What Is A Family? Essay

A nuclear family is defined as: ‘A couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit.’ My research of this concept will focus on the theories of two sociologists - George Peter Murdock, and Talcott Parsons. George Murdock’s theory suggests that there are four essential functions of an ideal family. 1. Stable satisfaction of the sex drive, 2. The biological reproduction of the next generation, 3. Socialisation of the young, 4. Meeting its members economic needs (Thompson, 2014). According to Murdock, these four components are what keep the structure of the basic family unit intact, and by achieving these four functions create an ideal family model. An opposing theory is Talcott Parson’s functional fit theory. Parson suggests that as society evolves, alternative forms of family life become more accepted. Society has progressed so much that single parents providing for their children is as normal as a nuclear family, and there tends to be less need for extended

Friedrich Engles developed the earliest view of the family from a Marxist perspective in ‘The Origin of the family, private property and the state’ (Engles, F 1972). A statement made by Engles suggests that during the early stages of humanity, family did not exist as such, and at this time there were no rules limiting sexual relationships and in effect that made society the family. He also stated that throughout history an increase of restrictions was installed on sexual relationships and the production of children. Economic

Murdock (1949) studied 250 different societies, he concluded that society could not survive without the family as it was so functional. He argued there were four essential functions, without these society would not survive: sexual, reproductive, economic and education. Without sex and reproduction there would be no new members, without economic and education, the family providing for its members, the young socialised to norms and values, cultures would not exist. In the absence of this human society would cease (Haralambos and Holborn, 2008). 83

Before diverse families were on the rise during the ‘changing period’, following the norms of society it was “proper” and “right” to be a component of a nuclear family. The nuclear families in the past was a father financially fortifying the family and the mother, who had to be espoused, looking after their children and their home, and this nuclear family provided all the compulsory factors needed in life which is how functionalists argued. However, overtime more family structures have developed and become a component of society. Reconstituted (when a couple who have been anteriorly espoused with children converge and get espoused to compose another family), and lone parent families are becoming more prevalent, gay and lesbian families are becoming more acceptable in today’s

Since there are lots of different perceptions or even conflicts on family life, the sociologist is challenging greatly of the family (Cheal, D. 1991:1). The changes in family living and household composition are mainly concerned as a contemporary core. (Jagger, G. and Wright, C. 1999:1). According to Sherratt and Hughes, although families are fluid and diverse, the divisions’ persistence and family’s inequalities still exist (Fergusson, R. and Hughes, G. 2004:75). This essay will argue the functional approach to family is more crucial than the structure approach for

When it comes to family, there was no way to define such a word. Post-modern society has allowed for the diversification of the family structure, bringing today’s society further away from the idea of the ‘ideal’ family.

Functions and Diversity of Family Structure There are various debates and views on the term ‘family’ in today’s society. Although we can say that a family consists of a unit of people that are related, either legally through marriage or biologically. In both premodern and modern societies families have been seen as the most basic unit of a social organisation that carries out vital tasks, such as socialising children.

The family is an important social institution. The concept of family is found in every known society (Murdock, 1949:1). Anthropologists classify family as individuals related by blood and marriage (Haviland 1996:230); nevertheless there remains no universal definition of the family. The forms a family might take (nuclear or extended, polygamous or monogamous) vary across cultures and time (Murdock, 1949:1). It performs six universal functions to satisfy the needs of its members, such as, reproduction, protection, socialization, regulation of sexual behaviour, attention and companionship, and providing social status (Ogburn & Tibbits, 1934).

According to Marx’s perspective, family is seen as an obstruction to achieve the communist goals, as it is crucial to passing the established order such as cultural ideals on to the next generation. However, Marx was focused on social class rather than the role of family, it was his friend Engels trace the evolution of the family in “The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State” (1884 , Zurich)

Nowadays is very often to find families who have been disordered due to tension and trying to reconcile professional and family life. Parents no longer have the time or energy to pay attention to their children and take care of the house due to the exigencies of work. This tension is adversely affecting the families. In this assignment is possible to observe the functionalistic, Marxist and feminism and the contribution they had over the years in the society/family.

Marxists are firm believers that the Bourgeoisie are responsible for all Proletarian problems. They believe that the family serves an ideological functions (a set of ideas and beliefs that justify inequality and assist in the maintenance of the capitalist system). Friedrich Engels (1891; 1978) states that the need for the family only arose for the sheer necessity to protect privatized property and industry of the Bourgeoisie. He argues that Capitalism depends on the patriarchal monogamous nuclear family. He states that monogamy , marriage and family are all institutions that benefits the "capitalist system", he also stated that due to these institutions women became 'tools of reproduction' and described it as the "world historical defeat of the

The Marxist viewpoint on the family revolves around a capitalist society and believes that the nuclear family is not a functionally necessary institution, although it is probably the best suited. However, Marxists believe that the family bases itself upon private property and profit, whereby men marry and then have children to pass on their profit to and women simply marry the men for financial security. Together, Marxist feminists also revolve their viewpoint around a capitalist society but focus more on the woman’s role, rather than heirs and profit. They believe that the woman’s primary role is based within the home and therefore can be exploited as a source of cheap labour because she is dependant on that of her husband’s income. The woman, they believe, is a housewife doing home chores to increase the father’s ability to work and thus delivering more to society. Also, by nurturing and teaching their children to become the next viable source of workers in the future, the woman is helping society and saving on capitalisation costs. This therefore lays a foundation for their children to be obedient later in life, punctual and altogether submit to their boss in later life, without the need for society training these conformities, thus having cost nothing to the capitalist.

Family is comprised of a group of two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, and or adoption residing together in a household. Family is an social institution which functions in nurturing both emotionally and financially. This definition of family is the most definitive and sensible definition of family because it describes all aspects of family, and the emotional needs of everyone making up the family. Families that meet the description of my definition tend to be successful as a family. The definition also aligns itself to the common U.S laws of family and family rights. It is an advantageous definition because it outlines what a family not only is, but what it should be if it wants to be a successful family. I use the term success because a successful family is one that is emotionally and financially stable, with values and goals. A stable family is a united family.

Marxists view the family in a very disparaging light and views the family as a tool of Capitalism and the Bourgeoisie. Marxists believe that the family has many roles, which are beneficial to Capitalist society. Marxists believe that the family aids Capitalism by being a big consumer of goods, which they have to pay for. As long as the families are around, people will keep buying the product and the bourgeoisie will continue to make money. Marxists also believe that housewives are producing the next generation of the proletariat. This means that more people will be created to fill the jobs of the retiring proletariat. Marxists believe that the family

Families vary considerably in the United States and Globally but must fulfill at least five important functions to ensure a society's survival. These five functions include sexual activity, procreation and socialization, economic security, emotional support, and social class placement (Benokraitis, 2017, p. 225). All of these are important in societies survival. They all play an important role in raising your children and families. These family functions give the sense of emotional support, food and shelter, and teach us how to act properly within society.