Murdock on the Family | A Level Sociology - Families

Summary

This video discusses George Peter Murdock's functionalist perspective on the family, based on his 1940s research across 250 societies. Murdock identified the nuclear family as a universal institution and highlighted four key functions: economic support, sexual regulation, education (socialization), and reproduction. The video examines these functions and explores criticisms from feminist and Marxist perspectives, noting Murdock's work overlooks gender role evolution and societal changes, including family diversity, lone-parent families, and contemporary issues like gender transitions.

Takeaways

• 🌍 George Peter Murdock's research in the 1940s spanned 250 different societies and concluded that the family unit is universal.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 The most common family type across societies is the nuclear family, consisting of a male, a female, and their children.
• 🏠 Murdock identified four main functions of the family: economic, sexual regulation, education, and reproduction.
• 💰 The economic function involves the family providing resources, with traditional roles often seeing the male as the breadwinner, though this is more flexible today.
• ❤️ The family regulates sexual behavior, promoting heterosexuality and healthy relationships to prevent deviant behaviors like adultery or incest.
• 👩‍🏫 Education within the family, or primary socialization, ensures that children learn the norms and values of society, helping them integrate into society.
• 👶 The reproductive function ensures the continuity of society by producing the next generation.
• ⚖️ Critics argue that Murdock's view of family is patriarchal, with feminists highlighting the unpaid labor of women and the existence of non-nuclear families.
• 💼 Marxists critique Murdock for ignoring the influence of capitalism, claiming families indoctrinate children into capitalist values.
• 🕒 Murdock's work is considered outdated as it doesn't account for modern changes in family structures, gender roles, and diverse sexualities.

Q & A

Who was George Peter Murdock and what is he known for?

George Peter Murdock was a social anthropologist known for his cross-cultural research in the 1940s. He studied 250 different societies and concluded that the family unit is universal, existing in all societies. He is often associated with the functionalist perspective on the family.

What did Murdock find regarding the family structure in the societies he studied?

Murdock found that the family was a prominent institution in all the societies he studied, and there was a core family type, typically consisting of a male, a female, and their children. This core family, known as the nuclear family, was the most common, although some societies had extended families.

What are the four functions of the family identified by Murdock?

Murdock identified four key functions of the family: economic function, sexual regulation, education (or primary socialization), and reproduction.

How did Murdock describe the economic function of the family?

Murdock described the economic function as the family's role in providing resources. In early industrial societies, this typically involved the male working for wages to support the family, while the female contributed through unpaid domestic labor.

What criticisms have been made of Murdock's views on the economic function of the family?

Critics like Delphy and Leonard argue that Murdock’s explanation of the economic function is patriarchal, as it reinforces traditional gender roles where men are breadwinners and women contribute through unpaid domestic work.

How does the family regulate sexual behavior according to Murdock?

Murdock suggested that the family regulates sexual activity by providing a structure where males and females can fulfill their sexual urges within marriage, avoiding deviant behaviors such as adultery or incest. He also noted that the family promotes heterosexuality as the norm for reproduction.

What role does education play in Murdock’s theory of the family?

In Murdock's view, education within the family, or primary socialization, involves teaching children the norms and values of society, including gender-appropriate behaviors, language, and socially approved goals. This helps children integrate into society and contribute to its stability.

What are some criticisms of Murdock’s ideas on the family’s role in education?

Critics, particularly Marxists, argue that Murdock’s view of education within the family promotes conformity to societal norms without questioning whose values are being transmitted. They suggest that this socialization supports capitalist ideologies and does not challenge the status quo.

How does the family perform the function of reproduction according to Murdock?

Murdock believed the family plays a role in reproduction by producing the next generation of society. Gender socialization within the family prepares children for reproduction in stable heterosexual relationships, ensuring the continuity of society.

What are the main criticisms of Murdock's theory on the universality of the nuclear family?

Feminists argue that the nuclear family is not the most universal unit, citing that families can exist without a biological father, such as in lone parent families. Marxists also criticize Murdock for ignoring the influence of capitalism, arguing that families indoctrinate children into capitalist ideologies.