Universality of the Family
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Transcript Universality of the Family
Universality of the Family
Murdock (1949)
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Universality of the Family
Is the nuclear family universal?
Murdock studied 250 societies
Murdock Identified four functions of the
family.
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Functions of the Family
Sexual: the family provides environment for
regulating sexual desires.
Reproduction: essential for survival of
human society
Socialisation: learning the norms and
values of society.
Economic: shelter, division of labour.
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Murdock’s main argument….
The nuclear family is the most efficient
arrangement for performing all of these
vital functions
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Quotes from Murdoch
Use these in your essays and try to learn them
for exams
‘The family is a social group characterised by
common residence, economic co-operation and
reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at
least two of whom maintain a socially approved
sexual relationship and one or more children, own
or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults’.
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Quotes from Murdoch…
‘The nuclear family is a universal human
social grouping. Either as the sole
prevailing form of the family or as the basic
unit from which more complex forms
compounded, it exists as a distinct and
strongly functional group in every society’.
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Criticisms of Murdock’s view
We can find exceptions that suggest the
nuclear family is not universal (Nayar,
Matrifocal, Kibbutz and Gay)
The functions of the nuclear family can be
equally performed in different family
structures.
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Counter arguments to support
Murdock
The exceptions are few in number and are
not statistically significant.
Alternatives family forms can be seen as
the nuclear family gone wrong.
The nuclear family is the ideal.
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Argument for an essay/exam
Whether the nuclear family is universal depends
on how it is defined
‘Relationships are universal, so is some form of
co-residence, of intimacy, sexuality and emotional
bonds. But the forms they can take are infinitely
variable and can be changed and challenged as
well as embraced’.
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