Different Theoretical Approaches Essay

Examine how the assorted theoretical approaches have explained the changes that the family has historically done for(p) through. The family is a universal installation present in every society through egress the world. For many, the family seems a familiar and comfortable institution, notwithstanding this can appear in many unalike forms. A particular type of family is the atomic family this consists of p atomic number 18nts and electric shaverren living together in the same household. The conventional nuclear family comprises of a married man and charr with their biological children living together, this type of family is often dubbed the cereal packet family where the manly is the breadwinner and the fe staminate a homemaker. Another family type is the lengthened family which includes all crime syndicate beyond the nuclear family e.g. Grandparents, Aunts or Uncles etc. Other family types include immemorial families, Reconstituted or (step) families and Loan Parent Familie s, all of which are alternatives to the conventional nuclear family.The family has been the focus of study for many different sociologists, all of which can be criticized in some form.Throughout this essay I am going to attend how the different theoretical approaches explain how family complex body parts and the roles of individuals within them have changed in intercourse to each of the historical academic degrees that Western society is said to have genuine through. There is an underlying assumption amongst sociologists that hunter-ga on that pointr bands were the first forms of society. Although these were large communal groups the structure of the nuclear family was seen to be present within them. In articulate to k straightaway the need for team work was essential and therefore separate connubial roles were necessary. Female mobility was limited due to the impact of child birth and child rearing so they were responsible for gathering nuts and berries from the land whils t the male role was go and hunt for food. Anthropologists studying hunter-gatherer societies still in universe of discourse today such as The Hadza from Tanzania support this view and speculate this was at a time the way of living in every society.Functionalist Gary Lees meand the nuclear family unit of measurement of measurement was best within hunter-gatherer societies as they needed to be mobile in order to move around and search for food. Marxist sociologist Friedrich Engels argued that because the means of turnout was own communally then the family as such did not exist. He refers to this an epoch of primitivecommunism characterised by promiscuity. There were no rules limiting the fig of sexual relationships so therefore society was in effect the family. (Holborn, 2004) womens rightist sociologists tended to agree with the Marxist view but saw the roots of traditional conjugal roles such as childbirth and child-rearing as a injustice to women. The next arcdegree in the instruction of society is referred to as the pre-industrial stage. This stage of history saw a shift towards agricultural establish societies. William Goode (1963) believed that the all-encompassing family was only appropriate within this type of society due to the amount of Labour intensive work needed to be carried out.Functionalist Talcott Parsons agreed with this because the extended family system had more than people available to carry out the total variety of functions required. (Owens, n.d.) A study entitled Family and community in Ireland (1968) Arensberg and Kimball found that kinship ties were still extremely strong but the basic unit was that of the extended family. They believe that the traditional Irish farming family is a patricentric extended family, due to considerable authority of the male head the family is patrilineal because property is passed down the male family line. This has been criticised by Peter Laslett who examined parish records which provide d evidence to charge that in fact only 10% of pre-industrial families included kin beyond the nuclear family. (Owens, n.d.). Michael Young and Peter Wilmott conducted a study attempting to trace the organic evolution of the family from pre-industrial England to the 1970s.They suggest the family develops through four stages, they described the first stage family as one that works together as a unit of production husband, wife and unmarried children work together as team. Materialist feminist Sylvia Walby believed that stinting relations and inheritance of property were a major source of feminine disadvantage. The period of industrial enterprise is associated with urbanisation and the growth of factory based industry. Talcott Parsons argued that the family is structurally isolated because relationships with other kin are a matter of prize and as the nuclear family contained the basic roles of mother, take and children needed to carry out the essential functions then the extended family of pre-industrial times was no durable required. He believed the family had emerged due to a process structural differentiation society had gone through and due to development of more specialised institutions there are fewer functionsneeding to be performed by the family and therefore the family ceases to become an economic unit of production. (Holborn, 2004)However other sociologists such as Michael Anderson (1971) believed that industrialisation actually increase the need for extended family because as people moved into towns they moved in with relatives in order to find comfort and gage. Community studies of working crystalise neighbourhoods in the twentieth century such as Dennis et als study of a Yorkshire mining village (1956) and Jeremy Tunstalls study of remove trawler men (1962) all featured similar conclusions of extended family life and support. (Owens, n.d.) Wilmott and Young referred to this as their Stage two families which began with the industrial revolut ion. In this stage families cease to be a unit of production and become employed as individual wage earners. They believe due to low recompense and high unemployment families extended their nuclear networks to include extended family networks, this provided them financial security against hardship.They believed this was the tie between mother and married daughter they used as a defence due to the conjugal bond within the nuclear family being so weak, due to the males in the relationship choosing to spend more time away from the family unit. Some people have argued that as industrialisation and modernisation proceeded, kinship-based society and the extended family broke up and the nuclear family emerged as the dominant form. This family has often been referred to as the cereal packet family. The role of father also saw a shift towards a more family based role and the conjugal bond was strong. Post-industrial times have seen a even off in factory based industry and a rise in people choosing to work within the service sector. The big question now is whether or not the family is in decline?Patterns of family life have changed dramatically over recent years. One reason for this is the rise in split rates as changes to laws have meant that it is much easier for people to get break up than it was in the past, also a change in attitude has meant that there is no longer the social stigma around attached with divorce. The development of the state and a rise in women workers means that women no longer have to rely on a male for financial support. libber Germaine Greer sees divorce has been good for women as they no longer have to pass judgment living in an unhappy marriage. In conclusion I believe that there has been a widespread change in family structures over time, but I believe this is due more due to cultural changesand a more widespread knowledge and acceptance of the different types of family that exists.BibliographyHolborn, H. a., 2004. Sociology themes an d perspectives. 6th ed. s.l.Harpercollins. Owens, R., n.d. Families and Households -Changing Structure. Sociology factsheet.