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This essay will analyze the role of the family in sociology. It will show the opinions of two approaches and analyze how they view the family Sociologically.
The Family has always been an important part of all societies and it has often been seen as the most basic unit of social organization. It carries out necessary functions for society, like educating and socializing children. Functionalists believe that a family is a positive unit, and it functions positively in society by helping to create harmony and order in society. However, Feminists would believe that the family encourages a patriarchal society.
Functionalists see the family as nuclear and are of the opinion that it is a positive structure. They assume that family members in the nuclear family are nurtured, cared for, and loved unconditionally. It is agreed by functionalists that individuals are socialized to reproduce the same norms and values by behaving similarly in a way that is agreed acceptable by all thus society is a consensus. Functionalists view society from a macro-sociological perspective. They think that all the parts that make up a society must have a function to maintain balance in society and keep it running smoothly. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is universally the most positive type of family as it allows for the reproductive function of a family. Murdock (1949) studied 250 families. He determined that societies needed the nuclear family to ensure the continuation of society. New family members need to be socialized into economies and educated about society’s culture. Without culture, Murdock believes human society would not function. He has been criticized as he doesn’t consider that functions that the family has could be enacted by another social institution for example education and he does not investigate anything other than the family or offer any alternatives.
T Parsons (1955) believes that the family has two functions that are most important. The socialization of children during primary socialization, where social norms and values are learned. And supporting an adult to cope with stresses in life by giving emotional support with stabilization of adult families. This emotional support prevents stresses from being overwhelming to the adult and thus prevents fissures in the stability of society. Parsons states that roles in the family are separated according to functionalists. Each member has a complementary role that they carry out that is different from each other. For example; the man goes out to work to bring money or food home and the woman cares for the man and children, providing support and care possibly staying at home. Biologically, the woman bears the child and thus should look after it and the man should provide for the woman and child. The roles stated, provide structure and stability to society. All the norms and values benefit the society according to functionalism for instance, basic respect maintains peace and stability preventing conflict in society. Functionalists also believe that the family equally benefits all members. They also believe that the nuclear family alone is directly responsible for socialization. They ignore all the other types of families and argue that divorce rates increasing is increasing the number of reconstituted families or families with single parents and divorces are easier to achieve in the Western world due to a relaxation in the laws.
Functionalists believe that society has a consensus as to the family organization. Contrary to this, the conflict theory of Radical Feminism believes that the family is a patriarchal model where the men benefit from the structure of the family. They further believe that domestic violence from men oppresses women. They stated that domestic chores expected of women further oppress them with gender distinctions such as the woman cooking and cleaning in the family ( triple shift theory). This theory has forced sociologists to see the family as a power relationship rather than as a model of stability. Liberal feminists wanted to achieve equality between women and men both socially and
politically, such as Wollstonecraft (1792), with legal reforms and changes to legislation. Radical feminists believe women’s oppression is beneficial to all men and not just patriarchal men or men in power. They believe that segregation between the genders is constructed socially and politically and is not a given. Kate Millet stated that ‘the personal is political’ which means that personal family life, our choices, and decisions do not belong to us, but are political.
Marxist Feminists believe that contrary to Functionalists and Radical Feminists that the exploitation of women within the family contributes to capitalism. Bentson states ”The political economy of women’s liberation’ emphasizes the value of the unpaid labor women perform within the family. This labor, which sustains the current labor force and nurtures the next generation, comes at no cost to the owners of the means of production. Additionally, the responsibility of the male breadwinner to support his wife and children fetters his ability to withdraw his labor power in defense of his class interests. In so doing it helps reinforce the inequitable capitalist economic system.’ (Benston 1972) (Thomson, 2013). Ansley (1972) says that emotional support in the family provides stability to male workers reducing the likelihood that they will lash out at the system or at societal norms and values. Feely (1972) believes that by teaching children to accept social norms and values, they are taught to be obedient thus accepting their position in the hierarchy of powers. Greer (1972) believes that families are not as stable anymore as divorce rates are increasing as women are no longer happy to serve as wives or to be oppressed by husbands.
Both Marxist Feminists and Functionalists neglect to consider the diversity of families in the modern day. They both assume that all families are predominantly nuclear and heterosexual. It is post-modernists who criticize this point and highlight single families or LGBT families. Both theories also show a negative and exaggerated opinion of families and don’t look into the influences that racism may have on families. Both show women exploited by the patriarchy and capitalism as passive victims who don’t fight back or challenge views. The possibility of women fighting back is ignored. There is no accountability for women who abuse men or oppress men in relationships. Functionalists believe that everyone in the family benefits from the family structure as it keeps peace and stability in society. However, feminists argue that men are the only beneficiaries of family and women are taught to have respect for men without themselves benefitting. Functionalists believe that everyone in the family has a particular role. Whereas Feminists believe that there isn’t an equal division of duties and that women are captive as free labor and have more roles in the family than other members do.
To conclude Functionalists, have an idealized, rose-colored glasses, view of the family. On the other hand, feminism has questioned if the family is functional for all individuals in society or just men. Functionalism and feminism give an insight into how the opinion of the family has evolved from a traditional model to the modern family in sociology. All of society Is constantly changing and evolving so more opinions will always be developed and the approaches and opinions will be developed over time to match the evolution of families within society.
References:
- Thomson, C.H. (2013). Some key studies on the family â family perspectives. [online] sociologytwynham.com. Available at: https:sociologytwynham.com20130702some-key-studies-on-the-family-family-perspectives [Accessed 16 Mar. 2022].
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