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Sociology - functionalism and the family

Hi,

Can you help?

I have a sheet which I have to answer questions from, and some I am unsure of.

1. Explain what is meant by social order with reference to the family
2. Identify and briefly explain ways in whcih the traditional family function may bring about social order in society? I have socialisation, but is consensus a second one? If so I don't know how to explain it
3.Identify and briefly explain 2 reasons why functionalists have emphasised the importance of the traditional nuclear family? My teacher told me to put Laslett and Anderson next to the question, but I really can't think of anything to do with these that I can answer with. I have so far that functionalists feel that other family units are less able to meet the needs of the individual and society
4. Identify 2 laws or policies that may affect roles/relationships within the family and describe how each of this does this
I have domestic violence (need to look up about this), but can anyone think of anything else?

Thanks a lot!
Hmm...I don't know much about social order but is the sheet perhaps looking for you to say that the family (esp. nuclear) helps to create social order by socializing the kids into conforming to society?
And yes, consensus would be a part of the 2nd question I think. How much explanation of it do you need? Hmm..well you could explain what value consensus is and say that the family encourages that, going hand in hand with the socialization.

As for the functionalist one, you could mention Talcott Parons's warm bath theory? And that they think the nuclear family has 2 functions- the socialization of children, and the stabilization of adult personalities.

As for the last one, you could talk about the Child Act (1989? not sure) and say that it gives more rights to children, meaning the authority of parents is lessened, which traditional thinkers might say undermines the nuclear family.

Sorry if that lot is totally off the track of what you wanted, but hope some of it might help! :smile:
Reply 2
1. i think social order is got 2 do with the fact that a family unit is more secure and stable therefore abide by the laws of the society as they are one strong unit

4. women being the bread-winners (women able to work)
Reply 3
3. Basic Ideas

Functionalists talk about society being like a human body. The organic analogy incorporates the ideas of a system to emphasize the inter-relatedness and mutual dependency of the major institutions of society. They therefore, see the family as changing and responding to the needs of society. Drawing on the example of Irish families in rural areas in the 1940’s, they argue that most pre-industrial families existed in a patriarchal extended family structure. This usually meant that the landholder dominated his wives and children; while even his adult sons and their wives lived and deferred to him Functionalists therefore argue that the nuclear family developed as a result of industrialization.

The following example explains this. A pebble thrown into a pond causes ripples that can affect the whole pond as a ‘system’. Fish and marine life are disturbed, but after a time things settle down and the pond reverts back to its former self. Note that the pond in its new state has not been dramatically altered by the pebble, but it is a slightly different ‘system’ than previously. This point is relevant to the way that Functionalist sociologists explain change in society.

The systems approach has been used by Functionalists to explain how social change occurs in society. Functionalists see the family as the basic and most vital institution in society, just as one could see the heart and the brain as the most vital organs of the body. Functionalists sociologists would say the effect of increasing numbers of working wives and mothers (the pebble in the pond) has been to cause changes in family life (ripples). A new situation has come about, in which activities in the home are shared so society has entered into a new stable state (the calm pond).