How is the family like a warm bath?

How is the family like a warm bath? Men can come home from work and have the stresses of the day washed away by their family. Key points to consider: Compare 1950 to now? Can women have this?

George Murdock said the family is: “A social group characterised by common residence, economic cooperation 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 socially cohabiting adults.”

Functionalists say that everything plays a part in making sure society is running smoothly. Thus the family has 4 main functions: Economic Reproductive Educational Sexual Murdock says this is achieved best in a nuclear family.

Why? The nuclear family provides a stable, permanent heterosexual relationships between individual couples. (many relationships = shallow emotional attachment) Stable environment for children, so they will have better socialisation Economic roles based on gender as psychological and physical differences between men and women

Murdock’s “Universal Characteristics of Human Nature” People want permanent heterosexual relationships and gain fulfilment from these They enjoy the strong emotional bonds with their children (provided by a stable upbringing) These relationships may be based upon monogamy (man and wife), polygyny (man and many wives) or polyandry (woman and many sexual relationships either with or without marriage) Lone parents are not considered families as there aren’t enough adults, the children aren’t fully socialised.

Criticisms?

Parsons refined Murdock’s ideas. Families have 2 main functions: Primary Socialisation – parents teach the child the norms and values Stabilisation of Adult Personalities – this is the idea that the family is a place where we can all act naturally

Expressive role Instrumental Role

Expressive role Instrumental Role To look after the children Meet family’s emotional needs Socialisation of the child Homemaker To achieve success at work To bring home money Provide financial stability for the family Breadwinner

Changing dynamics?

Task: Draw pictures of all three types of families and annotate explaining the differences. You may need to research these.