A functionalist believes the family has five different functions, which include reproduction, socialization, protection, regulation of sexual behavior, and social placement. This definition focuses on how families provide for the physical, social, and emotional needs of individuals and of society as a whole. Reproduction is extremely important because that is how society continues and maintains itself, it must replace dying members. Next, families provide socialization to their children by monitoring a child’s behavior and transmitting the norms, values, and language of their culture to the child. Families also provide protection to their young but unlike the young of other animal species, human infants need constant care and economic security. In all cultures, the family assumes the ultimate responsibility for the protection and upbringing of children. Next, families regulate and define sexual behavior and standards of this behavior. Sexual norms change over time and across cultures and the family plays a part in teaching these changes. Finally, families inherit a social position because of the family background and reputation of our parents and siblings. Race, ethnicity, social class, education level, occupation, and religion all shape the material, social, and culture resources to which we have access and therefore the options we might …show more content…
I believe that society is moving away from the first conflict theory, which states that men exploit women through the family. It is not uncommon to see women becoming the breadwinners of the household and more stay at home fathers. This is an idea that will only expand over time. The functions of the family are extremely important and if a family is succeed in providing each function, I believe that abuse and pain and suffering is lower. Families are meant to provide members with warm and intimate relationships, helping them to feel satisfied and secure. If the family fails in doing that, then the door is open to abuse and physical and mental