Font size
WorksheetsAQA GCSE Sociology The Functions of Families
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 9mins
What is the sexual function of the family according to functionalists?
Society needs new members if it is to survive and the nuclear family produces the next generation of society’s members.
Society needs to regulate sexual activity. The nuclear family regulates a married couple’s sexual relationship.
Society needs a way of providing people with financial support. Economic cooperation is based on a division of labour between the husband and wife in the nuclear family.
Society needs to ensure that new members learn its culture and this takes place through socialisation within the nuclear family.
What is the reproductive function of the family according to functionalists?
Society needs new members if it is to survive and the nuclear family produces the next generation of society’s members.
Society needs to regulate sexual activity. The nuclear family regulates a married couple’s sexual relationship.
Society needs a way of providing people with financial support. Economic cooperation is based on a division of labour between the husband and wife in the nuclear family.
Society needs to ensure that new members learn its culture and this takes place through socialisation within the nuclear family.
What is the economic function of the family according to functionalists?
Society needs new members if it is to survive and the nuclear family produces the next generation of society’s members.
Society needs to regulate sexual activity. The nuclear family regulates a married couple’s sexual relationship.
Society needs a way of providing people with financial support. Economic cooperation is based on a division of labour between the husband and wife in the nuclear family.
Society needs to ensure that new members learn its culture and this takes place through socialisation within the nuclear family.
What is the education function of the family according to functionalists?
Society needs new members if it is to survive and the nuclear family produces the next generation of society’s members.
Society needs to regulate sexual activity. The nuclear family regulates a married couple’s sexual relationship.
Society needs a way of providing people with financial support. Economic cooperation is based on a division of labour between the husband and wife in the nuclear family.
Society needs to ensure that new members learn its culture and this takes place through socialisation within the nuclear family.
Parsons identified two basic and vital functions that all families perform in all societies, what were they?
Reproduction
The stabilisation of adult personalities.
Gender Roles
Primary socialisation
The family is vital because it socialises children so that they learn and accept society’s shared values and roles. This makes it
Nuclear
An agency of primary socialisation
An agency of secondary socialisation
Part of the organic model
How does the nuclear family function as an agency of personality stabilisation?
Teaches culture
Husbands and wife support each other emotionally
Everyday life can be stressful
Relieves pressure (known as ‘warm bath theory’
Name one criticism of Parsons, Murdock and the functionalist perspective
Critics see functionalist accounts as outdated, unrealistic and sexist.
Critics see functionist accounts as too specific, unrealistic and left wing
What criticisms are made of Parsons?
Focuses on British working class families and ignores capitalism
Focuses on American middle class families and ignores social class, and religious and ethnic diversity.
Focuses on American upper class families and ignores gender roles
What do critics say Parson ignores? Alternatives to the (a) family e.g. communes or kibbutz.
Why do critics say Parson gives an idealised view of the family?
Idealised view that doesn’t match reality and that he ignores nuclear families, social mobility and norms etc.
Idealised view that doesn’t match reality and that he ignores non-nuclear families, social mobility and norms etc.
Idealised view that doesn’t match reality and that he ignores nucelar families, anomie and labelling etc.
Idealised view that doesn’t match reality and that he ignores dysfunctional families in which there is conflict, child abuse etc.
How are Marxists critical of the nuclear family?
They see it as functional for capitalist society and it socialises children into accepting the values of capitalism.
They see the family as a major source of female oppression where women are imprisoned in their own homes tied to childcare and housework.
How are Feminists critical of the nuclear family?
They see it as functional for capitalist society and it socialises children into accepting the values of capitalism.
They see the family as a major source of female oppression where women are imprisoned in their own homes tied to childcare and housework.
