Assess the functionalist view on the role of the family in society

  Some Functionalists, such as Murdock, argue that there are 4 functions of the family that only the nuclear family can teach. Teaching of sexuality and gender roles, Murdock says that the nuclear family teaches people to express sexuality in a socially approved context, it teaches that heterosexuality is the norm and that other types of relationships are ‘abnormal’ eg. adultery, homosexuality, incest. Reproduction, Murdock argues that the nuclear family ensures reproduction and a stable environment to rear children. Primary socialisation, Murdock says that the nuclear family provides primary socialisation – it is through this that they are ‘groomed’ into society’s value consensus and collective conscience. Economic security, Murdock says that the nuclear family provides food and shelter and other materials for the family. Murdock says that the nuclear family is Universal and is more common than other types of families. The view of Functionalists is that the nuclear family is useful for the stabilisation of human personalities.

  Some Functionalists, such as Parsons, believe that when society industrialises the family not only changes from extended, a family that extends beyond the nuclear family, to nuclear, it loses many of its functions. Parson’s argues that the modern nuclear family comes to specialise in performing just two functional pre-requisites. The primary socialisation of children, the nuclear family equips children with basic skills and society’s values, to enable them to cooperate with others and begin to integrate them into society. The stabilisation of adult personalities, the nuclear family is a place where adults can relax and release tensions, enabling them to return to the workplace refreshed and ready to meet its demands. This is functional for the efficiency of the economy.

  However, some Marxists argue that the nuclear family is an ideology state apparatus that helps to promote capitalism. According to Marxists the nuclear family has five roles in the capitalist society. Teaching sexuality and gender roles, Marxists argue that the nuclear family justifies monogamous relationships; they condition children to accept marriage as the norm and that women should adopt the expressive role. Reproduction, Marxists argue that that the nuclear family makes the next generations workers and creates dependants so that the workers have to keep going to work to support their family as well as never getting rich. Primary socialisation, Marxists argue that the nuclear family helps to keep the ruling class dominant ideology, the spread of ideas through society, it helps to encourage false class consciousness, failure of the working class to realise they are being exploited and encourages the capitalist culture. Economic security, Marxists argue that Capitalists encourage the nuclear family so that people never get rich and have to keep coming to work for them to support their families. Stabilisation of human personalities, Marxists argue that Capitalists encourage the nuclear family so that workers can go home after work and take it out on their families and return to work the next day de-stressed and will do their job more efficiently.

  Overall, the functionalist view of the family is too idealistic; it avoids the negative side of family life. Other sociologist groups, such as Marxist and Feminists reject this ‘rose-tinted’ harmonious consensus view that the family meets the needs of both wider society and all members of the family. They argue that functionalism neglects conflict and exploitation, feminists see the family as serving the needs of men and oppressing women, whereas Marxists argue that it meets the needs of Capitalism, not those members or society as a whole.