The functionalistic view of the family

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Sarah Burn                                                                                                  09/10/2009

The functionalistic view of the family 

Functionalists believed in a theory that the family is a positive institution. They hold the view that meets well with the needs of an advanced industrial society for a geographically and socially mobile workforce. Functionalists highlight the ideal family type in a modern society, as the nuclear family. The view of the nuclear family comprises of a breadwinner husband and dependant wife and children.  

Critics have accused the functionalist view of the family as ideological in tone and representing a conservative stance. Some feminists’ highlight the ‘family ideology’ presents an image and ideal of family life that does not represent real experience, particularly that of women, whom feminists see as oppressed by the family. However, they defend the claim that many people share the functionalist view of family life, if not only as an aspiration. The nuclear family is seen as traditional and positive.

 Functionalists believe in society working in a social system including a series of parts known as institutions. These institutions are beneficial for society and if they work properly then the society will work properly. For these institutions to be beneficial, functionalists believe that a nuclear family is best for society. This nuclear family consists of a married couple and their children. Functionalists argue that the nuclear family can fulfil many roles that affect society. These include socialising children into society's norms and values to create a healthier society.  There should be a complementary role in the family. This includes two roles, the female expressive role and the male instrumental role, because it is seen as beneficial to society and economy. The male works whilst the female gives emotional support and cares for the husband and children. This may seem like sexiest view but in the majority of nuclear families, the complementary role is applied. The whole idea of the nuclear family benefiting society is on the adult personality being stable and educating children into society's norms and values. This is another functionalist view that is dependent on nuclear families creating a stable society; it also includes the socialising of children into society.

Even though functionalists tend to ignore the other diversities of family, there is some strength in their views. Obviously one strength is the benefits to society. There are many criticisms to functionalist views of the family. One main group that have criticisms of functionalists are the feminists. They believe that Talcott Parsons (1965) complementary role is very stereotypical and that it is not true in all families. Other people's criticisms are that there is no mention of diverse families such as cohabited couples or single parents. The functionalists also create a picture that is possibly too harmonious for a nuclear family. They do not point out that families have minor conflicts and break ups.

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Functionalists also assume that the family is a positive and beneficial institution in which family members receive nurturing, care and unconditional love. This, of course, is not always true when it comes to domestic violence, divorce and child abuse. Stanko (2000) completed a survey on domestic violence and it was found that one incident is reported by a woman to the police every minute. All those couples and families who were nuclear families or had potential to be were being ruined each day, proving that the functionalist view of a beneficial family was much overestimated. Divorce can also break up ...

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