Malavika G NairAIR 45 · CSE 2024 · 294 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
Family, according to Leach is often viewed as a harmonious institution. It may in fact be a storehouse of tension and conflict.
Body · points
Family, according to Leach is often viewed as a harmonious institution. It may in fact be a storehouse of tension and conflict.
Dysfunctional Families:
At Individual Level:
Bell and Vogel studies show how some families scapegoat their children leading to personality issues, mental and physical issues etc.
R.D. Laing and Cooper studies show how children are often caught between 'affection feuds' and they are affected by the displacement.
Parsons' stabilization of adult personalities serve only males while females develop mental illnesses. - Jesse Bernard
(4) Engels view family as an institution which developed with private property that restricts the reproductive agency of women for inheritance.
(5) Families inculcate 'gender norms' through socialization → Girl children expected to do household chores, men asked to not cry.
(6) Families curb individual freedom and agency.
(7) The dependent nuclear family is an instrument of capitalistic state that keeps the male breadwinner under social control.
At the societal Level:
(8) Families create over obedient and compliant culture leading to unquestioning obedience to authority.
(9) Families create patriarchal structures as per Sylvia Walby that enables public patriarchy.
(10) Ann Oakley talks about the patriarchal exploitation of women's unpaid work.
(11) Mental health crises and public health affected due to family issues.
(12) Psychological Theories of deviance view issues with bonding of mother, lack of expressive female in mothering role (Parsons) → causing deviance.
(13) Perpetuation of sexual division of labour and subjugation of women (Shulamith Firestone).
(14)
Families however are universal according to Murdock and have numerous functions (MacIver and Page)
It is characterized by particularism, affectivity, quality etc in Parsonian variables and forms basis of Gemeinschaft relation (Tonnies).
Despite its dysfunctions, healthy family relations are vital for the functioning of society, individual, and community relations.
Close · a summary
Families however are universal according to Murdock and have numerous functions (MacIver and Page) It is characterized by particularism, affectivity, quality etc in Parsonian variables and forms basis of Gemeinschaft relation (Tonnies).
Despite its dysfunctions, healthy family relations are vital for the functioning of society, individual, and community relations.