sociological perspectives of the family

[fedupstudent]

Please could you explain in simple terms the functionalist and feminist view of the family?

[geofbob]

I'm sure you're fed up with being lectured, but if you're going to use the Internet, you should learn to use it to better effect than simply posting a question on AB. However, as a layman, here are my views on your questions. The functionalist view of the family tends to be associated with ethnographic studies of other cultures, which have relationships and ways of bringing up children which differ greatly from the nuclear family of the Judeo-Christian culture; this view therefore focuses on the functions involved, rather than on a set family form. As for the feminist view, it is difficult to discern a single feminist view these days. The "womens libbers" of the 1960s saw the family as both "enslaving" the mother and imposing a restrictive stereotype on daughters, thus preventing women in general from fulfilling their full potential in society. More recently, some women, in reaction, call themselves "feminists", but extol the virtues of the traditional role of women as carers and home-maker; others take a more "middle-of-the-road" view and recognise the important place of women both in the family and in society as a whole.

[mizfiesta]

I have actually just completed an essay on this very subject, only it was functionalism and marxism I wrote about. What course are you on? Which part of the country are you from? Anyway I can tell you what I think about the functionalist perspective on the family. Here goes. Functionalists regarded the nucleur family as a necessary part of society - if society is to function correctly. They see the family as a tool for the socialisation of children, sexual reproduction, a focus for men and womens sexual desires thus keeping in check sexual deviance (far out I know!). They also view the family as a positive as it is a 'unit of consumption' - or in other words the family buys produce (food, material goods) thus funding the economy. Therefore functionalists would probably frown on single parents as it does not do for society the same positive outcomes (as I say very extreme views). Feminism sees the nucleur family as causing the exploitation of women and children (wife beating, child abuse) and upholding a patriarchal society (which they view as a negative) which lets men control their families. Does this help? If it does and you need to know a bit more, just ask.