9699 · 3.1
Perspectives on the role of the family flashcards
Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9699 Perspectives on the role of the family (syllabus 3.1). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.
Card
Murdock — four functions?
Sexual, reproductive, economic, educational (socialisation).
Card
Parsons — two functions?
Primary socialisation + stabilisation of adult personality.
Card
Marxist view of family?
Reproduces labour force; absorbs anger; inheritance of property.
Card
Radical feminist view?
Family is primary site of patriarchal oppression (Dworkin, Greer).
Card
New Right view?
Traditional nuclear family best — welfare undermines self-reliance (Murray).
Card
Postmodern family?
Diversity, choice, negotiated relationships (Beck, Giddens).
Card
What is Parsons' 'Functional Fit' theory?
The theory that the structure of the family changes to 'fit' the needs of the society in which it is found. Parsons argued the nuclear family is the best 'fit' for modern industrial society, unlike the extended family which 'fitted' pre-industrial society.
Card
How does the family act as an 'Ideological State Apparatus' according to Marxists?
By socialising children to accept hierarchy, authority, and inequality as inevitable. The parental power structure in the family prepares children for the worker-employer relationship in a capitalist society.
Card
Define 'patriarchy' in the context of the family.
A system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women. Radical feminists see the family as a key patriarchal institution where this power dynamic is established and maintained.
Card
What is the 'stabilisation of adult personalities'?
A key function of the family identified by Talcott Parsons. It refers to the emotional security and stress-relief that the family provides for its adult members, acting as a 'warm bath' to soothe the pressures of working life in industrial society.
Card
What does the New Right mean by 'dependency culture'?
A term, popularised by Charles Murray, for the idea that generous welfare benefits encourage people to rely on the state instead of working. The New Right argues this leads to a decline in traditional family values and the growth of an 'underclass'.
Card
What is the 'dual burden'?
A term used by feminists (like Ann Oakley) to describe the workload of women who have to do both paid work outside the home and the majority of unpaid domestic labour inside the home.
Card
What is the 'triple shift'?
A concept developed by Duncombe and Marsden, adding a third element to the 'dual burden'. It refers to women having to perform paid work, domestic work, and 'emotion work' – managing the emotions and psychological well-being of family members.
Card
What is the 'cereal packet family'?
A term coined by Ann Oakley to describe the stereotypical image of the ideal nuclear family (working father, stay-at-home mother, two children) often promoted in advertising. Feminists argue this image is ideological and ignores the diversity of real family life.
Card
How did Zaretsky view the family's role under capitalism?
He argued the family provides a 'haven' from the harsh, alienating world of work, but this is an illusion. It cushions the effects of capitalism, preventing workers from challenging the system, and also acts as a key 'unit of consumption' that fuels profits.