Outline and evaluate Functionalist views of the role of the family in society. 33marks
Outline and evaluate Functionalist views of the role of the family in society. (33 marks)
Functionalist macro theory looks at the society as a whole, and analyses how it fits together. Functionalist view of the role of the family in society is that it maintains social order, and it’s a tool for socialisation and a key social institution in sustaining the value consensus, which is harmony in the society as well as social solidarity. Functionalists focus on the positive functions of the family such as the sexual function, reproductive function, economic function and educational function, these have been defined by Murdock. Functionalists often compare society to a biological organism like the human body. For example, just as organs such as the heart and lungs perform functions vital to the well-being of the body as a whole, so key agencies of socialisation meet some of society’s essential needs. Functionalists love nuclear family and they believe that it’s the only right family type.
Parsons functional fit theory says that with industrialisation and urbanisation, the structure of the family becomes nuclear to fit the needs of industrial society for geographically and socially mobile labour force. Parsons argues that the functions the family performs depend on the kind of society the family lives in. Parsons differentiates between two types of family, the nuclear family of just parents and children and the extended family of three generations living together. The nuclear family was necessary because the industry required a geographically mobile workforce that could move to where new factories were built, which was difficult to achieve with large extended families. Also, a socially mobile workforce was necessary because most extended families had an ascribed status, usually with the eldest female having the highest status this could cause issues if a younger female had a higher achieved status as he would have a better job, therefore nuclear families without
Functionalist macro theory looks at the society as a whole, and analyses how it fits together. Functionalist view of the role of the family in society is that it maintains social order, and it’s a tool for socialisation and a key social institution in sustaining the value consensus, which is harmony in the society as well as social solidarity. Functionalists focus on the positive functions of the family such as the sexual function, reproductive function, economic function and educational function, these have been defined by Murdock. Functionalists often compare society to a biological organism like the human body. For example, just as organs such as the heart and lungs perform functions vital to the well-being of the body as a whole, so key agencies of socialisation meet some of society’s essential needs. Functionalists love nuclear family and they believe that it’s the only right family type.
Parsons functional fit theory says that with industrialisation and urbanisation, the structure of the family becomes nuclear to fit the needs of industrial society for geographically and socially mobile labour force. Parsons argues that the functions the family performs depend on the kind of society the family lives in. Parsons differentiates between two types of family, the nuclear family of just parents and children and the extended family of three generations living together. The nuclear family was necessary because the industry required a geographically mobile workforce that could move to where new factories were built, which was difficult to achieve with large extended families. Also, a socially mobile workforce was necessary because most extended families had an ascribed status, usually with the eldest female having the highest status this could cause issues if a younger female had a higher achieved status as he would have a better job, therefore nuclear families without