Soc220DefineFamily2

Family: a social construction: 

Family: a social construction Structured based on social, economic, political patterns in society: for example: polygamous marriages: polygyny vs polyandry Family forms are historically changing: created by a combination of social forces such as culture, economy, and power patterns in society.

Study families: : 

Study families: The way society is structured A symbol linked to an ideology An ongoing process and change

Pluralist in nature, reflect social, cultural, economic arrangement of society. : 

Pluralist in nature, reflect social, cultural, economic arrangement of society. Ideal-type constructs: a hypothetical construct used to compare and assess Marriage: monogamy, polygamy: polygyny, polyandry, bigamy, levirate. Sororate serial monogamy endogamy exogamy which one to choose is based on the adaptational process and structure of power in society. For example, greater social inequality among men? Female choice? Or male choice? Sex ratio: number of male /per 100 female Polygyny: for wealthy men: culture differences? Or economic differences? Polyandry: economic factors

The Sociology Perspective compared with other disciplines: : 

The Sociology Perspective compared with other disciplines: Examine the larger social context under which family operates .(sociological imagination vs psychological reductionism)) Examine the social structural factors that impact on family life. Examine the relationships between family as a social institution with other social institutions: family is not a product of a single power system, but is shaped by interlocking hierarchies.

Myths and Clarification: 

Myths and Clarification Is there an universal (uniform) family structure in human societies? Tip: Diversity rather than uniformity is the characteristic of family composition throughout history and in all societies. The monolithic model of a family consisting of a father and a mother and their children with a sexual division of labor is mythical.   

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2. Does every society or group has a typical family structure which represents their peculiar culture or group identity? Tip: The answer should be NO. Diversity is the theme for family structure and forms in every human society. Today family relations and household arrangements are more diverse than at any time in history, diversity is not new. Throughout history, major social forces have created a wide range of family configurations. Social structural factors affect family size, family forms and family relations too. For example, whether White of Black, Chinese or American, social class and social economic background all affect family life and marriage patterns.   

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3. What a typical American family looks like? Tip: The image of a breadwinning father, homemaking mother and their children living in a one-family house accounts for fewer than 10% of families. Today only about 7% American families fit into the model of a go-to-work father and a stay-at-home mother. The image or model actually neglects the diverse nature of family types in American history and has a social class bias. It emphasizes the middle class family ideal and neglect the lower class and poor class family life.          

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4. Is there such a thing we call the American Family? Tip: There is no such thing we can call an American family. Social class, race/ethnicity, religion and other social factors all affect family types and family structure. Economic and demographic forces are creating changes as well. Family is in an ever changing situation and diverse all the time. 

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5. Families of the past are more stable and harmonious? Tip: There has never been a golden age of the family. Desertion, illegitimate children, abuse were always there. Divorce rates were lower but that does not mean love was stronger. Religious prohibition and other cultural, social economic, and political factors affect families all the time. 

What is Family?: 

What is Family? Traditional/Legal Definition Two or more persons related by birth, marriage or adoption who reside together in a household. Sociological Definition Institutional definition: patterns, structural arrangements, and functions analytical definition: parts and relations Analyze family as: a social institution: an organization or arrangement that are considered as fundamental to society’s survival. a social system: made up of different parts, component: statuses, roles A primary group: close-knit relations, intense interaction, high expectation vs secondary group Three dimensions: structural dimension: system: number, who, component functional dimension: institutionalized organization to meet the needs of society. relational dimension: interaction, relation as a group: primary

Review of last class: 

Review of last class Functional dimension: as a social institution, perform the needed functions such as emotional support Structural dimension: as a social system, differentiate people by status: Relational dimension: as a primary group, how relationships differ from secondary groups

The Family as a Social Institution: 

The Family as a Social Institution Institutions are the patterned means by which the essential tasks of a society are organized, directed and carried out. Institutions organize human behavior into stable patterns of activity. To institutionalize means to establish patterned and predictable behavior.

Social Institutions: 

Social Institutions Family Education Economy Politics Religion

Family as the Primary Social Institution: 

Family as the Primary Social Institution Family is structured to perform needed functions: nurturant socialization of children Stable life for adults Sense of belonging Question: Are there any other means can be used to perform the functions? Functional Equivalence to be institutionalized: e.g. homesexual marriage, single parent families, modified extended families, or accordian families. Institutionalization process: examine the consequences of the structures: e.g. children raised in homosexual families? Single parent families vs two parent families.

The family interacts with other social institutions: Mass Media religion, Politics, Education, Economy: 

The family interacts with other social institutions: Mass Media religion, Politics, Education, Economy The family is closely related to and interdependent with other social institutions: Evidences: mass media: two models: reflective / selective One more point: the functional dimension looks at family as a passive agent.

Families as Systems: 

Families as Systems Systems are configurations of interdependent parts that have characteristic organizations and patterns of functioning. The structural dimension points out the difference of the family system from the non-living systems: active agent: change caused by outside forces as well as within. E.g. single parent families of African America, women in new immigrant families.

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e.g. Grandparent’s status and roles Question: norms (expected behavior or rule for social behavior) concerning grandparents’ role and status in America? Outside factors: out-of-wedlock birth grandparents parenting cause change in norms

Units of the Family System: 

Units of the Family System Statuses are the interrelated positions that family members hold. Roles are the expectations that accompany particular statuses. Norms are the rules that prescribe appropriate behavior for persons holding certain statuses.

Relational dimension: Families as Primary Groups: 

Relational dimension: Families as Primary Groups A family group is composed of physically present people who interact with one another on an intimate, personal basis. Meeting the emotional needs of people, Socialization agent for internal social control. In industrial societies, secondary groups dominate, and primary group decline in importance. Intense relation creates pressure, stress,

Primary and Secondary Groups: 

Primary and Secondary Groups A primary group is a small number of people who interact in direct, personal ways (e.g. families). It is characterized by intense, frequent, and face-to-face interaction. A secondary group is larger and more goal oriented. It is characterized by more impersonal, segmented, and utilitarian contacts.

Primary Group Functions of the Family: 

Primary Group Functions of the Family Socialization Attainment of Personal Satisfaction Companionship Ego Worth Security Affection Social Control: internal control: socialize children to learn the norm value and develop conscience for what is right and wrong.

The family system:three parts:: 

The family system: three parts: Marriage Family Kinship system

Marriage: 

Marriage Marriage is an institutional arrangement between persons who recognize each other as intimate partners. Marriages are: Socially Legitimate Sexual Unions Begun With a Public Announcement Entered With a Contract Based on Reciprocal Obligations

Boundaries of Marriage: 

Boundaries of Marriage Marital Status Although most Americans will marry, singlehood is becoming more common. Number of Spouses monogamy, the universally recognized, predominant marriage pattern: Question: why? Serial monogamy

Polygamy: 

Polygamy Polygamy Polygyny (77%) Why? For procreation? Fertility, healthy children? Economic inequality: heir for inheritance Possess women: symbol of power Polyandry largely in poverty stricken societies, economic needs Group marriage Oneida, based on ideology

Boundaries of the Family: 

Boundaries of the Family Family Structures: Nuclear-Conjugal families include a husband and wife and any children. Modified-Nuclear/Modified Extended families include a nuclear family that functions within a network of other nuclear families and social networks. Extended families include other kin who are not members of the nuclear family. Consanguine family: family based on blood ties.

Types of Nuclear Families: 

Types of Nuclear Families Family of Orientation: The family that one is born into and reared in. Family of Procreation: The family that one creates through marriage and/or childbearing.

family structure:: 

family structure: Nuclear family: Conjugal family Extended family: joint family (India) , stem family (support system?) . Consanguneal family

Boundaries of Kinship: 

Boundaries of Kinship The kinship system involves special bonds and linkages among its members. Why: Prohibitions: Marriage Between Close Kin Sexual Relations Between Close Kin (e.g. Incest)

Functions of Kinship Groups: 

Functions of Kinship Groups Property Holding and Inheritance Housing and Residential Proximity Keeping in Touch and Gift Giving Affection, Emotional Ties, and Primary Relationships

Kinship: 

Kinship The Chinese kinship system: social control Collect tax Establish school

Rules of Residence: 

Rules of Residence In patrilocal residence, the bride lives with the groom and his parents. In matrilocal residence, the couple live with the parents of the bride. Bilocal residence occurs when the couple live near the parents of one or both spouses. Neolocal residence is when the couple make a home of their own apart from both sets of parents.

Boundary Ambiguity: 

Boundary Ambiguity Boundary ambiguity refers to a lack of clarity about who is in and out of the family system. Boundaries Determine: Task Performance Inheritance Visiting Communication Patterns Responsibilities