Functionalists believe that reproduction is a key function to the family. An increase in birth rates can benefit the society and economy, it can help society develop and increase the rate of man-made labour. Marriage another key function is a way of controlling the sex drive, and this functions to prevent chaos and disorder of unregulated relationships. An heterosexual (man and woman) relationship is consider as a norm. “He also saw the family as meeting it’s members’ economic needs…” (Item B). Families have existed for centuries before functionalists came up with the idea of them being involved in holding together the society. This gives some evidence that supports their view that the family is vital to society.
However these families were not always nuclear families. feminists would argue that all different types of families, e.g. lone parents, reconstructed family still contribute and support a society. Another problem with this view is; in modern society many women are becoming more independent and staying on for further education resulting in them becoming more successful, and having a better job. Many woman want to work, and earn money for themselves not be reliant on their husbands. If some women who have full time jobs do fall pregnant, and decide to have children our modern society has introduced ‘Maternity leave’ which enables working mothers to give birth, recover and then return to work. Also whilst on maternity leave they can still receive pay, dependant on their occupation, and afterwards nanny’s and child care centres are available to help and support working mothers. Same sex couples are not yet recognised as a norm in society, but awareness is slowly growing. Functionalist place same sex couples in the 'underclass' category because they don't conform to their expectations. Also some functionalists would go as far as saying it is biologically necessary for a heterosexual relationship.
Feminists would fiercely disagree with the Functionalists. They are mainly interested in the position of woman with in the family. Feminists stress the inequality and oppression which women tend to suffer within the family. They do not believe woman should be held back from for-filling a career to care for children and to do house work, also woman are used for reproduction in society feminists strongly disagree with this, and find it an offensive statement, and in the past feminists have gone to an extreme in angrily protesting about this. . Functionalists say one main function of the family is to take care of one another and deal with emotional needs. Women are more emotional than men yet they have to support men during hard times, and care and deal with children’s problems, however women’s emotional needs are often ignored and forgotten. They say that the family is a "site of male patriarchy": a place where male domination takes place.
Marxists are critical of the family and society, and strongly disagree with the functionalist ideological view of the nuclear family and their roles. They believe society is based on a conflict between the classes – working class “The Proletarians” and ruling class “The bourgeoisie ”. The family helps to maintain class differences in society as the rich can afford to give their children a better start in life than the poor, e.g. pay for a better education, get them a good job either in their own business or their friends businesses, also they could inherit a lot of money. Marxists believe the family socialises the working class to accept that it is fair that the classes are unequal.
“Others argue that functionalists have too simplistic a view of the relationship between family and structure, and the wider society” (Item B)
In conclusion functionalists are very precise and assertive of the functions of our society. They have certain norms and guidelines that we should follow to be a ‘functional society’ some agree with the traditional ideas of the functionalists, and others disagree stating that a well functioned society can run without the functionalist ideas.
