Examine the view that the family is a universal institution
The answer to this question will be dependent on your own definition of ‘the family’. The functionalist George Peter Murdock believes the family is universal and that the ideal family is the nuclear family, however, many other sociologists e.g. Gough, Gonzalez, Callahan and Sheeran disagree and believe that there is more than one way to class the family.
The functionalist George Peter Murdock examined the institution of the family in a wide range of 250 societies in 1949. He concluded that some sort of family existed in every society; therefore indicating that the family is universal. Murdock defined the family as: “a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction.” With this evidence he believed that the nuclear family is a universal human social grouping; it exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society.
In 1959 the anthropologist Kathleen Gough provided information on the Nagar society. Her opinion differs from Murdock’s as she believes every family is different due to their background and the society they live in. In terms of Murdock’s definition, no family existed in the Nagar society because those who maintained a sexually approved adult relationship did not live together and cooperate economically. Gough found that the Nagar society was matrifocal; most groupings were based on female biological relatives, as marriage had no significant role in the Nagar society; therefore showing that Gough has a different opinion to what the definition of a universal family is as the Nagar society is an exception to Murdock’s classification.
Nancie Gonzalez concluded from her studies that 45% of black Caribbean families had female heads therefore supporting the idea that matrifocal families can be regarded as a form of family structure in its own right. Murdock’s definition supports the idea of having “at least one adult of each gender” whereas
The functionalist George Peter Murdock examined the institution of the family in a wide range of 250 societies in 1949. He concluded that some sort of family existed in every society; therefore indicating that the family is universal. Murdock defined the family as: “a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction.” With this evidence he believed that the nuclear family is a universal human social grouping; it exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society.
In 1959 the anthropologist Kathleen Gough provided information on the Nagar society. Her opinion differs from Murdock’s as she believes every family is different due to their background and the society they live in. In terms of Murdock’s definition, no family existed in the Nagar society because those who maintained a sexually approved adult relationship did not live together and cooperate economically. Gough found that the Nagar society was matrifocal; most groupings were based on female biological relatives, as marriage had no significant role in the Nagar society; therefore showing that Gough has a different opinion to what the definition of a universal family is as the Nagar society is an exception to Murdock’s classification.
Nancie Gonzalez concluded from her studies that 45% of black Caribbean families had female heads therefore supporting the idea that matrifocal families can be regarded as a form of family structure in its own right. Murdock’s definition supports the idea of having “at least one adult of each gender” whereas