SY103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Talcott Parsons, Nuclear Family, Eurocentrism
Document Summary
Talcott parsons (1902-1979: professor of sociology (harvard university, the leading american functionalist, believed strong social values and norms hold society together, traditional nuclear family served as important role in the industrial ____- Traditional nuclear family: a father, mother and at least one child living in the same household. Sexual division of labour: father: instrumental role as breadwinner, mother: expressive role as caregiver, before this model, extended families were more common. Ideal model to raise kids since husbands and wives are interdependent upon each other. Cohabilitating mother and father and at least one-child living at home. Still have a sexual division of labour, but mother may work. Five main functions of the traditional nuclear family: sexual regulation, economic cooperation, reproduction, socialization, emotional support. Contemporary trends challenging traditional nuclear family model: ahistorical, heteronormative, classed, patriarchal, eurocentric. Increaser divorce rates: 0 child families, common-law couples, lone parent families, same sec families, polygamy, blended families, singlehood.
