Outline and evaluate functionalists views of the role of the family in society

Another theory supporting the idea of functionalism is the ‘New Right Theory’. This is the idea that the nuclear family is normal and this theory warns that the traditional family is in decline. For example, single parents, divorce rates increasing, gay marriage and co-habitation are becoming more common therefore making the traditional nuclear family less common. Reasoning for this is a loss of traditional norms and values (such as men should work and provide for family, women should stay at home) and less social stigma with divorce. Society has also become more sexually tolerant (homosexuality) and sexually permissive (sex out of marriage more acceptable). There are more benefits for single mothers described as ‘married to the state’. The new right theory argues that because families are less inclined to stay together as a unit, this means that there potentially could be more problems to arise whereby single mothers have less money, bad education and bad father figures and can’t socialise children positively.

The Dennis and Erdos study supports the ‘New Right Theory’ and shows that single mother’s children had poorer health, less educational achievement than married parents. Boys grew up with the attitude that they didn’t need a wife or family as not seen this modelled by a father figure. The social control of families are weakened with single parents, for example the children more likely to turn to crime.

Talcott Parsons was an American functionalist and his views were that industrialisation led to the isolated nuclear family. This is known as structural isolation and is seen as the typical family in modern industrial society. Unlike before industrialisation the nuclear family is isolated from the wider kinship network. Meaning that relationships with relatives outside the nuclear family are now due to choice not necessity or obligation or duty. Parsons argued that there has been a loss of functions within the family in society. Such as specialist institutions like schools and hospitals have taken over family functions. His views are that family is no longer a production unit and now the adult members are individual wage earners. His beliefs are that today’s status is achieved rather than ascribed on the basis of merit rather than family membership. Secondly he argues that children are unlikely to follow parent’s occupations isolating the family more. Job training is performed by educational system and employer rather than family. Parsons point is that modern society needs a geographically mobile workforce. Extended families tend to be tied down therefore the isolated nuclear family is ideally suited to modern industrial society because it’s small and streamline. It can still perform essential functions such as the socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.

Parsons argued that society has basic needs or functional prerequisites that must be met for it to survive. He identifies that society has instrumental needs (the fathers) which is the practical, non-emotional needs of society such as in an industrial society the economy needs a fit mobile workforce. Secondly, parsons outlines that we need an expressive role (the mothers) whereby society needs people to feel emotionally secure and looked after. This then forms a productive family, fulfilling society’s needs for it to function.

In evaluation theories such as Marxism contrasts with functionalism, with the views that family has a negative impact on society whereby they are brought up to believe that following the rules of society and going to work are positive, however not realising that they are only making money for their bosses which gives more power to the rich, exploiting the poor. Marxism believes that family supports capitalism of society. This links to functionalism because of the ‘Warm Bath Theory’, the wives/mothers soaks up the stresses and strains of the family therefore family carries on going out to work and being exploited. Marxism’s views links to feminism and that the functionalist views supports male domination and patriarchy making men more powerful in society.

Criticisms of functionalism are that it ignores the dark side of family life and the individual problems the family could have, and not just the fact they are a ‘unit of production’ for society. It overemphasises the harmonious nature of society. The idea of a change from a pre-industrial extended family structure to nuclear industrial is too simplistic. The value of functionalism for family types other than the nuclear family has been disputed. Functionalism fails to examine power inequalities between men and women. It also underplays the significance of women’s paid employment.