The document discusses different perspectives on the Marxist view of the family. It states that Marxists believe the family benefits capitalism rather than its members by maintaining the economic dependence of women on men. It also notes that functionalists argue the family provides benefits like intimacy and mutual support to its members. The document contrasts radical feminist and liberal feminist views, with radical feminists seeing the family as a source of women's oppression due to patriarchal structures.

1. Marxist Perspective On Family
According to functionalist sociologists, the family is the main institution of society where primary
socialisation of children starts (parents teaching their children norms and values in the society).
They also focused on the family in society and for its members. Functionalist sees family as a
nuclear family that is the father, mother and their children. They view the nuclear family as the best
family structure for modern society and also believe that family best fits industrial society. Parsons
and Murdock have a similar view on family. According to G.P Murdock nuclear family is a universal
institution and can be divided into four functions. These are reproduction, sexual, education and
economic. On the other hand, Parsons believed that there...show more content...
Feminists believe the family benefit men instead of capitalism. In contrast, functionalists contend
that Marxists ignore how the family benefits its members, for example mutual support and intimacy.
Marxists neglect the values which family ensure for its members. Marxists do not pay any attention
to accounts of family life where some women propose that experiencing motherhood is rewarding.
According to Feminism perspective family maintains and creates the economic dependence of
women on men. They argue that family oppressing women, reproduces patriarchy and for that matter
women have to fight for their right. There are different types of feminism; these are Marxist
feminist, radical feminist, and liberal feminists.
Radical feminist see family in a negative way than liberal feminists. They said men benefit more
family than women. Research conducted on housework and childcare, shows that men do less
compare to females.
Kate Millett (1970) a radical feminists view families and modern societies as characterised by
patriarchy (a system of domination and subordination in which males use power over children and
females). Radical mentions that the families are the source of all women's oppression and must be
put an end to. This can be done through separatism (where women should live without depending on
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2. Nuclear Family
Title Page
In Hist. Perspective
Traditional Family
Modern Family
New Family Models
The Modern Nuclear Family
THE MODERN NUCLEAR FAMILY
The "nuclear", "isolated", or "restricted" family is not a recent phenomenon, but has existed in many
cultures throughout human history. Indeed, the extended family of several generations is found
mostly in relatively advanced, stable, and affluent, but not yet industrialized societies. Very primitive
and very sophisticated societies seem to prefer the nuclear family model.
However, nuclear families can vary in the degree of their isolation and restrictedness. For example,
before the Industrial Revolution the Western nuclear family was often embedded in a larger social
...show more content...
In an extended family these freedoms are always restricted, because a "wrong" choice would
affect too many relatives. Thus, people who want to take full advantage of the new possibilities
normally marry late and keep their families small. However, this rule also has its exceptions.
Sometimes large families are more useful, because they can serve as a "back–up unit" by providing
shelter and aid at crucial moments. This may be especially important for lower–class individuals
who try to "move up", although the higher classes often also maintain extensive family ties. Thus,
even in fully industrialized societies one can find many men and women who appreciate the
traditional extended family or at least a large network of relatives.
Still, by and large, the closely–knit nuclear family has been dominant in Western societies for the
last several generations, and thus it has shaped the general perception of what a family should be:
A man and a woman marry for love, have two or three children, live alone by themselves in a
"family home" or apartment, and spend all their free time together. The man leaves for work in the
morning, while the woman takes care of the children and the house. She also cooks dinner and
ministers to her exhausted husband when he returns at night. Once or twice a year, at Thanksgiving
or Christmas, there is a brief, ceremonial get–together with other relatives at "Grandma 's house", but
otherwise everyone keeps
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3. Nuclear Family : A Family
Nuclear Family: A nuclear family consists of two parents (in a first–time marriage) and their
biological children. This type of family is sometimes referred to as the "model or normal family"
because, for the most part, they have been often viewed as stable, thrifty, economically secure, and
very happy.
Blended Family: A blended family contains two basic family units with children that have been
joined together. This often occurs through remarriage, but it is becoming more common with
cohabiting couples. This can be very difficult for children to accept at times. Experiencing a divorce
is difficult in itself and throwing new family members into the equation can sometimes complicate
things.
Foster Families: Foster families are legal and informal arrangements in which suitable living
conditions are given to orphaned, unwanted, abused, and neglected children. These children are
often classified as "hard to adopt" because of their age, race, or other special needs. These families
are often presented with many challenges, as they seek to provide a safe place for these troubled
children to live for a period of time.
Working–Class Families: Working class families are families who must work for wages in order to
succeed, and the children are usually expected to follow in those footsteps. Many parents in this
"category" prefer the authoritarian parenting style and participate in less reasoning with their
children when behavior issues arise. Also, these families may feel
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4. The Nuclear Family
American families have changed tremendously over the past years. Families did not only face the
change in their status or social behavior, but also faced a change in their lifestyle. Now there are
different types of families with different types of norms and values. Families are socially, ethnically
and very expressively diverse than ever before. Back in the time, the role family was totally different,
the parents were more strict than today. It could be said that the nuclear family is the nucleus of a
society that reproduces through this type of family. what is the meaning of the nuclear family?.
Basically, the nuclear family has as main characteristic that it is a concept of family that is a role
and perfect familiar group that conforms...show more content...
33). In addition, today we can see so many families that does not fit in the traditional family. Now
most of the families both parents work and take care about the kids and the households. It is
common to see unmarried couples with two or three children. For example, my parents started a
relationship when they were eighteen years old, after two years my mom got pregnant. My older
brother born and three years later my parents got married. In that time was not very common to
see families like mine, but my parents did not care about it. Nevertheless, some people still think
that the nuclear family is the same that was in the 50's, but the truth is that the time is changing
and a lot of people are focusing more in the modern families. Back in the time, being a single
parent was considered wrong. It was completely different and out of the typical and traditional
nuclear family. But now single parenthood is considered more acceptable. One parent families
may still result from the death of a significant other, but now also come about through decisions or
divorce. For example, I have so many aunts that are single moms, some of they are divorced,
others are widows, and a few of them does not know who are the father of their kids. I grew up in
Guatemala and this is so common to happen in my country. Being raised by only one parent seems
impossible, but children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and
behavioural skills as those with two
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