Explain the differences between a feminist and functionalist view of the family?

The functionalists believe that the family is one of the most important aspects of a society. They see the "nuclear family" as the ideal type - a father who works (the breadwinner) and a mother (homemaker) who looks after the house and their children. Functionalists argue that many modern families are not the ideal e.g. same sex parents and single parent families Murdock saw the family as performing 4 functions:  The stable satisfaction of the sex drive The reproduction of the next generationThe socialisation of the young into society’s shared norms and valuesProviding for society’s economic needs by providing food and shelter.
Feminists are split on their views of the family. Feminists including liberal ones argue that marriage is a patriarchal tradition and that women should be seen as more than a homemaker to look after the husband and children. Some radical feminists even advocate political lesbianism - i.e. being in a same sex relationship/partnership as a rejection of misogynistic heterosexuality.

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Answered by Aoife D. Sociology tutor

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