In many societies the family works together as a unit of production however it is not like this in all societies, however in many other societies (especially westernised societies) the family is a unit of consumption. This is important to the economy as it makes an important contribution to society.
The reproduction function of the family is extremely important, because the family is the main unit of reproduction. If families did not perform this function no one would be born and society would no longer exist.
Educational is a very important factor to functionalists because the family is very much responsible for primary socialisation (the first relationships a person has) if the family did not provide this function there would be no culture and without a shared culture there would be no consensus in society.
Talcott Parsons a functionalist argues that the family has become more specialised. Functions in which the family used to be responsible (educating children and looking after the elderly) have been taken over by special institutions like schools and nursing homes.
Talcott Parsons says the family has two basic and irreducible functions; the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities.
Primary socialisation is very important to the socialisation process, Parsons believes that every body must learn values and norms of society. If the family failed to provide this function there would be no consensus in society because people would not know how to interact with each other. Primary socialisation shapes the personality structure of a child, so much so that societies shared norms and values become part of the child.
The second irreducible function is the stabilisation of adult personalities. Families help to stabilise adult personalities in two ways, first martial partners provide emotional support to one another. As parents they are able to satisfy the childish side of there personalities e.g. playing with there children.
Marxists rejects the view of consensus in society, instead Marxists see the family as one of a number of institutions which maintains the position of the ruling class.
The modern nuclear family developed in capitalist societies, private property was largely owned by men before 1882 in Britain, women could not own property it was passed on to their husbands in marriage. A key concern for capitalists was to ensure that there property was passed on to there heirs (those he fathered). According to Engels (a Marxist) the monogamous nuclear family allowed men to know who there heirs were and have greater control over women. It is patriachical it is designed to guarantee and perpetuate male power through the inheritance of property
Marxists believe that the family serves the economy in four different ways; the family makes children thereby reproducing more labour power and an illusion of consensus within society. Women stayed at home working unpaid this benefits the economy. The family unit is a consumption unit which buys products and services provided by the economy. The family also provided hard working men with emotional support to stabilise them.
Marxist and feminist views are quite similar in the ways that men have always had the money in the family unit. Inheritance never used to be passed down to women just the next man in the family this is why for so long women were regarded as men’s property.
Functionalists assume that families perform essential functions for society and members of the family. Married couples are pictured as living in harmony however some critics argue that this does not reflect true realities of family life.
Functionalists often ignore the other side of family life e.g. conflicts between parent and child or husband and wife. Functionalists give insufficient attention to dysfunctional families and there affect on society.
Parsons view of the family has been said to be sexist because he sees the wife or mother as having the responsibility of providing emotional support and de-stressing her husband. However Talcott Parsons was born in 1902 and this view of women in the household would not have been seen as sexist.
Marxists views of the family follow Marxist theory. The family provides support for the workers and helps makes sense of the injustice of the economy. Sociologists generally agree that the economy has some influence on family life, however most sociologists would agree that that the family is not shaped by the needs of the system.
