Different Theories about Family, Slides of Family Sociology

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Family:

Different Theories

Institution

A relatively long-standing social

arrangement, made up of a stable set of

values, norms, attitudes, and behaviors

that develop around a basic social need

Types of Marriage Systems

1. Polygamy :

2. Bigamy :

3. Polygyny :

4. Polyandry :

Structure-Functionalism

(from the point of view of society)

Focuses on the structural properties

and important social functions

performed by the institution

(Meadow & Stacey: SF reflects tacit cultural view at the time,

e.g., “Naturalness of inevitability of the nuclear Family).

Exchange Theory

Focuses on issues of cost, reward,

available resources, and equity in

interaction. Basic premise: individuals

use their different individual resources

to bargain and secure advantage in

relationships

Interactionism

(from the perspective of individuals)

Emphasis on individual & situation:

concerned with internal family

dynamics. How is “meaning

constructed” within that family?

Biological Perspective

Proposes that human evolutionary

biology--anatomy, genetics, hormones--

affect family related behavior

(e.g. Gender Roles)

“Boys will be Boys”

vs.

“We promote them to be that way”

Feminist Perspective

(Comes out of the conflict perspective)

1. Central focus on “the politics of gender”

• Male dominance in family and society is oppressive to

women

• What is good for one family member may not be good

for the other members

2. Brought attention to what was previously overlooked:

Wife abuse; Domestic Violence; Marriage Rape; etc.

Theoretical Perspectives: Waiting

for Medical Attention

 Family ecologists might

speculate about the

family’s home and

neighborhood and how it

affects their health.

 Conflict theorists would compare this clinic with the doctors’ offices that provide health care to the middle and upper classes and demand change.

Theoretical Perspectives: Waiting

for Medical Attention

 Structure functionalists might note the child-raising function(s) the woman is performing for society.

 Interactionists might explore the mother’s body language: What is she saying nonverbally to the child? What is he saying to her?

Theoretical Perspectives: Waiting

for Medical Attention

 Feminist theorists might point out that typically mothers, are responsible for their children’s health and ask why.

 The answer from a biosocial perspective would be that women have evolved a stronger nurturing capacity.

Family: Definitions

Book’s Definition:

Any sexually expressive or parent-child or other kin

relationship in which--usually related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption--(1) form an economic unit and care for any young, (2) consider their identity to be significantly attached to the group , and (3) commit to maintaining that group over time.

Pp. 9

What’s your definition?