Theories on family 2 10 14 
Theories on the family
Functionalism
See society as a social system made up of interrelated and interdependent institutions such as education, work, religion, law, the family, etc.
The function of these institutions is to maintain the social order and stability Functionalists suggest that the function of the family is:
● To socialise new members into the culture of society by teaching them common norms and values. (Valueconsensus)
● To exercise social controls over society’s members in order to ensure that they don't stray from valueconsensus. (through rewards and punishments)
● To make sure that people take on economic roles jobs that are appropriate to their abilities and skills Murdock without socialisation or education there would be no culture
Parsons Families are ‘personality factories’ which ensure that children learn and internalise society’s shared norms and values.
Murdock The sexual functions of families operate to ensure that couples have exclusive sexual rights to each other as free sexual access across society would bring about chaos and disruption. Parsons Families function to stabilise the adult personality and this relieves the stress of modern day living.
Murdock Economic function of the family is to ensure the survival of its members: men provide and women prepare. Both Parsons and Murdock have been criticised by other sociologists:
● Over idealising the family
● ignoring differences based on class and ethnicity
● ignoring alternatives to the nuclear unit
● seeing socialisation as a one way process Marxism
It views modern capitalist economies are characterised by class conflict between a minority ruling class (bourgeoisie), who control production and monopolise wealth, political power, and the working class. Marxists argue that the bourgeoisie exploits and oppresses the working class by paying them wages that do not reflect the true value of the wealth generated by their labour
Functionalism
See society as a social system made up of interrelated and interdependent institutions such as education, work, religion, law, the family, etc.
The function of these institutions is to maintain the social order and stability Functionalists suggest that the function of the family is:
● To socialise new members into the culture of society by teaching them common norms and values. (Valueconsensus)
● To exercise social controls over society’s members in order to ensure that they don't stray from valueconsensus. (through rewards and punishments)
● To make sure that people take on economic roles jobs that are appropriate to their abilities and skills Murdock without socialisation or education there would be no culture
Parsons Families are ‘personality factories’ which ensure that children learn and internalise society’s shared norms and values.
Murdock The sexual functions of families operate to ensure that couples have exclusive sexual rights to each other as free sexual access across society would bring about chaos and disruption. Parsons Families function to stabilise the adult personality and this relieves the stress of modern day living.
Murdock Economic function of the family is to ensure the survival of its members: men provide and women prepare. Both Parsons and Murdock have been criticised by other sociologists:
● Over idealising the family
● ignoring differences based on class and ethnicity
● ignoring alternatives to the nuclear unit
● seeing socialisation as a one way process Marxism
It views modern capitalist economies are characterised by class conflict between a minority ruling class (bourgeoisie), who control production and monopolise wealth, political power, and the working class. Marxists argue that the bourgeoisie exploits and oppresses the working class by paying them wages that do not reflect the true value of the wealth generated by their labour