Sociology / Unit 8 Soc 1297 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Functionalism on Family
Captions available
The idea
Functionalists hold that family performs necessary functions for society — regulating sexual activity, reproduction, socializing children, and economic support.
In practice
Murdock's survey of 250 societies found these functions recurring across radically different family forms.
Where people slip
Naming a function performed is not a claim that the arrangement performing it is fair or fixed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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