Functionalism and the Family

1
Functionalism and the Family
Read through your handout to get an overview of
what we will be covering this lesson
2
Functionalism the family

• Understand the functionalist view of the family
• Be able to evaluate the functionalist view of the
  family
• Key Questions
• What is the functionalist view of the family
• Is this view still relevant today?
• What are the criticisms of the functionalist view
  of the family

3
Organic Analogy
Brain
Heart
Stomach
Intestines
Lungs
Liver
Kidney
4
Heart Question

• What is the organic analogy?
• Back
• The comparison functionalists make between
  society and the human body

5
Stomach Question

• What S__________ approach do Functionalists take
  when they look at society?
• Back
• Structuralist

6
Lungs Question

• What are shared values known as?
• V.................... C.................
• Back
• Value Consensus

7
Liver Question

• What does social solidarity mean?
• Back
• Ties in a society that bind people to one another

8
Brain Quesiton

• If Marxism and Feminism are conflict theories,
  what if Functionalism?
• Back
• Consensus

9
Intestines Question

• Functionalists argue society is
  H.........................?
• Back
• Harmonious

10
Pancreas Question

• Name one criticism of the Functionalist theory?
• Back
• Outdated
• Overly optimistic/positive view of society

11
Kidney Question

• Name one functionalist sociologist?
• Back
• Parsons
• Durkheim

12
Functionalist perspective on the family

• The family is at the heart of society and
  consequently they promote its value at every
  opportunity
• The family is a very positive institution which
  always benefits its members

13
Functionalism

• Warm Bath Theory
• Functionalists claim that the home life is like a
  warm bath which soaks away the stresses of the
  outside world.
• It is an outlet for individuals to escape from
  modern day pressures

14
George Murdock (1949) a Functionalist argued
that...

• The family is found in all societies and it
  performs the same functions everywhere
• So it is a universal institution with universal
  functions.

15
The role of the Family

• What do you think are the roles of the family?
• Have they changed over the past 30 years?

THINK PAIR - SHARE
16
The role of the Family

• 2 key functionalist sociologists
• Parsons 2 roles
• Murdock 4 roles

17
Roles of the family (Murdock)

• Regulation of sexual activity
• sexual drive could lead to conflict over
  partners.
• cooperation is best achieved by couples living
  together for the long term and such a bond is
  cemented by sexual union

18
Roles of the family (Murdock)

• 2. Reproduction
• Couples must reproduce in order to maintain a
  society, no children, no future generations of
  people, no society.

19
Roles of the family (Murdock)

• 3. Economic support and the sexual division of
  labour
• Men are naturally stronger than women and
  therefore are the breadwinners of the family
• Women are more suited to a nurturing role in
  which they care for the children and their
  husbands

20
Roles of the family (Murdock)

• 4. Primary Socialisation
• Parents teach their children the norms and values
  needed for social order to be maintained in
  society

21
Parsons (functionalist)

• 2 key functions of the family
• Socialisation of children

22
Parsons (functionalist)

• 2 key functions of the family
• Stabilisation of adult personalities

23
General Criticisms of Functionalist views on the
Family
1. Children are not passive recipients of
socialisation 2. Family is not as harmonious as
they claim 3. Based on middle class life ignoring
other important influences. 4. Division of labour
is not natural.
24
Key terms splat!
25
MLT Results!!!!

• 80 and above make corrections in a different
  colour show me on Thursday and I will sign it
  off!
• Less than 80 you need to re take it on Thursday
  lunch time, I will mark it as soon as you have
  finished!
• It is your responsibility to ask me any questions
  before Thursday!!!