Theoretical Perspective On How Structural-Functionalist View Of Family

Theoretical Perspective
Level of Analysis
How it views family
Strengths of this Perspective – what it focuses on and contributes to our understanding of families
Weaknesses or Criticisms of this Perspective
Examples of Major Questions that a Researcher might ask with this perspective
Structural-Functionalist
Macro
The family maintains and ensures a social continuity
This perspective focuses on how families contribute to a society’s stability.

Weaknesses of this perspective are considered too conservative for today’s society, see divorce as dysfunctional, and gender based roles place difficulties on both sexes.
How are the families structured?

What functions do the family carry out?

Conflict

Macro
Family members have issues over inequality
Weaknesses include that it mainly focuses on oppression against women, not in general and it does not emphasis broader social issues.
Do men and women experience the family differently?

How does the family life reflect economic arrangements?
Ecological

Macro & Micro
Members can adapt according to changes in the environment
Strengths include a greater understanding on how the environment affects families and explain family dynamics.

Weaknesses include not being able to clearly see if the environment is directly affecting the family.
How are family roles and environmental roles interrelated?

How can families allocate responses in to meet the family’s needs?
Developmental

Macro & Micro
Members accomplish specific behaviors in different stages
Strengths include breaking families and different into different stages. This is the only perspective that completely focuses on family.
Weaknesses include the stages mainly focus on heterosexual traditional families and that it focuses too much on developmental tasks.
What tasks do a family complete to