the ascetic
So, it is easy to see that the economic needs of society are a factor that contribute to the construction of childhood. If we need children to work, we will adapt childhood so that it is seen as a norm to have children as workers. While Aries work is influential in examining how childhood is socially constructed, it has been criticised for using these secondary sources, meaning that it makes it harder for us to be clear
Everyone must put something into society and if you put something into society, you will gain something back. For example, the government, or state, provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. The family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families. In the process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state. Talcott parsons (1902-1979) played a vital role in the development of functionalism as a sociological approach.