Structural Functionalism

Talcott Parsons (1940s-1960s)

• Structural functionalism focuses on social stability.
• Key terms include:
  • functioning
  • harmony
  • social order
  • equilibrium

SF are concerned with families fulfilling the important role of “the family” to ensure societal stability.

The role of the family according to this theory includes:

• socialization (teaching children proper roles)
• social capital (transmitting class positions)
• emotional gratification
  • self-actualization (through involvement in close, personal relationships)
  • individualism (conjugal family – love and sex)
  • specialization (women’s role=emotionally attuned to family members (expressive role); men’s role=earn money to support the family financially and also act as the disciplinarian (instrumental role)). Parsons argued that these roles were separate but equal.

SF thought that the changes families had undergone – getting smaller, more individualistic, a greater emphasis on the role of love and affection, a high degree of specialization, etc – were positive for the family and for society.