Family and Household Forms

Bineta Thiam, CU147211.

Assignment: Sociology, Family and household forms.

1.1 Evaluate the difference between family and household forms.

A Family a functionalist view:

A family or what consist of a family varies according to sociology schools of thoughts although, it has often been regarded as the cornerstone of society, there are differences in definition. The term, "family" is most often associated with functionalists, who assert that the family is a social, universal and essential institute. Parsons (1955-1965) asserts that the functions of the family are two:

1- To socialise the children.

2- To ensure stabilisation of an adult personality, according to Parsons .

Furthermore, Parsons insists on the one and only ideal family being the nuclear family, which is the smallest family unit that consist of a married male, female and their dependent offspring (2.3 children) . An institute, where the male fulfils his biological need of being the bread winner, and the female also fulfils her biological needs, by exploring her creativity at home, as well as rearing the children. The nuclear family certainly functions well in a capitalist society, as they are mobile and able to search and relocate for work without hardships and social connection. Parsons argues that the nuclear family exists as a result of the industrial revolution, which brought about the collapse of the extended family which was more prominent, during the agricultural era.

Parsons' critics assert that, since his studies were based on white American, Bible belt, middle class society, Parsons fails to take into consideration the children's ability to create their own personalities, and also fails to acknowledge the families need of other social institutes in order to exist. The theory also excludes extended families, homosexual families, and single parent families. Parsons' theory is not one that can be generalised.

In the other hand, Anderson, Leslett and Murdoch argue that the nuclear families pre-existed the industrial revolution. Although, they all are functionalists, their views differ. For instance, Murdock's theory insists that the family is a universal social institute. Murdoch's definition of a family includes at least one adult of each sex. However, many children both today and in the past, have been raised in households that do not contain adults of both sexes.

But, according to the findings of Gough's analysis (1959) of the Nayar society where Polyandry was common, before the British rule was established in 1972 . Therefore Murdoch's theory collapses, and is certainly not universal. But it can also be argued that polyandry is alien to most cultures.

The family a Marxist and feminist view:

For the Marxists, family is an invention of capitalism, and that marriage is an invention of the ruling classes for wealth, it is the vehicle to ensure paternity and inheritance, which sole purpose is to enable men to procreate (Engels, 1974), specially in the monogamous family form, such is shared by the Feminist, who find the family and its concept oppressive, the women are never a beneficiary of any family form. The symmetric family form is a myth, studies show that women still did the women's job at home, such as the cooking, cleaning, ironing.... Etc.

Households:

A household can be a single person living alone or a group of people related or not related at all, in today's economic climate, acquaintances team up to get mortgages together, groups of student sharing a flat is a household; a family under the same roof is a household. Some sociologists sport the scrapping of the term "family" and use the term "household" for all family forms. Because family and household forms are evolving, as diversity and social trends are ever so changing, what might have not been acceptable few decades ago are part of the social norms today, such as same sex marriages, mixed marriages, single parenthood families, taboos of old are now widely accepted as we become a more liberal and open society, social evolution at its best.

1.2Analyse nuclear and extended family forms.

Nuclear family:

As previously stated according to Parsons, a nuclear family is the lowest form of family unit, they consist of a married male, female and 2.3 children,

Wilmot and Young, who also are functionalists, insist that there are 4 stages of family life.

1. Classical extended family, this type of family was more common in pre-industrialised Britain. Where the family was one unit, they did everything together, from working to fulfilling the roles of midwifery.

2. Modified extended family, this type of family evolved after the industrial revolution, as opposed to being on unit, the family functions extended to other family members beyond the nuclear family.

3. Symmetrical Family, this family unit is more equal, where the chores are divided equally in the home.

4. The stratified family, where both husband and wife are working and have hired help to look after the children.

Extended family:

Extended family are divided into two categories, the first being classical extended family, which consist of family members living in the same household or in immediate proximities.

The second category is the modified extended families, which essentially is having extended family members abroad, but still provide support.

2.1 Draw conclusions from cross-cultural examples to illustrate varying family forms.

The Asian family:

A Typical Asian family is inn general a mixture of classical and extended family. They usually live as a household or in very close proximity, but always have extended family member abroad, due to the fact that most would be immigrants or descendant of immigrants, and they are most likely to keep the ties with their kin. It's usually, a patriarchal household, with

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