Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 1: Defining the Family: Institutional and Disciplinary Concerns

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1:Defining the Family:

Institutional and Disciplinary Concerns


Traditional/Legal Definition Two or more persons related by birth, marriage or adoption who

reside together in a household (used by U.S. Census).

Structural Definition Families defined in terms of requirements for membership and

spatial arrangements.

Functional Definition Families defined in terms of what they do for their members and

society.

Relational Definition Families defined in terms of how members interact with one

another.

Defining Family


Social Construction of Families

Families are social constructions—meaning that family is a classification of reality agreed upon by members of society.

Our definitions reflect ideologies, or value systems linked to positions in the power structure of society.– Normative behaviors receive positive sanctions.– Deviant behaviors receive negative sanctions.


Competing Ideologies on Family

Should families be defined in terms of:– Structure and Stability?– Process and Change?

Or, in terms of:– Family realm?– Family transcendence?


Eshleman and Bulcroft’s Perspective

The family is both a social institution and a scientifically meaningful category.– Institutional definitions assign rights and

responsibilities and implement social policies based on legal and/or biological ties.

– Analytic definitions focus on certain systematic properties that distinguish families from other institutions.


The Family as a Social Institution Institutions are areas of human social life

organized into discernable patterns and supported by agreed upon standards for goals and behavior.

To institutionalize means to establish patterned and predictable behavior.

Functional equivalence refers to the diverse ways that different societies fulfill their needs.


Families as Systems Systems are configurations of

interdependent parts that have characteristic organizations and patterns of functioning.– 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.


Uniqueness of Family Systems

Structural uniqueness—families are intergenerational groups.

Functional uniqueness—families meet emotional and instrumental needs.

Relational uniqueness—families are interdependent and are expected to be relatively long in duration.


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

Socialization of New Members

Attainment of Personal Satisfaction

Internal Social Control


Ideal Type Constructs

Marriage, family, and kinship are ideal type constructs.

Ideal types refer to hypothetical constructs based on pure, definitive characteristics that allow us to contrast the qualities characterizing any social phenomenon.


Marriage

Marriage is an institutional arrangement between persons who recognize each other as intimate partners. Marriage assumes a level of permanence and conforms to at least some societal norms.


Boundaries of Marriage

Marital Status– Although most Americans will marry,

singlehood is becoming more common. Number of Spouses

– In America, the expectation is one of monogamy, the marriage of one man to one woman.

– Serial monogamy refers to a pattern of marrying, divorcing, and remarrying.


Polygamy

Polygamy is marriage to several individuals at the same time.– Bigamy is marriage to two spouses.– Polygyny is the marriage of one man to more

than one woman.– Polyandry is the marriage of one woman to

more than one man.– Group marriage is the marriage of several

males and females to each other.


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.


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.


Extended Families

Consanguine Family—Based on blood ties; having a common ancestor.

Joint Family—Two or more nuclear families related by blood share a residence and family functions.

Stem Family—Formed by two adjacent generations (parents and adult children) sharing a residence.


Intermediate Types of Families

Modified Nuclear--families of procreation retain considerable autonomy yet maintain a coalition with other nuclear families and exercise a high level of exchange in terms of contact levels, financial assistance, and in-kind assistance.

Modified Extended--less autonomy exists among the separate units. Decisions are coordinated with other units, and co-residence is more likely to occur.


Boundaries of Kinship

The kinship system involves rights, obligations, and constraints that govern the relationships between individuals in societies based on ties of blood, marriage, or adoption.

Prohibitions:– Marriage Between Close Kin– Sexual Relations Between Close Kin (e.g.

Incest)


Functions of Kinship Groups

Property holding and inheritance Housing and residential proximity Keeping in touch and gift giving Affection, emotional ties, and primary

relationships Regulation of sexual relationships


Rules of Descent

In unilineal descent, relationships are traced through one bloodline (usually the father’s).

In patrilineal descent, relationships are traced through the father’s bloodline.

In matrilineal descent, relationships are traced through the mother’s bloodline.

In bilateral descent, relationships are traced through both bloodlines.


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. Avunculocal residence is when the couple live

with the maternal uncle of the groom.

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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 1: Defining the Family: Institutional and Disciplinary Concerns