AS Sociology - Families and
Households functionalist perspective.
A brief
overview of
functionalists.
They believe society is
based on consensus.
It is harmonious, it meets the
needs of society and the
individual.
They believe in the organic analogy ->
They believe society is
structural, it has clear
fixed structures.
They take a macro approach.
Key theorists
Parsons
Durkheim
Childhood
They believe that
there has been a
march of
progress.
Childhood is a golden
age. - Pilcher (1995)
Happiness and
innocence.
Clear and
distinct
life stage.
It is separate from
the adult world.
Children are
protected from
adulthood.
Therefore they
are better
socilalised.
And then they
become better
adapted adults.
Family diversity
Parsons sees the nuclear
family provides the best
'functional fit' in society.
The roles within the
division of labour
are:
Expressive - The wife
takes care of
domesticity, emotions
and raises the children.
Instrumental - The husband is the
breadwinner and provides economical
capital and provides for the family
These two roles allow the
family to perform two
essential functions:
The primary
socialisation of
children.
Stabilisation of adult personalities.
Other family types are
considered dysfunctional.
Changing family
patterns
They like marriage
as it creates a
'functional fit'.
They are 'On the fence' about
divorce, it's not a threat as
remarriage shows committed
to the idea of marriage.
Other family types are dysfunctional.
Social policy
The state acts on behalf of its
member's best interests.
Fletcher (1966) argues the introduction of
health, education and housing policies since
the industrial revolution has led to the
development of the welfare state that
supports families.
For example, the NHS.
Couples
Parsons clear division of
labour roles:
Instrumental
Expressive
Believes there are biological
differences between sexes.
Women being more 'naturally'
suited to the nurturing role
Men being more suited to the
provider role.
Bott (1957) talks about
two types of conjugal
roles within a marriage.
Segregated conjugal
roles
Joint conjugal roles
Young and Willmott found there had
been a march of progress in Bethnal
Green from segregated to joint over 20
years.
They call a family with joint roles
a symmetrical family.
This march of
progress is because
of these certain social
changes: