Diversity In Family

The family is in transition – family structures are growing into exciting new possibilities, due to this, there has been a dramatic increase of diversity in the family and household structures since the earliest centuries. In Africa, our real and perceived blood ties are not bounded by the household or the village, but stretch across communal areas as far as the eye can see and the heart can reach. Traditionally, newcomers would be accepted as part of the family and only excluded only if they spurned the welcome. However, this essay will look at the different family and household structures in the current century, also the diversity of families and understanding the reasons for this diversity and how structures have changed. It will draw theories

With the knowledge of Murdock (1949) he says it may include adults of both sexes, who have a sexual relationship, and have children of their own or adopted. In a nuclear family for example, the father takes responsibility on getting food on the table, where they are typically called ‘breadwinners’ of the family, whilst the mother takes the role of taking care of the children and do household duties, such as cooking and cleaning the house. It is therefore clear, considering the statement above why, functionalists believe the family provides important functions not only individually but for the family and for society as a whole. According to Chegg, an online study, “Functionalism (or structural functionalism) is the perspective in sociology according to which society consists of different but related parts, each of which serves a particular purpose”. Functionalists see the family as a social institution, serves a key function towards the stability and continuity of the society. However, Marxists believe that the nuclear family evolved through various stages bringing with it the beginning of ownership of private property, Coltrane & Collins (2001: 66-69) In Stewart & Zaaiman (2014) also agree with this event as one of the causes of family structure diversity. Spiegel, Watson & Wilkinson (1996) In Stewart & Zaaiman (2014), came up

Family issues stem from financial imbalance and from patriarchal philosophy. The family can likewise be a wellspring of contention, including physical viciousness and enthusiastic savagery, for its own individuals, the Symbolic interactionism says that the association of relatives and personal couples includes shared understandings of their circumstances. Wives and spouses have diverse styles of correspondence, and social class influences the desires that life partners have of their relational unions and of one another. Family issues stem from diverse understandings and desires that companions have of their marriage, and feminist feel as though the family structure is unequal, and their ultimate perspective of a family is that it creates an unequal power relationship, which tends to benefit some members (men). Feminists say that men take total control in the family and women are expected to be submissive, which lead to exploitation. However, as society has changed, women are now participating in any employment and still take the responsibility as a mother to their children. Diversity within the family has increased dramatically, family structures such as single parents, homosexual families (gay & lesbian) and blended families (two adults in marriage that have children from previous marriages) has become more acceptable