following structural functional theory the family

The primary socialisation of children – Parsons saw nuclear families as ‘personality factories’, turning out young citizens committed to the rules, norms and beliefs that make value consensus and, therefore, social order possible.Parsons argued that the modern family is left with two basic and irreducible functions. The family links to the key themes of socialisation and culture. Educational – learning social values and norms via primary socialisation is necessary in order that culture be handed down from one generation to another.they take economic responsibility for the welfare of their children by becoming productive workers and bringing home an income. Economic – parents provide the economic things that are vital for sustaining life in children, such as shelter, food and protection, e.g.Sex within marriage contributes to social order and stability, because marital fidelity sets the moral rules for general sexual behaviour. Sexual – marital sex creates a powerful emotional bond between a couple, encourages fidelity and therefore commits the individual to family life.Without reproduction, society would cease to exist. Reproductive or procreative – this is essential for the survival of society.Murdock claimed that this nuclear family performs four basic functions in all societies, which benefit both society and the individual. in the same neighbourhood, or keep in close frequent contact, e.g. and who either live in the same household or in close proximity, e.g.

Extended families – those family types in which the basic nuclear structure has been enlarged to include grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc.an adult heterosexual couple (usually husband and wife) and their dependent children who live in the same household.

Nuclear family – the most basic family type which is experienced by the majority of people in Britain.

a group of students sharing a house are a household. These may be family members, but they may also be unrelated, e.g.

Household – any person, or persons, who live under the same roof.

It refers to relatives, both in the past and in the present, whether close or distant and whether contact is frequent, infrequent or even non–existent.

Kinship – a concept that refers to family connections between people based on blood, marriage or adoption.

Some of the common terms used by sociologists to describe family structures include: The functions of the family from a functionalist, Marxist and feminist perspective How social change, especially economic change, has impacted upon the family Key concepts such as nuclear families, extended families and households After studying this section, you should be able to understand:

Following structural functional theory the family