Functionalism and the Family

to of have ignored that in a number of families (this tends to be a

Functionalists believe that the family have specific or traditional functions within the family. One function of the family would be reproduction or having children as this is imperative for the world as they will be the future workforce. For example family businesses will need to pass down the factories/shops to the next generation in the family for the continuing of the ancestors business. Other functions include economic maintenance this is where the family provides necessities for all the family members for example shelter, food and clothing. Another is that the family helps teach children how to socialise with others and also educate them with the correct norms. An

To better articulate the gender roles and stereotypes imposed upon the characters in Modern Family it is beneficial to examine scholarly definitions of family, specifically those associated with Structural Functionalism. Based on research conducted with Australian aboriginal families, George Malinowski argued the family is comprised of a “man, woman and their children” (Mitchell, 2012, p. 29). He claimed the universality of this definition of family was predicated based on this familial representation occurring repeatedly within society. Malinowski’s family unit is seen within Modern Family with the Dunphy family comprised of Phil, Claire (Jay Pritchet’s

Structural functionalism is an important theory to consider when assessing Tracy’s situation. Tracy’s interacts among several different systems, one being her family. Structural-functionalism has historically been important in the study of families and continues to remain relevant (Kingsburry & Scanzoni, 1993, p. 195). Structural-functional focuses on the structures and effectiveness of systems, however

Structural-functionalists view the family as a unit that meets the need of its members. When the family functions well, it contributes to the stability of society. Marriage is viewed as a mutually satisfying arrangement between 2 members of the opposite gender. Traditional gender roles are carried out with the man being the financial and status provider in a family, and the woman performing household duties, providing emotional and sexual support, and raising the children. Structural-functionalists feel that these traditional roles make for a strong family unit, in which the children grow up to become well-functioning members of society.

the use of the family in society and how it can take pressure from the

A social institution is “an organized pattern of beliefs and behaviors centered on basic social needs” (Schaefer, 2009). I believe that family is one of the most important social institutions. Family is a social institution that is always changing. My family has changed greatly over the past years. As a child I went from foster home to foster home. My birth mother was only 14 years old when she had me, and gave me up for adoption immediately. It wasn’t until I was eight years old that I was finally adopted.

Functionalism is a macro-structural theory; meaning that it studies society and a whole, and looks at how it shapes the individual. Functionalists state that each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's satiability and functioning as a whole. They believe that the nuclear family (a family consisting of two married adults on an monogamous relationship with one or more dependent children) is completely beneficial to society, and that it, and other institutions within society (eg school, hospitals, ect.) each perform different crucial functions to meet society's needs, much like how the organs of the body all work together to keep the body functioning. This is called the organic anology. There are two main theories within the functionalist perspective, Murdock and Parsons, which both give different functions in which the family performs and explain why it is a vital part of society.

Moreover, functionalists believe that social order is not possible unless there are shared norms and values, which can only be widely accepted through socialisation (Ingelby and Oliver 2008). Furthermore, Murdock (1949) sees the nuclear family as a basic unit around which all family systems are organised and that it [the nuclear family] has four essential functions to perform in order for society to continue (Taylor et al 2005). These four functions are;

Functionalism is one of the three systematic schools of thought alongside structuralism and behaviourism. Its main focus revolves around the functioning of the mind and its usage by organisms to help adapt to new environments. Functionalists study the collective mental processes & functions that lead to pragmatic consequences in the world (Baker et al, 2009).

Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional.

The primary Functionalist scholars of the family are G P Murdock and Talcott Parsons. Murdock contended on the premise of his studies that the atomic family was an all-inclusive social establishment and that it existed generally in light of the fact that it satisfied four essential capacities for society : the sexual, conceptive, monetary and instruction capacities. Other non-Functionalist sociologists have contended, in any case, that the presence of the

To begin with, Functionalist sees family as a vital institution which helped maintain social order by transmitting consensus values enabling society to function in a unified behaviour. Murdock (1949) is of the opinion that society would not operate properly if the main four family functions (Sexual, Reproduction, Economic and Education) were disregard. He argues that a nuclear family is universal as it fulfills society's needs, his claims is supported by the evidence he claimed to be found in 250 different societies. The first function is sexual, Murdock believes that social disruption can be prevented with the existence of sexual intercourse with the same marital partner in which can also strengthen the husband and wife’s relationship. The

To compare similarities and differences between different theorist’s ideas on the ‘family’, an understanding or definition of what the family is considered to be, is necessary. George Murdock defined the family as ‘a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes 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’ (Murdock, G 1949). By using Murdock’s definition of the family, a comparison of what Engles, Somerville and Murray believe about the family can be reached.

Functionalist theory is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. It can be argued that the functionalist theory has made a significant contribution to the study of society. It originates from the work of Emile Durkheim who suggests that social order is possible and society remains stable due to the functioning of several institutions. Everything has a specific function in society and society will always function in harmony. The main institutions studied by functionalism are the family, the education system, religion and crime and deviance.