More handpicked essays just for you.
The family as agent of society
Function of family to the society and individual
Evaluate the functionalist explanations of the role of the family in society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The family is one of the strongest institutions of which Sociologists analyse, it contributes to the up-brining and development of Morals and Ethics. The main ideas of the family have been adapted either as a response or agreement to the Structural Functionalists who believe that the only ‘functional’ family type is the ‘Normative Nuclear Family’. Whilst ‘doing family’ I have experienced various different family ‘types’. In 18years, I have experienced the Nuclear Family, the Extended Family, and I’ve been part of a mixed family. Mu family has developed an Extended Family Network and I have experienced separation from my father My Sociological Autobiography focused on the way conceptual ideas such as the Normative Nuclear Family (and its functionality) and things such as the extended Family Network interact with me personally. I will talk about Family using my Sociological Imagination. Families are found in various different cultures and societies. Schaefer (2009) defines family as “A set of people related by blood, …show more content…
This includes the way its functions affect the members of the Family. Functionalists look at family in regard to how it holds and maintains itself within society, including key aspects of order, stability, and each member 's personal contribution/significance to the family. One Functionalist is Talcott Parsons (1995), who theorises on the stability of the Normative Nuclear Family. Parsons argued “that the nuclear family life is essentially harmonious and stable” … “that roles within families are allocated effectively in accordance with males ' instrumental and females ' expressive characteristics;” … “nuclear family contributes usefully to the maintenance of societies which are themselves (basically via the Socialisation of the young) which includes ‘appropriate gender role Socialisation’ and the stabilisation of adult
In chronicling how the family structure has changed in America, it is important to understanding how family was actually defined. When referencing Leave it to Beaver (further referred to as LITB) times, family took on a substantive definition, or the idea that family was equivalent to relative, or related by blood or law. While this definition of family served the time period, it failed to evolve with society. For that reason, sociologists set out to determine a “more inclusive functionalist definition,” that focuses on what families do. “A functionalist definition of families focuses on how families provide for the physical, social, and emotional needs of individuals and of society as a whole” (Witt). With that, the functionalist perspective identifies six primary functions, which include reproduction, socialization, protection, regulation of sexual behavior, affection and companionship, and...
It contains 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” (p.1). Parents are the main influence in a child’s life and have the responsibility to be affectionate and nurturing towards their children. Conversely, dysfunctional parents with destructive influences tend to have troubled kids. Depending on the child’s social environment, there are some children in this world whom are not as fortunate enough to have a loving mother and father. The functionalist perspective focuses on keeping the family functioning regardless of the dysfunctions that can occur. (Bereska 10) A dysfunctional family is a threat to the stability of the greater society. However, from this functionalist perspective other structures come in by filling in the gaps that are missing in order to restore normality/ the
There are three types of theoretical perspective. 1. Functionalism, 2. Conflict, 3. Symbolic Interactionism. All of the theses functions help preserve social stability and keep a society working. These perspectives are very important to analysis the important factors about family values and family structure. According to the book first, primary rules for social function of the family is socializing children. Second is to have an emotional and practical support which related to Functionalist perspective. Meaning provides shelter, food, clothes, love, comfort and etc. The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of our society by mostly focusing on how everyone is included with the others in society. The other sociological aspects from the family perspective are the Conflict Perspective. In contrast, the conflict perspective views society as composed of different groups and interest competing for power and resources. This theory explains the various aspect of our social world. For an example: feminist argue that we live in the society where only men have the power or control in the relationship. The last but not least is the symbolic interactionist perspective, which explains how the social problems are affected at the
Fred, Wilma, and Rose present an interesting perspective when looking at their family through a Structural Family Systems Theory. When trying to work with the family a social worker will utilize Functional Family Therapy in order to understand their structure and maybe ameliorate some of the family’s problems. Using Rose and her family as the clients it will be able explain what interventions we can use when we learn the constructs of the theory.
Views from Talcott Parsons, George Murdock, Ann Oakley, Edmund Leach, R.D Laing, David Cooper and Friedrich Engels will be taken into account as well as perspectives from Marxism, feminism, family diversity and radical psychiatrists. This will help draw the final conclusion. Functionalist sociologists suggest that the nuclear family is the norm in modern day industrial societies. George Peter Murdock (1949) supports the idea of functionalism. After analysing 250 societies, Murdock argues that the family performs four basic functions; sexual, reproductive, economic and educational.
The Functionalist View of the Family It is undoubted that functionalism has contributed to the general understanding of the family, even if you don’t believe the functionalist view-point to be correct, it still plays an essential part in the topic of sociology by simply being there to conflict the Marxist view of the family. The functionalist view of society makes the assumption that every society has a range of basic needs. Functionalists would say that if these needs are being met then the society is functioning and it is more likely to survive over a longer period of time. Functionalist view is considered to be a consensus theory because it tends to accentuate the “need” for shared norms and values. Several functionalist sociologists have tried to explain the relevance of families in society, and the reasons (other then the obvious biological reason) as to why they exist.
These are the Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist Perspectives. Each perspective views society in different manners, with each being correct and relevant since social institutions are too complex to be defined by any one theory. Each perspective will be used to explain the perspectives’ relevance to the family. The sociological definition of the family is “a set of people related by blood, marriage or some other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society” (Schaeffer, 2009, p. 288). While the nuclear family (a man, a woman, and their children) was once the primary definition of family, now it refers to many familial configurations.
The role of family according to the functionalist perspective is to help create the six basic needs necessary for the survival of society. Before going further into the details, the functionalist perspective must first be explained. The Functionalist perspective of sociology teaches that if a society wishes to survive it must fulfill basic requirements. Functionalism views society as a whole unit composed
In which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole.” Cliffs notes. (2014). Looking through the functionalist theories it states that families should and do play a huge part in society. Functionalists say that family plays a massive part in their children’s lives by teaching them important things like norms, values, roles and cultures and stability.
Althusser argued that for capatalism to survive, the working class must submit to the ruling class. He suggested that the nuclear family was developed as a way to pass down this ideology through the generations to keep the ruling class ruling, and that this family system helps to maintain the capatalist inequality and expoitation in society. Alternatively, functionalists argue against this, saying that the family enables children to internalise the norms and values needed to be effective in society from their parents, as they learnt from theirs. Instead, of the capitalist ideology being passed down, it's the norns and values that are passed on according to Functionalists, who believe this is a vital function for the whole of society to run
"A family is a small social group of people related by ancestry or affection, who share common values and goals, who may live together in the same dwelling, and who may participate in the bearing and raising of children. They have a physical or emotional connection with each other that is ongoing" (Vissing, 2011) and is the foundation of all societies. They can be formed by a grouping of father-mother-children or even more complicated combination of relatives. In the primary stage of family life in the United States, everyone from every generation lived together in one house. Subsequently, the idea of traditional family evolved and a married couple with children is at present, often called the traditional family. There are many types of families; however, this paper will focus on the traditional family. It will describe how the functionalist perspective, conflict perspective, and the interactionism theory apply to the sociological institution known as a family. It will explain some of the similarities and differences between the sociological theories in regards to families and how they affect the family members.
Functionalists emphasise the harmonious nature of the nuclear family, believing it provides a more stable environment for the family and its individual members but also for society as a whole. It draws attention to the positive aspects of family life, fitting in with many people’s experience and expectation of the family as somewhere they are safe and cared for. Functionalists see the father taking an instrumental role, supporting the family by earning a wage with the mother taking the expressive role, caring, nurturing and taking main responsibility for the home and childcare. New Right agrees segregated conjugal roles are human nature and are reinforced by society’s norms and values.
Sociologists look at society from either a macro or micro view and the theories that define their work are based on those perspectives. There are several family theories that we learned about this semester. Briefly, Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory are “macro” theories in sociology. Structural-Functionalism sees society as a living machine made up of different parts which work together for the good of society. Individuals, as well as Institutions work together, and the family is the key to the well-functioning machine. Emile Durkheim, considered the Father of Sociology argues social solidarity, where people do the right thing, create harmony and have shared values. According to Durkheim the nuclear family is the only type of institution that can achieve that. Conflict Theory sees society as a pyramid with those at the top having more power and influence than those at the bottom. Males in society have more power than females. There is a power imbalance, which could lead to oppression o...
In this discussion, I will be explaining how I define family. I will also include my immediate and extended family. I will also describe what family means to me, how mine differs from other families in my neighborhood, and also how they are similar. I will also describe my family’s ethnicity and how it may affect any of my family’s health. To me, a family is a group of people that are brought together by blood, adoption, or marriage.
Family is a fundamental social institution in society, the family, is considered the primary and most important agent of socialization. Family typically consists of a man and woman and their children or two or more people who usually reside in the same home and share same goals and values. Traditionally, in all societies, the family has always been seen as a social institution; that has the biggest impact on society.