1. Has the Family Lost its Functions?
A very brief summary……
This is a particularly popular question with examiners and can be asked in many different ways, for
example, you might also be asked about whether the extended family is still important. Below is a
summary of some of the ideas, studies, and concepts that you will need to learn to address such
questions. They are all summarised and lack detail and examples – this will be your job; fully
explain the ideas, compare them, contrast them, evaluate them, and use examples. They are in
no particular order but are all relevant in some form or another.
> Parsons: Functional Fit Theory & Structural Differentiation.
> Parsons argues that different families have a functional fit with different types of society.
> Extended Families suited the Pre-Industrial Society as they were a Unit of production.
> The process of Industrialisation however meant that society transformed into a post-Industrial
Society which is better suited to Nuclear Families (Units of Consumption) due to Structural
Differentiation.
> N.Fs are Geographically Mobile
> N.Fs allow for Social Mobility
> N.Fs are relatively Self-Sufficient
> Fletcher:
Rather than the state replacing the functions of the family, it simply ‘helps out’. This means that the
family is still expected to do its traditional functions and be for the most part independent.
> Ross:
Grandparents are becoming more and more important nowadays and thus have many functions (Link to
longer life-expectancies)
> Financial Support (pocket money, helping out first-time house buyers)
> Pastoral Role (emotional support to grandchildren)
> Providing a link between modern-day life and a past-style of life.
> Teaching traditional values to grandchildren.
> Babysitters (both parents are likely to be in employment)
> Anderson: Exchange Theory
The stresses and pressures of industrial life mean that extended families are relied on more than ever
– they are multi-functional.
> Litwak: Modified Extended Families
Although families have become more nuclear, this doesn’t mean that the extended family has no
function. Instead, the extended family is extremely functional and is likely to keep in touch due to
advances in communications and transport technologies.
> Marxism: Ideological Function of the Family – Promotion of Capitalism:
Marxists like Engels, Zaretsky and Althusser argue that the Nuclear family has an ideological function
in that it is an Ideological State Apparatus which promotes Capitalism and thus benefits the R/C.
> Marxist Feminism: Ideological Function – Promote Capitalism and Suppression of Women:
Nuclear families not only function to benefit Capitalism but in doing so oppress women.

2. > Radical Feminism: Ideological Function – Promotion of Patriarchy:
Nuclear Families function to promote Patriarchy e.g. through Domestic Violence, Triple Shift, Dual
Burden etc.
> New Right: Traditional nuclear family functions are being undermined.
Due to an over-generous welfare state the N.F is being undermined and many families are not taking
responsibility for the functions that they should be doing e.g. Economic Function, Socialisation etc.
> Gershuny: Childcare Improving.
Families are taking more responsibility for the socialisation of children. This is largely due to increased
access to information through the media and education. (link to improved status of children).
> Reynolds: Working Mothers
The increase in the employment of women means that many mothers are unable to perform their
childcare ‘expressive’ function properly and rely too much on nurseries, education, babysitters and
grandparents to do this.
> Brannen: Beanpole Families and ‘Middle Generations’.
Due to the growth in the multi-generational ‘thin’ family structure, middle generations are taking on
more functions as they have more dependents e.g. they may have to take in their elderly parents. This
means that women (generally speaking) still have an expressive function.