Assess the Functionalist view that the nuclear family is the best fit for society.

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Assess the Functionalist view that the nuclear family is the ‘best fit’ for society.


Functionalists believe that the family is a universal institution and must therefore perform some universal functions. They think that the nuclear family is the only family that can perform these universal functions and that the nuclear family is the ‘best fit’ for society. I am going to discuss two functionalists called Parsons (1995) and Murdock (1949) there views are from the same time period so they will both be of the same time significance. I will also be discussing the view of Marxism and feminism that conflicts with the functionalist view.

First I am going to discuss the view of G.P Murdock (1949) The Consensus Theory. He says that the family have four basic functions: to relieve Sexual needs, to reproduce, to provide primary socialisation for young children and to provide economic support for the family these make the nuclear family ‘best fit’ for society. These functions of the family still remain and are still the main function of the family institution in today’s modern society however some criticisms of this theory is that it does not seriously consider if any other family type or any social institution such as care homes, foster homes etc.… could provide these essential functions. Another criticism of Murdock id that he dose not take into account that the family is not always harmonious. This may be dysfunctional for the child so it won’t meet the function of teaching correct norms and values to the child. This theory may be thought to be out of date as it was written in 1949 which is just after the war when women were just trying to be forced back into the home after they have experienced work form the war effort so some social institutions such as the media were using some persuasive propaganda to encourage women to go back to the kitchen.

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Secondly I am going to discus the view of another Functionalist called Parsons (1955).’ The functional fit’ He says that the two main functions of the modern isolated family (Nuclear Family) are that they must have social and geographical mobility this makes them the ‘best fit’ for society. This means that they must be able to have there children follow in there fathers footsteps (social) and they must be able to move around easily from place to place to get the best job possible (geographical). The criticisms for this are that Parsons is only concerned with the modern American family. His evidence ...

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