Marxism, Functionalism and how the family has developed to its position in today's society.

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In this essay it will look at the following; Marxism, Functionalism and how the family has developed to its position in today’s society, the effect of primary socialization on social identity, how family experiences could influence social identity and also the analysis of young and willmotts 4 stages of family life.

From a Marxist theory we have come to believe that primitive communism was the fielding of pre- history society Classes ceased to exist in this era of time and societies was based on a socialist mode of production,(marx.k-p33-HARALAMBOS and HOLBORN) and this criteria was based on the hunting and gathering band, and there were no rules limiting sexual relationships, so it seemed that this was the earliest form of human society. As the man of the household being the breadwinner, raising his children up to be striving businessmen or businesswomen, to become some sort of skilled worker (non manual) for example; in the police force or a clerk, so he could pass on his power and knowledge to them, then they would become a middle class family, the ruling class, and their gain would be at the expense of the subject class. The woman staying at home doing the domestic duties as a wife and mother. As Engel’s said as the mode of production changed so did the family. (Friedrich Engels-p327-HARALAMBOS and HOLBORN) The family has developed greatly over the years of time for example; you wouldn’t find children working with their family. Nowadays children have a childhood and enjoy life as a child.                                                                                        

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The Functionalist sees the pre-historic family as a unit of production, because the family all worked together to produce food to feed their family and their working

patterns were passed down in a traditional way across generations. Whereas now the Functionalist is more focused on reproduction, child rearing, and socialization.

Talcott parsons suggests that the two main functions of the family are Primary Socialization and Personality Stabilization.

Primary Socialization being the process of children learning the cultural norms and

values of society in which they are born. When a child is born into a catholic home the child would be ...

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