“Assess the view that the family is functional for society” Functionalists believe that society is based on a value consensus into which society socialises its members. This enables them to cooperate harmoniously to meet society’s needs and achieve shared goals. Functionalists regard society as a system that depend on each other such as the family the education system and the economy. Functionalists stress the positive role of the nuclear family in providing for the basic needs of each individual
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is associated with Emile Durkheim and more recently with Talcott Parsons (Marshall 1994: 190-1). Since functional analysis studies the contributions made by socio-cultural phenomena to the socio-cultural systems of which they are a part. Many functionalists argue that social institutions are functionally integrated to form a stable system and that a change in one institution will precipitate a change in other institutions; expressed by Durkheim and others as an organic analogy. Functionalism, originating
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and Assess functionalist explanations for ethnic inequality Functionalists hold the view that ethnic inequality is a dysfunctional for society, and that ethnic minorities need to become more similar to the white majority. This is known as Assimilation theory, which is staunchly criticised by the Marxists who believe racism exists to justify the inequalities that are so wide spread by the Bourgeoisie via Capitalism. Weberianism concurs with Marxists (so they diverge from the Functionalists) to an extent
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Sociology has many different sociological theories. Sociological theories are statements on how and why certain facts about the social world are related. A few sociological theories include the, functionalist theory, conflict theory, and interactionism. Family happens to be a social institution that can be applied to all these fundamental sociological approaches. Most of the time when we think of what a family is , we will think of a nuclear family. This “nuclear family” would normally consist
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The first being that it is often seen as conservative in the sense of being ‘traditional’, defending traditional customs, institutions, moral views, roles etc. Basically it upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be organised. Secondly it is conservative because it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo. Most religions have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many of them oppose changes that would
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Assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family (24 marks) Functionalists employ the idea of the nuclear family being the main universal family in society and most benefitting. The nuclear family functions to meet the pro dominant means of society (sexual reproduction, educational and economic functions). The family allows each member of the family to shine individually and enjoy success. The functionalist sociologist Murdock believed that the nuclear family
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marks) Functionalists have a fairly positive view of education, however they do say that if one institution fails then the others do aswell. It is a common belief amongst functionalists that all institutions such as education help to maintain social order by performing main functions. Education in an institution that is considered an agency of social control which makes sure that norms and values are followed as they believe that by following these will prevent social issues. Functionalists Davis
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an understanding of society Functionalism is a macro, structural theory. It focuses on the needs of the social system as a whole and how these needs shape all the main features of society. It is a consensus theory being as it sees society as based on a basic consensus or agreement among its members about values, goals and rules. However because of this understanding of the functionalist theory I believe it has a generally weak contribution to the understanding of society. Because it is a macro
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The above view is associated mainly with the Functionalist perspective, to an extent with the Marxist perspective, while Feminists tend to disagree. George Murdock (1949) argued that that the nuclear family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and its members: The stable satisfaction of the sex drive – which prevents the social disruption cased by a ‘sexual free for all’; the reproduction of the next generation and thus the continuation of society over time; thirdly, the
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Using material from item 2b and elsewhere, assess the contribution of functionalist sociologists to our understanding of the family Functionalists believe that everyone has a role to play in society in order for it to work effectively. Not only does the family have practical uses like reproduction and primary socialisation, but also things that personally benefit each member of family like economic provision. Each individual has a different belief on the importance of family and how it impacts our
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