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Outline and Evaluate the view that nuclear families benefit individuals and society

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Introduction

Outline and Evaluate the view that nuclear families benefit individuals and society. There are various, contrasting views about nuclear families, one being how it could benefit individuals and society. A nuclear family consists of a father, mother and at least on child. Some sociologists, such as; Murdoch (1949) had claimed that family was a 'universal institution' this is a functionalist view, however Marxists feminists believe they meet the need of capitalists. I will explore different ways in which nuclear families benefit individuals and society itself. Sociologists have been divided upon the issue regarding nuclear families; Functionalists stress the positive aspect of family. ...read more.

Middle

Functionalists view a society as a set of inter-connected, interrelated institutions all working together and contributing to society. However, in functioning for society functionalists maintain that the family is also functional for individuals. The two go hand in hand. Functionalists then, present a harmonious picture of the family functioning along with other institutions, to serve the needs of society and its members. On the other hand, Marxist feminists suggest that the nuclear family meets the needs of capitalism for the reproduction and maintenance of class and patriarchal inequality .it benefits the powerful at the expense of the working class and women. ...read more.

Conclusion

Consider, for example; the family farms. Today it is a unit of consumption, buying goods and services for the family. Reproductive: people reproduce families; they have children, which of course are essential for the survival of mankind. Functionalists have been criticised for ignoring the dark side of family life. Many families are places of disruption, violence and harm their members. Sociologists have produced work on what they call the 'dark side of family life' where family members are often abused and where individuals feel unable to live the life they desire because of the everyday stresses and strains of living in small family units. In this sense the functionalists can be accused of portraying am over-rosy picture of the family. ...read more.

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