Sociological Theories of the Role of the Family

Functionalist Perspective on Role of the Family

The Functionalist perspective sees the family as a vital institution that contributes to social order and cohesion.
From this viewpoint, the family is an agent of socialisation, teaching children societal values, norms, and expected behaviours.
Functionalist sociologist Talcott Parsons argued that the family serves two main functions: primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities.
Primary socialisation is the process by which young children learn the cultural norms and expectations of society.
Stabilisation of adult personalities refers to the emotional support provided by families to adult family members, helping them cope with the stresses of everyday life.

The Marxist perspective sees the family as a tool of capitalism that serves the interests of the bourgeoisie, or the wealthy capitalist class.
Marxists suggest the family provides a source of cheap labour, in the form of offspring who can be trained to become obedient workers.
They also argue the family functions to inherit property, thus conserving wealth and privilege across generations within bourgeois families.
Friedrich Engels, a key Marxist thinker, proposed that the monogamous nuclear family developed as a way to control women and ensure the legitimacy of heirs, further contributing to wealth accumulation.

Feminists view the family as a patriarchal institution that perpetuates gender inequality.
They argue that women’s roles within the family, such as childbearing and domestic labour, serve to maintain women’s subordinate position in society.
Radical feminists highlight the role of the family in perpetuating male power and control over women.
Feminists also bring attention to partner violence within the family to show the family’s role in preserving patriarchal power structures.

Interactionist theory focuses on the individual interactions and choices that shape family life.
From this view, the role of the family is not fixed, but varies and develops through daily interactions and decisions.
An interactionist may focus on individual family members’ experiences and interpretations of family life, noting how these shape family roles and relationships.
This perspective highlights that families are not just shaped by larger social forces but also by the personal experiences and choices of its members.

The New Right perspective believes in the traditional nuclear family, with a married couple and their biological offspring.
They argue that this type of family is the most beneficial for the proper socialisation of children and contributes to societal stability.
New Right thinkers fear that deviations from the traditional family structure contribute to social problems like crime rates and welfare dependency.
Critics of this perspective argue it lacks consideration of diversity of families and may stigmatise non-traditional family forms.