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Sociological Perspectives On Families

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Throughout history families and relationships have changed significantly from generation to the next. Relationships and laws have changed, there is no such thing as an ideal family structure, and when we think of traditional family-father, mother and children is now only a fantasy (Shvarts, 2015. Chapter 10: Family). Married couples now represent less than half of all Canadian families, and divorce rate is high (Shvarts, 2015. Chapter 10: Family). Today’s society is focused more on education, having a good job before settling down and starting a family unlike 1940s and 50’s when men and women didn’t have much options and each gender had a specific role; males would go off to work, women stayed at home to cook and clean and take care of the …show more content…

234). Many sociologist now define families as “intimate social relationships that people create to share resources to ensure their welfare and that of their dependents” (Brym, 2014, p.234). Sociologists unique perspectives on families are broken into three theories; functionalists, conflict theorist, and symbolic interactionism. Functionalist Talcott Parsons believes that husbands take on the role as breadwinner and wives take on role as caregiver and that they should remain this way otherwise society will become unstable. He believes that now society has institutions in place such as daycare, preschool, nursing homes that the family life has shrunk since this was a job for woman (Brym, 2014, p.237). Other sociologist believe the decrease in married couple family and the rise of “women mothers” a disaster, functionalist see it as the reason for drug rise, poverty and rate of crimes since there is nobody at home to teach the children. (Brym, 2013, p.234). Conflict theorist for instance Friedrich Engels, saw the family life started off as one sphere, working at home, to two spheres working in factories then going home. Family relationships were changing and women were viewed as in control of the house especially middle class woman. The term “women’s place is in the home, or kitchen” emerged (Brym, 2014, p.238). Lastly symbolic interactionism view traditions and interactions that make a family stay together such as having a baby. Women are seen as taking care of the babies physical needs and worrying about depriving them of this, whereas men are more worried they’ll miss milestones (Brym, 2014, p.

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