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Examine the contribution of Functionalists explanations to an understanding of the role of the family.
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Examine the contribution of Functionalists explanations to an understanding of the role of the family (20 marks) Classical functionalists see traditional family structures as necessary for the survival of society. They also believe that families are there to pursue a group's social culture through to the next generation. Functionalists believe that a family consists of a caring mother and a working father who provides economically for his wife and children. They believe this is the most sensible and stable way for people to live in society. Therefore, Functionalists believe that the family is *Universal (found everywhere) And *Functional (effective). The Universal belief comes from the words of Murdock (1949). He believes that the family structure is the basis for all societies and so the family was universal. In order to keep society-growing Murdock believed that the family performs three key functions: *Sexual - Because it helps to stabilise the social system, reproduction and...
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