The Family
The family is regarded by many sociologists as the cornerstone of society. It is frequently described as the basic unit of social organization. The smallest family unit is known as the nuclear family, it consists of a husband and wife and their siblings, all other units who are related to the nuclear family are called the extended family. This definition of the family is a typical version, often referred to as the ideal type or "cereal packet" family. Throughout society the structure of the family may vary. In general the family is an institution common to every known society and as such performs important functions for its members and for society as a whole. There are many different sociological perspectives in relation to the family regarding its structure and what functions it performs for both the individual and society at large. Some sociologists see the family as a positive unit; others would disagree and prefer to highlight the negative aspects of the family, and some try to capture the middle ground, by examining both the positive and negative aspects.
The Functionalist perspective takes the view that the cereal packet family is the norm and should be something to aspire to. Functionalist's have a macro outlook as they focus on the various parts of society (in this case the family) relate to each other as so to maintain the stability or order of society as a whole. George Peter Murdock (Social structure) is one of the sociologists who have adopted this perspective. He divines the family as "a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults." Further in his study, Murtagh claimed that the nuclear family was present in every society in his sample, this led him to conclude, "The Nuclear Family is a universal human social grouping, either as the sole prevailing form of the family or as the basic unit, from which more complex forms are compounded, it exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society." Murdock sees the family as the building block to a stable society. Great emphasis is placed on the positive functions of the family, termed the sexual, reproductive, economic and educational (socialization) functions, without these functions social life would not function. Murdock believes that the functions for society are inseparable from its functions for its individual members, being that it serves both at one and the same time and in much the same way. Murdock concludes his study stating "No society has succeeded in finding an adequate substitute for the Nuclear family, to which it might transfer these functions. It is highly doubtful whether any society will ever succeed in such an attempt." Fellow functionalist Talcott Parsons (functions of the Family) would largely agree with Murdock's theories.
Other sociologists who have studied the family are critical of both Murdock and Talbot's functionalist views. Firstly Murdock's conclusion on both the structure and universality of the family has reason to be questioned, based on Kathleen Gough's study (The Nayar). Gough analyzed the Nayar society of Kerala in southern India prior to British rule (1972). From her conclusions sociologists disagree about whether this society had a family unit or not. Based on Gough's detailed description, the Najar society was matrilineal. Although both male and female members united in marriage and children were born, the father played no significant part in the running of the household, the socialization of the children or in the economic needs of the members. These factors were regarded the norm in the Najar society, but by Murdocks definition, no family excisted in the Najar society. Geough claimed the family unit did exist, because of the fact a marriage took place and children were born. She had to broaden her definition of marriage beyond that of Murdocks. Geough defined marriage as a relationship between a woman and one or more persons in which a child is born to the women "is given full birth status rights common to normal members of society." Some sociologists would say that perhaps Murdock's definition of the family is too narrow, or else the family is not universal, given that individuals of matrifocal families consider themselves as members of a family unit and also matrifocal families are now socially accepted and expected in most societies. Although the matrifocal family is not considered the norm in statistical terms, it is in New World black families within the West Indies, in Central America, the USA and in more recent time the UK. If these facts are accepted, then perhaps the matrifocal family can be seen as an adequate substitute to the nuclear family, and can be seen as the basic, minimum family unit and all other family structures can be seen as additions to this unit. Many sociologists believe that it depends on how the family is defined, this definition in turn further decides if there is an alternative to the nuclear family and also if the family is universal.
The family is regarded by many sociologists as the cornerstone of society. It is frequently described as the basic unit of social organization. The smallest family unit is known as the nuclear family, it consists of a husband and wife and their siblings, all other units who are related to the nuclear family are called the extended family. This definition of the family is a typical version, often referred to as the ideal type or "cereal packet" family. Throughout society the structure of the family may vary. In general the family is an institution common to every known society and as such performs important functions for its members and for society as a whole. There are many different sociological perspectives in relation to the family regarding its structure and what functions it performs for both the individual and society at large. Some sociologists see the family as a positive unit; others would disagree and prefer to highlight the negative aspects of the family, and some try to capture the middle ground, by examining both the positive and negative aspects.
The Functionalist perspective takes the view that the cereal packet family is the norm and should be something to aspire to. Functionalist's have a macro outlook as they focus on the various parts of society (in this case the family) relate to each other as so to maintain the stability or order of society as a whole. George Peter Murdock (Social structure) is one of the sociologists who have adopted this perspective. He divines the family as "a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults." Further in his study, Murtagh claimed that the nuclear family was present in every society in his sample, this led him to conclude, "The Nuclear Family is a universal human social grouping, either as the sole prevailing form of the family or as the basic unit, from which more complex forms are compounded, it exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society." Murdock sees the family as the building block to a stable society. Great emphasis is placed on the positive functions of the family, termed the sexual, reproductive, economic and educational (socialization) functions, without these functions social life would not function. Murdock believes that the functions for society are inseparable from its functions for its individual members, being that it serves both at one and the same time and in much the same way. Murdock concludes his study stating "No society has succeeded in finding an adequate substitute for the Nuclear family, to which it might transfer these functions. It is highly doubtful whether any society will ever succeed in such an attempt." Fellow functionalist Talcott Parsons (functions of the Family) would largely agree with Murdock's theories.
Other sociologists who have studied the family are critical of both Murdock and Talbot's functionalist views. Firstly Murdock's conclusion on both the structure and universality of the family has reason to be questioned, based on Kathleen Gough's study (The Nayar). Gough analyzed the Nayar society of Kerala in southern India prior to British rule (1972). From her conclusions sociologists disagree about whether this society had a family unit or not. Based on Gough's detailed description, the Najar society was matrilineal. Although both male and female members united in marriage and children were born, the father played no significant part in the running of the household, the socialization of the children or in the economic needs of the members. These factors were regarded the norm in the Najar society, but by Murdocks definition, no family excisted in the Najar society. Geough claimed the family unit did exist, because of the fact a marriage took place and children were born. She had to broaden her definition of marriage beyond that of Murdocks. Geough defined marriage as a relationship between a woman and one or more persons in which a child is born to the women "is given full birth status rights common to normal members of society." Some sociologists would say that perhaps Murdock's definition of the family is too narrow, or else the family is not universal, given that individuals of matrifocal families consider themselves as members of a family unit and also matrifocal families are now socially accepted and expected in most societies. Although the matrifocal family is not considered the norm in statistical terms, it is in New World black families within the West Indies, in Central America, the USA and in more recent time the UK. If these facts are accepted, then perhaps the matrifocal family can be seen as an adequate substitute to the nuclear family, and can be seen as the basic, minimum family unit and all other family structures can be seen as additions to this unit. Many sociologists believe that it depends on how the family is defined, this definition in turn further decides if there is an alternative to the nuclear family and also if the family is universal.
