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Marriage/Chana Miller
Chana Miller
0524226
TESC- Apr. 2013
Marriage and the Family
SOC-210-OL010
Ron L. Shamwell
Chaniabrams@yahoo.com
(404) 849-0093
WA1

Chana Miller
0524226
TESC- Apr. 2013
Marriage and the Family
SOC-210-OL010
Ron L. Shamwell
Chaniabrams@yahoo.com
(404) 849-0093
WA1
Fully explain and concisely illustrate two (2) of the "Theoretical Perspectives on Families" discussed in your text (pp. 37–49). Use families presented in television programs, the movies, novels, or the Bible to illustrate the selected perspectives.
The functionalist perspective focuses on stability and cooperation and emphasizes the importance of the family in maintaining the stability of society. The functionalist theory states that marriage is a microcosmic replica of the larger society, and the family fills six basic needs for the survival of society. Family life is organized in ways that are useful or functional for society. Despite being antiquated, the breadwinner-homemaker family is an efficient way to organize family life. The husband works outside the home while the wife does the housework and child care. The functionalist perspective is a male-dominant perspective (Strong et. al. 2011). In modern times, feminists have attacked patriarchy view and many women resisted male domination. The Feminist Perspective argued that the functionalist view is inadequate and idealized. It stated that gender defines social roles and cultural characteristics. Yet these roles have no biological reason behind them but are culturally dictated; therefore, they are socially constructed. These roles appear to be constructed to give men power. Experience of living in a family is different for women than it is for men. Families can be sources of social inequality, especially reinforcing the inequality of women. Women having economic power can lead to many challenges within the family, and within society (Strong et. al. 2011). Independence is a good quality for feminists, but not for


References: * Bryan Strong, Christine DeVault, Theodore F. Cohen (2011). “The Marriage and Family Experience: Intimate Realationships in a Changing Society” Belimont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. pp. 37-49 * Hannah Fleahman, Amber France, Tyrece Gibbs, & Mirielle Rouillard (2009). “The United States’ Population as Portrayed on Television.” Www.Unh.edu Retrieved from http://www.unh.edu/sociology/media/pdfs-journal2009/FleahmanFranceGibbsRouillard2009.pdf
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