How do the different perspectives evaluate the family?
The functionalist, Marxist, feminist and New Right perspectives on the family, and the criticisms of family life including its dark side.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology families topic, covering the functionalist, Marxist, feminist and New Right perspectives on the family and the criticisms of family life.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to compare the main perspectives on the family, functionalism, Marxism, feminism and the New Right, and to know the criticisms of family life, including its dark side. This dot point is where the four perspectives from the key concepts topic are applied directly to the family, which is exactly what the longer discuss questions reward.
Functionalism and the New Right
These two perspectives form the "positive" side of the debate. The New Right view is distinctive because it makes a moral and political argument for one family type, which feminists and others criticise for ignoring the strengths of diverse families.
The Marxist criticism
The Marxist view is a conflict critique: the family is shaped by, and helps maintain, an unequal economic system. It directly challenges the functionalist claim that the family benefits all of society.
The feminist criticism and the dark side
Feminists argue the family is patriarchal and benefits men. Women carry the dual burden of paid work and housework, power and money are often controlled by men, and girls are socialised into traditional gender roles. Different feminist strands locate the cause differently (liberal, Marxist and radical feminism), but all see the family as a site of gender inequality.
Both Marxists and feminists point to the dark side of family life: domestic violence and child abuse. This is a powerful criticism because it contrasts sharply with the warm, harmonious picture painted by functionalists, showing that the family can be a place of harm as well as support. A balanced answer accepts the family's positive functions while recognising these criticisms.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20184 marksExplain one Marxist criticism of the family.Show worked answer →
A four-mark explain item: state a clear Marxist criticism and develop it.
One Marxist criticism is that the family serves capitalism rather than benefiting everyone. The family socialises children to accept authority and hierarchy, preparing them to become obedient workers who will not challenge the system.
Develop the point: Marxists also argue the family is a unit of consumption that buys goods and so generates profit for the ruling class. Markers reward a clearly identified Marxist criticism (the family serves capitalism) plus a developed explanation.
Eduqas 202112 marksDiscuss the view that the family is a positive institution.Show worked answer →
A twelve-mark discuss item assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3. Use functionalism and the New Right for the view, Marxism and feminism against it, then judge.
For the view: functionalists argue the family meets essential needs (Murdock's four functions, Parsons' socialisation and stabilisation). The New Right add that the traditional nuclear family is best for raising children and maintaining social order.
Against the view: Marxists argue the family serves capitalism and reproduces inequality, not the good of all. Feminists argue it is patriarchal and benefits men. Both highlight the dark side: domestic violence and child abuse.
Judgement: the family performs important functions, but it can also reproduce inequality and conceal harm, so calling it simply positive is one-sided. Markers reward both sides, named perspectives and a supported conclusion.
Related dot points
- The functions of families, including Murdock's four functions and Parsons' two basic functions (primary socialisation and the stabilisation of adult personalities), and how perspectives evaluate them.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology families topic, covering the functions of the family using Murdock's four functions and Parsons' two basic and irreducible functions, with the perspectives that evaluate them.
- The different family forms (nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone-parent, same-sex and single-person households) and the reasons family diversity has increased.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology families topic, covering the different family forms (nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone-parent, same-sex and single-person) and the reasons family diversity has grown.
- Conjugal roles (segregated and joint), the symmetrical family thesis of Willmott and Young, Oakley's critique and the dual burden, and power and decision-making in the family.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology families topic, covering segregated and joint conjugal roles, the symmetrical family thesis of Willmott and Young, Ann Oakley's critique, the dual burden and power in the family.
- Changing family patterns, including falling marriage rates, rising cohabitation, the rise in divorce after the 1969 Divorce Reform Act, and the ageing population, with the reasons behind the trends.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology families topic, covering changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce, the ageing population, and the social reasons behind these trends.
- The functionalist (consensus) and Marxist (conflict) perspectives, including socialisation, social order, shared values, capitalism, class conflict and ideology.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology perspectives topic, covering the functionalist consensus view and the Marxist conflict view of society, with their key concepts and how they criticise each other.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200) specification — WJEC Eduqas (2017)