SOCIOL 2PP3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Symbolic Interactionism, Heterosexuality, Talcott Parsons
21 Sep 2017
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Structural functionalism: focuses on social order and suggests that there is societal consensus over shared values, factors of society are interrelated. Ignores conflict of interests between individual family members. Emile durkheim: nuclear family universal, and is most ideal because the sexual division of labour is functional to families and society. Talcott parsons: nuclear families perform functions that are necessary for society (economic cooperation, reproduction, socialization of children, emotional support). With industrialization and the invention of schools/old age homes, families have been relieved of some functions: critique of parsons: ignores historical and crosscultural variations of families, rationalizes gender inequality and places little importance on women"s expressive role. Bronislav malinowski: men and women are biologically, socially, and psychologically different, therefore we need a strict vision of labour to optimize the family. Conflict theory: advocates for social change/socialism, material conditions of life impact how we see the world, critique: Industrialization has changed family life through separation of work and family.
