Conflicting Perspectives of the Ideal Family Essay

Task 1: ‘Functionalist accounts of the family underestimate the extent of conflict within families’. Discuss with reference to relevant sociological theories and examples. The Functionalist sociologist, Murdock (1949) defined the ‘family as a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction’ (Sociology In Focus p62). He claimed it must include adults of both sexes of whom maintain a socially accepted sexual relationship, and own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults. Murdocks definition is focuses on the Nuclear family stereotypically made up of a ‘two-generation family heterosexual couples with offspring’ (Moore, Chapman and Aiken p136). This definition of the family is popular†¦show more content†¦(2004),for example, conflict between husband and wife, child abuse and male dominance etc. They also pay less attention on the harmful effects the family may have on the wider society. Unlike the Marxists, the functionalists never consider variations in family life based on class, ethnicity, religion and locality. However according to Willmott and Young, the pre-industrial family tended to be nuclear, not extended as claimed by Parsons with parents and children working together in cottage industries such as weaving. They also argue that the hardship of these early industrial periods gave rise to the mother centered working class extended family, based on ties between mother and their married daughters who relied on each other for financial, practical and emotional support. Marxists view the family in a very disparaging light and views the family as a tool of Capitalism and the Bourgeoisie. Marxists believe that the family has many roles, which are beneficial to Capitalist society. Marxists believe that the family aids Capitalism by being a big consumer of goods, which they have to pay for. As long as the families are around, people will keep buying the product and the bourgeoisie will continue to make money. Marxists also believe that housewives are producing the next generation of the proletariat. This means that more people will be created to fill the jobs of the retiring proletariat. Marxists believe that the familyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Neighbours By Tim Winton1028 Words   |  5 Pagescharacters, rather calls them the â€Å"Macedonian Family† and the â€Å"Polish man†, in order to show their cultural differences and highlight multiculturalism. Through the development of the short story, Winton shows how the young couple transit ion and develop their societal perspectives from being â€Å"wary of the neighbourhood† to accepting cultural differences, consequently renewing an individuals perspectives of respect, integrity and truth. Composers display conflicting cultural injustices to provoke a reassessmentRead MoreEverything That Rises Must Converge By Flannery O Connor1289 Words   |  6 Pagesout against the backdrop of racial desegregation in the South. O’Connor is able to convey the tensions that emerged after integration as well as conflicting mindsets through symbolism, irony, and point of view. Symbolism is used to emphasize the convergence of the races during the civil rights movement as well as highlight the tension between conflicting mindsets. The first symbol is the hat that is worn by both Julian’s mother, Ms. Chestny, and Carver’s mother. The hat symbolizes the racial cultureRead MoreTheoretical Perspectives Essay: . Sociology Is The Scientific990 Words   |  4 PagesTheoretical Perspectives Essay: Sociology is the scientific study of how humans and groups behave socially and how they, as a whole, change over time. Through the examination of the scientific side of sociology, the understanding of the social world can be shown more clearly. Within the study of sociology, there are two main branches: micro and macro. Micro sociology is looking at the individual and social interaction. Macro sociology focuses beyond social interaction and seeks to examine systemsRead MoreMestiza Consciousness Analysis1133 Words   |  5 Pagesaims to bridge the gap between us, or nos, and them, or otras, to create a collective â€Å"we,† nosotras. It claims that as inhabitants of nepantla, those who defy the binary order of society face the pressure of having to conform to a dominant white ideal, but never succeeding. In attempting to reach a higher position in the social hierarchy, nepatleras can become complicit in each others oppression. In order to reach one’s goal, even someone who sees themselves as oppressed has the potential to oppressRead MoreEssay on Social Theorists1569 Words   |  7 Pagesapplicable to society. Theology as a single entity is constructed from deep intellectual thought. When social theorist begin to develop there theoretical perspectives, they seem to have an overwhelming grasp on the concepts they try to convey to us. Since it is extremely difficult to have such a complete strong hold on social issues such as family, politics and economics, it is important to know and understand the basic principles that underline the theories we study. To compare the theories of GeorgRead MoreThe Illusion Of Universal Morality1361 Words   |  6 Pagesmorality. Appiah essentially presents his argument in a manner which questions the concept of what is ethically right and wrong. Furthermore, he believes that societies and individuals will inevitably experience moral disagreements. From the author’s perspective, â€Å"If we are to encourage†¦moral conversations between people across societies, we must expect such disagreements.†1 As demonstrated in the reading, Appiah suggests that on a global scale, unique societies fail to share the same evaluative languageRead MoreJustice In Crime And Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoevsky1262 Words   |  6 Pages Unanswered Questions In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky discusses justice, questioning who or what determines this ideal. Primarily, he focuses on a man named Raskolnikov, who murders two women and then wrestles with his motives. As Raskolnikov’s hopeless outlook drives him to madness, his friend Sonia reveals an alternative view of justice, which allows for redemption. Through analyzing his character’s viewpoints, Dostoevsky never explicitly defines justice; instead, he exposes hisRead MoreReflection of Culture: Make Way for Ducklings and Mrs Doubtfire1662 Words   |  7 PagesBooks symbolically show the ideals of society through their words and illustrations. Two stories that have had a profound cultural impact on society are Make Way for Ducklings and Ms. Doubtfire. Make Way for Ducklings, published first in 1941 by Robert McCloskey, illustrates the parental journey of a mother and father duck. Ms. Doubtfire, published later in 1987 by Anne Fine, is the 170 page story of a father turning to desperate measures to spend more time with his children. In each story the genderRead MoreModernism And Its Impact On Society917 Words   |  4 PagesKorean and Vietnam wars, and all the other political strife at home and abroad, America during this time could be considered an era of conflicting ideals. As a result of this change of times, literature changed it’s perspective; effectively, the transition from modernist ideals to postmodernist ideals. Much like modernism, however, post-modernism offered to reject ideals presented by both prior literary trends and the popular ideas of their time; yet for postmodernism, the rejection mostly dealt withRead MoreArticle Review -Discpline of Building Characters985 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessional responsibilities conflict with our values:. During these defining moments, we must choose between right and—right. Unlike other ethical decisions, where the options are clearly right and wrong, defining moments as k us to choose between two ideals. Resolving defining moments requires skills not listed on most job descriptions—probing self-inquiry, in particular. These skills enable us to craft an authentic identity based on our own, rather than others’, understanding of what’s right. Managers