2.5.1

Functionalist Views of Families

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Functionalist Views of Families

Functionalists argue that everything in society has a function.

Nature

Nature

Functionalists argue that it is normal for men to be the breadwinners and for women to be the caregivers as it’s part of their nature.

Parsons

Parsons

According to the functionalist Parsons, one of the responsibilities of parents is gender role socialisation (teaching children what the norms and values are).
If this primary socialisation is accomplished, then boys will know what is needed to take up the instrumental role, and girls the expressive role.

Warm bath theory

Warm bath theory

The functionalist Parsons also argues that home is a place where a family can be relieved from daily stressors and where one feels secure. This is known as the warm bath theory.

Evaluating functionalist ideas

Evaluating functionalist ideas

Parsons' ideas can be seen as outdated since nowadays both spouses work.
Functionalists ignore the fact that there might be abusive families.
Functionalists ignore the fact that women might experience a dual burden.

1

The Sociological Approach

1.1

Introduction to Sociology

1.1.1What is Sociology?1.1.2Culture & Socialisation

1.2

Sociological Approaches

1.2.1Marxism 1.2.2Marxism 2 1.2.3Functionalism 1.2.4Feminism

1.3

The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate

1.3.1The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate 1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Sociological Approach

2

Families

2.1

Functions of Families

2.1.1Functionalist Views on Family 2.1.2Marxist Views on Family 2.1.3Feminist Views on Family

2.2

Family Forms

2.2.1What is a Family?2.2.2Nuclear Family 2.2.3Families in a Global Context 2.2.4The Rapoports & Family Diversity 2.2.5Causes of Family Diversity 2.2.6End of Topic Test - Family Forms

2.3

Conjugal Role Relationships

2.3.1Conjugal Roles

2.4

Changing Relationships Within Families

2.4.1Timeline 2.4.2Domestic Abuse 2.4.3Symmetrical Family

2.5

Criticisms of Families

2.5.1Functionalist Views of Families 2.5.2Marxist Views of Families 2.5.3Feminist Views of Families 2.5.4Declining Marriage Rate 2.5.5End of Topic Test - Criticisms of Families

2.6

Divorce

2.6.1Reasons For Rise in Divorce Rate 2.6.2Consequences of Divorce 2.6.3Functionalist Views 2.6.4Marxist Views 2.6.5Feminist Views 2.6.6End of Topic Test - Divorce

3

Education

3.1

Roles & Functions of Education

3.1.1The Functionalist Approach 3.1.2Evaluating Different Perspectives 3.1.3Types of School 3.1.4Alternative Education 3.1.5State & Private Schools

3.2

Processes Within Schools

3.2.1Internal Processes 3.2.2External Processes

3.3

Educational Achievement

3.3.1Measuring Educational Success 3.3.2Social Class & Education 3.3.3Social Class & External Factors 3.3.4Gender & Education 3.3.5Ethnicity & Education 3.3.6Parental Choice 3.3.7History of UK Education Policy 3.3.8Recent UK Education Policy 3.3.9End of Topic Test - Education

4

Crime & Deviance

4.1

The Social Construction of Crime

4.1.1Defining Crime & Deviance 4.1.2Sociological Explanations of Crime 4.1.3Interactionist Explanations of Crime 4.1.4Alternative Explanations of Crime

4.2

Social Control

4.2.1Informal Social Control 4.2.2Formal Social Control 4.2.3End of Topic Test - Social Construction of Crime

4.3

Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

4.3.1Explanations of Crime 4.3.2Social Class & Crime 4.3.3Gender & Crime 4.3.4Ethnicity & Crime 4.3.5Age & Crime 4.3.6Criminal Responsibility 4.3.7The Prison System 4.3.8Media Reporting of Crime 4.3.9Functionalist Explanations of Crime

4.4

Data on Crime

4.4.1Measuring Crime 4.4.2End of Topic Test - Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

5

Social Stratification

5.1

Social Stratification

5.1.1What is Social Stratification?5.1.2Functionalism 5.1.3Socio-Economic Class 5.1.4Socio-Economic Class 2 5.1.5Life Chances 5.1.6The Affluent Worker 5.1.7End of Topic Test - Social Stratifictaion

5.2

Poverty as a Social Issue

5.2.1Defining Poverty 5.2.2Factors Affecting Poverty 5.2.3Explanations of Poverty 5.2.4Impact of Globalisation 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Poverty as a Social Issue

5.3

Power & Authority

5.3.1Weber 5.3.2Sociological Perspectives 5.3.3Power Relationships 5.3.4End of Topic Test - Power & Authority

6

Sociological Research Methods

6.1

Research Methods

6.1.1Research Design 6.1.2The Scientific Method 6.1.3Other Considerations 6.1.4Primary Sources 6.1.5Secondary Sources 6.1.6Surveys 6.1.7Sampling 6.1.8Questionnaires 6.1.9Interviews 6.1.10Observation 6.1.11Statistics 6.1.12Case Studies 6.1.13Longitudinal Studies 6.1.14Ethnography 6.1.15Experiments 6.1.16Small Scale Research 6.1.17End of Topic Test - Research Methods

Jump to other topics

1

The Sociological Approach

1.1

Introduction to Sociology

1.1.1What is Sociology?1.1.2Culture & Socialisation

1.2

Sociological Approaches

1.2.1Marxism 1.2.2Marxism 2 1.2.3Functionalism 1.2.4Feminism

1.3

The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate

1.3.1The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate 1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Sociological Approach

2

Families

2.1

Functions of Families

2.1.1Functionalist Views on Family 2.1.2Marxist Views on Family 2.1.3Feminist Views on Family

2.2

Family Forms

2.2.1What is a Family?2.2.2Nuclear Family 2.2.3Families in a Global Context 2.2.4The Rapoports & Family Diversity 2.2.5Causes of Family Diversity 2.2.6End of Topic Test - Family Forms

2.3

Conjugal Role Relationships

2.3.1Conjugal Roles

2.4

Changing Relationships Within Families

2.4.1Timeline 2.4.2Domestic Abuse 2.4.3Symmetrical Family

2.5

Criticisms of Families

2.5.1Functionalist Views of Families 2.5.2Marxist Views of Families 2.5.3Feminist Views of Families 2.5.4Declining Marriage Rate 2.5.5End of Topic Test - Criticisms of Families

2.6

Divorce

2.6.1Reasons For Rise in Divorce Rate 2.6.2Consequences of Divorce 2.6.3Functionalist Views 2.6.4Marxist Views 2.6.5Feminist Views 2.6.6End of Topic Test - Divorce

3

Education

3.1

Roles & Functions of Education

3.1.1The Functionalist Approach 3.1.2Evaluating Different Perspectives 3.1.3Types of School 3.1.4Alternative Education 3.1.5State & Private Schools

3.2

Processes Within Schools

3.2.1Internal Processes 3.2.2External Processes

3.3

Educational Achievement

3.3.1Measuring Educational Success 3.3.2Social Class & Education 3.3.3Social Class & External Factors 3.3.4Gender & Education 3.3.5Ethnicity & Education 3.3.6Parental Choice 3.3.7History of UK Education Policy 3.3.8Recent UK Education Policy 3.3.9End of Topic Test - Education

4

Crime & Deviance

4.1

The Social Construction of Crime

4.1.1Defining Crime & Deviance 4.1.2Sociological Explanations of Crime 4.1.3Interactionist Explanations of Crime 4.1.4Alternative Explanations of Crime

4.2

Social Control

4.2.1Informal Social Control 4.2.2Formal Social Control 4.2.3End of Topic Test - Social Construction of Crime

4.3

Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

4.3.1Explanations of Crime 4.3.2Social Class & Crime 4.3.3Gender & Crime 4.3.4Ethnicity & Crime 4.3.5Age & Crime 4.3.6Criminal Responsibility 4.3.7The Prison System 4.3.8Media Reporting of Crime 4.3.9Functionalist Explanations of Crime

4.4

Data on Crime

4.4.1Measuring Crime 4.4.2End of Topic Test - Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

5

Social Stratification

5.1

Social Stratification

5.1.1What is Social Stratification?5.1.2Functionalism 5.1.3Socio-Economic Class 5.1.4Socio-Economic Class 2 5.1.5Life Chances 5.1.6The Affluent Worker 5.1.7End of Topic Test - Social Stratifictaion

5.2

Poverty as a Social Issue

5.2.1Defining Poverty 5.2.2Factors Affecting Poverty 5.2.3Explanations of Poverty 5.2.4Impact of Globalisation 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Poverty as a Social Issue

5.3

Power & Authority

5.3.1Weber 5.3.2Sociological Perspectives 5.3.3Power Relationships 5.3.4End of Topic Test - Power & Authority

6

Sociological Research Methods

6.1

Research Methods

6.1.1Research Design 6.1.2The Scientific Method 6.1.3Other Considerations 6.1.4Primary Sources 6.1.5Secondary Sources 6.1.6Surveys 6.1.7Sampling 6.1.8Questionnaires 6.1.9Interviews 6.1.10Observation 6.1.11Statistics 6.1.12Case Studies 6.1.13Longitudinal Studies 6.1.14Ethnography 6.1.15Experiments 6.1.16Small Scale Research 6.1.17End of Topic Test - Research Methods

Practice questions on Functionalist Views of Families

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1
What does the warm bath theory describe?Multiple choice
2
What is the argument functionalists make for men being breadwinners and for women being caregivers?Multiple choice

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Symmetrical Family

Marxist Views of Families