Using material from item 2B and elsewhere assess the functionalist contribution to our understanding of the family.
Functionalism focuses on the positive roles played by different institutions of society, the main one being the family. Functionalism see family as a vital organisation in all societies, they are needed to meet basic needs. Functionalism stresses the positive role of the family, and its great importance for society. Functionalists argue that the family has essential functions which it must perform to meet the basic needs of society and its members. Murdock argues that this makes the family a universal institution. Murdock argues that the family perform four simple functions; 2 of which are identified in item 2B reproductive – this is where you reproduce for the next generation and socialisation – being able to socialise your children. The other main functions of the family are sexual – this is where you satisfy your needs with one partner, economic – for example food and shelter. Murdock argues that the importance of these functions are so vital that they have to exist everywhere.
Other sociologists such as Parsons argue that the family may meet other needs too. For example it may perform welfare, military, political or religious functions. In the view of Talcott Parsons, the functions it performs will depend on the kind of society in which it is found. He distinguishes between two kinds of family structure. Firstly the nuclear family – just parents and dependent children. Secondly the extended family – three generations living under one roof. Parsons argues that the particular structure and functions of a given type of family will ‘fit’ the needs of the society. He says that the nuclear family fits the need of industrial society and is the dominant family type in that society, whereas the extended family fit the needs of the pre-industrial society.
The Essay on Women In China Family Society Chinese
"Women in China- Then and Now" Traditionally, the family has been the most important unit of Chinese society, and holds true till today. Over the last couple of years or so, new definitions of women's roles have been formed as many Chinese women have received higher education, have joined the work force, begun to compete with men, and become financially independent. Confucianism and the Communist ...
In item A it claims “The family reproduces the next generation and thereby ensures the continuation of society over time” The quote explains that if there was no such thing as a family, then there would be no sexual satisfactions, as a result of this there would be no reproducing, and therefore could lead to the dying out of the population, which means humans would become extinct.
However, not everyone accepts the functionalist views of the family and its role. Marxists and feminists reject its consensus assumptions about who benefits from the family. Similarly historians and sociologists have put forward evidence to challenge Parsons’ view that there is a ‘functional fit’ between the type of society and the type of family structure found within in. A summary of the criticisms can be shown in three questions. Was the extended family dominant in pre-industrial society? According to evidence gathered by Young and Willmott, the pre-industrial family was nuclear not extended as Parsons claims, This information therefore totally contradicts Parsons opinions. Another challenging question is, Did the family become nuclear in early industrial society? According to Parsons, industrialisation brought the nuclear. However, Young and Willmott argue that the hardship of the early industrial period gave rise to the ‘mum-centred’ working class extended family. The final question is the extended family no longer important in modern society. There is partial support for Parsons claim that the nuclear family has become the dominant family type today. Young and Willmott argue that, from about 1900, the nuclear family emerged as a result of social changes that made the extended family less important as a source of support. These changes included geographical mobility, higher living standards, married women working by helping newcomers to find work.
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I remember having a carefree and joyful childhood among several uncles, aunts, grand parents and parents. I remember the playful times that lasted for days at a stretch with my cousins. There was always one of the several older cousins ready to help me with my studies and the homework. Dinner time was a noisy and delightful occasion where a big group of us would enjoy anything being served. Bed ...
However, Marxists and feminists have criticised his view of that the family meets of both wider society and all members of the family. They argue that it ignores conflict in the family. Feminists see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women. Marxists see the family meets the needs of capitalism, not those of the family members or society as a whole. Functionalists see society based on value consensus. Marxist sociologists see capitalist society as based on unequal conflict between two social classes- The capitalist class, who own the means of production (factories, large businesses and so on).
Also the working class, whose work the capitalists exploit for their own profit.
To conclude, it is quite clear that the functionalists play a big part in our understanding of the family, however due to other research and the criticisms of Marxists and feminists it is easy to see that people see family differently depending on the social groups or tribes they live in.
