Evaluate sociological theories of the role of the family in contemporary society

Marxists believe that the mode of production determines the shape of the family, and all other social institutions and it is  the upper class (bourgeoisie) that are in control of the means of production. They believe that with the change of mode of production came the change in family, and the change from a classless ‘primitive’ society to an industrial capitalist society brought forward the monogamous  nuclear family and a division between the working class and middle class. According to Engels, monogamy became an essential part of the family due to the importance of inheritance and the transmission of private property, men had to be certain of the paternity of their children to be sure that their legitimate heirs were inheriting their possessions and no one else. The idea of this family ideal presented women in the family as ‘a mere instrument for the production of children’ and made the ‘defeat of the female sex’. This meant that a woman's sexuality was controlled by the man in the family and she was conditioned only for giving birth and raising children into contemporary society. The nuclear family socialises children to accept the societal norms of a capitalist society and the idea that inequality is inevitable. Children in the family will be accustomed to having some form of power over them, in the family this would typically be paternal, and then once they're in the workplace they will be prepared to have someone in charge (typically a man) who they will have to listen to and take orders from.  This role of the family helps to benefit the capitalist economy by keeping the working class unawarely exploited (false class consciousness). Zaretsky states that the ideological function of the family being a ‘haven’ and ‘warm bath’ is an illusion due to the fact that the family cannot meet its members' needs, and is based on the ‘domestic servitude of women’. By women in the family working by supporting the male workers, unpaid, they benefit the society and economy, however unfairly to them. Therefore, this means that the role of the family in society is harmful for the women and children of the family, in particular the working class. All feminists would agree with this and believe the nuclear family ideal is toxic and harmful.

Although different types of feminists believe in different causes and solutions of the oppression of women, they all hold the same belief of the stereotypical family being a negative role within society. Marxist feminists believe that the cause of women's oppression is capitalism. Feminist Ansley says that “Women are the takers of shit”, meaning that within the family, the wife carries the emotional role and must be an outlet for mens anger after they come home, feeling powerless, from working for a capitalist society that exploits them. However, the women themselves are exploited by the fact that they work from home, unpaid and on top of that are to be expected to be used as an outlet of frustration, presenting many domestic violence cases against women from men. Though functionalists claim the nuclear family to be a place of peace and relaxation, feminists present the facts and figures that not all families function this way and many suffer in the family environment built by society. Radical feminists, such as Barnard, believe that the patriarchy is in fact the cause of women's oppression. Barnard says that the family exists to benefit the man at the expense of the woman and therefore, radical feminists believe that women should build an alternate society where the patriarchy and gender roles are challenged.  Feminists have been criticised by some of their views as many do not take into account the idea that some women may enjoy domestic life and that men may also be constrained by family societal norms. Interpretivists believe that some women may enjoy stereotypical roles within the family and that roles are negotiated within the family, not just placed upon the members like some may believe.

On the contrary to feminists and marxists, the New Right perspective agrees with the functionalist view on the family and that there is only one ‘correct’ family type, the stereotypical nuclear family structure. The New Right is a conservative view that disagrees with any type of family diversity, especially single parent families, as they believe th\t they ‘leech’ off of the welfare system which is then detrimental to the economy and effectively, society, whereas with the nuclear family, every member does their part and works to maintain contemporary society and help it function. Charles Murray believes that the change in laws about abortion, homosexuality and divorce have ‘undermined traditional morality’.They believe in the nuclear family and the nuclear family only, however, post-modernists would say that society has become diverse and therefore the family structure cannot be put into one set design and in fact changes from person to person and not every family dynamic is the same. They believe that contemporary society is characterised by diversity and choice. All families contribute to society however, how those families do so based on roles, is disputed between different families members and decided between them.

Overall, in contemporary society different sociological perspectives view the family very differently.  The Nuclear family structure is idealised by some and strongly criticised by many and with the development of society comes the development of the functions within it, therefore a change in family and its structure. Functionalism and the New Right are very much consensus structuralist approaches, meaning that they believe that society shapes us and that everyone agrees with what happens. However, marxist and feminst approaches believe in conflict structuralism - meaning that they see problems and the system isn’t perfect and people do not agree. The family is a conflicting role within society as different people see it completely differently.