Discuss the Marxist and Functionalist Perspectives on the Family

The functionalist perspective believe society is like a machine in that all its institutions sustain continuity and consensus and keep society running smoothly. Functionalists believe the family contributes to society’s basic needs and helps maintain social order. Functionalists have been criticised for placing too much emphasis on the nuclear family. George Murdock and Talcott Parsonss were two of the most influential figures to contribute to the functionalist perspectives of the family. They both agreed the family is the best organisational basis for modern industrial societies. George Murdock focussed his family theory on the four basics: Sexual, reproductive, economic and educative (socialisation). He believed without sexual and reproductive aspects there would be no existing members of society. Without economy there would be no means to provide for the family. Without education there would be no culture and human society without culture could not function. Murdock appreciate than apart from this the family performed many more functions for society. Murdock critically claimed that the nuclear family was universal. Murdock did not appreciate alternative studies such as Banaro, New Guinea where instead of the ‘father’ being biological to his son/daughter, in fact the father’s friend was the biological father to his friend’s son/daughter. Murdock believed families were joined by a common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. Talcott Parsons on the other hand concentrated on modern American society. He believed society was dependant of two basic irreducible functions: Primary socialisation and the stabilisation of adult personalities. Primary socialisation refers to socialisation during the early years of childhood, which would occur mainly within a family unit. Secondary socialisation would happen during later years when the family is less involved and the influence of peer groups and school starts to play a major role. For primary socialisation to be effective culture has to be engaged and accepted for norms and values to exist. Also a child has to be shaped with regard to the central values of that culture where they become part of him/her. Parsons quoted families ‘are “factories” producing human personalities’. Another function of the family that Parsons defined is ‘stabilising adult personalities’. This refers to the role the family plays in support the adult members emotionally. In an industrial society the nuclear family is often isolated and therefore it is essential to keep a balance between the stresses of life and the emotional support of the family. Parson believed the nuclear family was the best institution to cope with the demands of the industrial society.  

The Marxist perspective on the other hand adopts a structural perspective on the family. It looks at the contributions the family makes for society’s structure. The Marxist theory does not view the nuclear family as functionally necessary. It believes the family lies within the framework and it determined by a Capitalist society. Friedrich Engels believed the means of production were privately owned by the Capitalist society. Engels believe the family came in to existence with the invention of private property. Before this period there were no rules limiting the number of sexual relationships and society acted as a family. With private property being brought in, the monogamous marriage and family solved the problem of inheritance. The paternity of the offspring had to be proven and therefore this generated greater control of women. Marxists believe the family is an exploitative institution. The family was seen as a means of control and reproduction of the capitalist society. Eli Zaretsky believed the family was a major prop to the capitalist economy. He claimed the capitalist society relies on the domestic labour of housewives to be maintained. He believed with the women at home caring for children and reproducing this ensured the future generations for capitalism. He also suggested that the family were like consumers. The family consumes the products of capitalism and allows the bourgeoisie to continue producing surplus value.  

To conclude both Functionalists and Marxists believe the family is the fundamental basic unit within any society. Functionalists emphasise the typical nuclear family. Although Marxists acknowledge the nuclear family’s importance, its theory is based on generalised family types. Functionalists believe the family balances and maintains society. While on the other hand Marxists believe the family consumes the products of society provided by Capitalism. Murdock suggests the family is a universal concept while Engels believes the family only came into existence with the invention of private property. Both Murdock and Parsons paint a very ‘rosy’ picture of family life. They fail to take in account the darker side of society and family issues such as domestic abuse etc. Parsons views on men and women in relationships are often out dated. A lot of women these days are the breadwinners in the family and therefore the husband and wife roles have been reversed. Functionalist do not recognise that women suffer from the sexual division of labour while Marxists highlight this is their theory. Marxists also come under scrutiny for exaggerating the importance of the family life as being a refuge from the capitalist society. Marxists also underestimate darker issues such as violence within the home etc. Zaretsky overemphasises the fact that family and work are separated.