There are many other living arrangements that can be classed as a family and carry out all the functions that the nuclear family carries out. Some sociologists would say that Murdock’s definition is dated and is too exclusive, that it doesn’t take into account the different things that have changed in society. Sociologist would say that Murdock’s definition should be updated to make it more inclusive. This should include fostering, same sex relationships, married couple with no children and cohabiting couples. This proves that Murdock’s definition should be made more inclusive because of the changes in culture worldwide.
Some different societies show us that the family is culturally determined as well as biologically determined. Different societies have different needs and the nuclear society isn’t necessarily the best the way of achieving the goals of some societies.
The Nayar culture in India is a living arrangement which doesn’t fit Murdock’s theory. The Nayar culture can be found in India. In this culture the women could have sexual relations which any man she wants to, up to twelve men, so the biological father is uncertain. Then the mother of the child’s brother is responsible for looking after the mother and her children. There is no link between having sexual relations, bringing up the child and cohabitation. This method takes place because the land in this part of India is hard, so there needs to be as many men as possible to keep family line going Murdock’s definition states that there needs to be common residence in the family, but some people would think that a mother living with her children is a family. There is also no economic co-operation as the brother takes care of the mother and her children, not the father. But again some people would think that this doesn’t say that the Nayar isn’t a family because the father doesn’t help the mother financially. The Nayar disapproves Murdock’s definition as many people would say that the living arrangement in Nayar culture is a family, even though it doesn’t fit his definition. This does approve the fact that the family is universal and that Murdock’s definition should be altered.
The Kibbutz is a different living arrangement which is a form of commune, and is one of the most successful attempts to get a different living arrangement outside of the family. This arrangement has an emphasis on equality and the community as a whole working together to keep this culture running. In early Kibbutzim the children in the community were away from the family during the day and would only see them for a certain time in the evening and on weekends. They are brought up by metapalets during the day, these are professional parents. But you would get many people leaving there homes in other communities to come and work and live on a kibbutz. But recently the traditional families units have became a feature of the kibbutz due to Israeli culture being influenced by western culture. This living arrangement fits Murdock’s theory to a certain extent. In the fact, that there is economic co-operation within this community, as nobody technically owns anything to themselves, it is owned as a community. But there is not a mother, father and child living together in this society as the children live on there own. Many people would argue that this is an alternative to the family. The children are intentionally kept apart from there parents and that it is more of a village or a town in which they fend for themselves, which is made of small families within the community. It does not fit Murdock’s definition as there is no common residence and this means according to Murdock, that the Kibbutz is not a family. The Kibbutz does not approve that the family is universal.
Lone parent families are living arrangements which have became more and more common in western societies. These are usually run by a woman. Lone parent family give a good alternative to the family. But some people would argue that lone parent families are families as there is one parent baring her children that she gave birth to and they would argue that all the products of socialisation are met even though the father is not present. Murdock would say that this living arrangement is not a family because there is a lack of primary socialisation going on at young age due to there not being a father present. He would also see that there is no common residence between the mother and the father as they are no separated; there is also minimal economic co-operation as the father doesn’t always support the rest of the family. Lone parent families do not fit Murdock’s definition but it does prove that the family is universal as there is a mother and the children she conceived.
Gay and lesbian families have become more and more common in western society, although gay and lesbian families are still extremely rare. Most gay relationships would adopt a child or become like surrogate mothers. This arrangement does fit in with Murdock’s theory to a certain extent. They share common residence, there is economic co-operation. But Murdock would not see this as a family because there is not a sexually approved sexual relationship, but this could be changed as gay and lesbian relationships are becoming more approved within society. Murdock would also not see this as a family because there are not adults of both sexes. Gay and lesbian relationships who have adopted children is seen as a family by a lot of people and some people feel that this could even be a better living arrangement then the nuclear family because there is equality between both parents.
Foster care and children’s homes are other alternative living arrangement. This is when children who have had a troubled childhood get looked after by people who want to help them get there life on track. This arrangement does demonstrate the separation of children from there natural parents. Murdock would see the children’s home as not being a family as there is not parents from both sexes and a sexually approved sexual relationship as there is no sex going on as there are carers who live outside of the children home. Murdock would say that socialisation is not strong in a children’s house. But he might see a foster home as a family as there is economic co-operation, approved sexual relationship, and there is an adult of both sexes involved. I feel that the children’s homes doesn’t justify that the family is universal because there is no parents involved in this living arrangement. But foster families could show that family is universal because it is almost an artificial nuclear family.
In light of the above evidence I would suggest that the original claim is correct. This is because I feel that there is some evidence of the family in every part of the world, even if it is the nayar, single parent families or nuclear families. The social construction of the family has changed as women are becoming more independent and the males cannot cope with not having much power, and therefore divorce rates are increasing as divorce has become acceptable. Also people are becoming more comfortable with there sexuality and therefore the increases in same sex relationships has changed the social construction within the family. In view of this I feel that Murdock’s definition is correct but need to be altered to make it more inclusive, with including same sex relationships, lone parent families and polygamous relationships.