ipl-logo

Sociological Perspectives On Families

1818 Words8 Pages

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.

Show More
Related

Blended Families In Canada

277 Words | 2 Pages

There are many different kinds of Canadian families such as a nuclear family, extended families, childless families etc. Reconstructed or blended families are parents that have remarried and are living together with children from previous relationships. Blended families are on the rise in our society now that 40% of marriages end up in divorce in Canada. With most of the divorcees having children, it is not surprising that the number of blended families going up. These families face issues such as Legal and financial difficulties, territories being infringed upon, and Scheduling conflicts between the parents and the children.

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of The Atomic Bomb

1290 Words | 6 Pages

On August 6 and August 9 of 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. This decision fell on the former vice president, newly inaugurated president, Harry Truman. It has remained one of the most controversial decisions in U.S. history. His decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan shook the world.

Read More

Mexican American Child Abuse Case Study

1104 Words | 5 Pages

There’s no typical family as nuclear families as in the past and not everyone lives in a multigenerational household. Same-sex families are also on the rise as sexual ambiguity is undergoing its own wave of acceptance in all political, social, and economic spheres. With the absence of the parents’ presence in the home due to an inability effectively balance work and home life, children could develop an emotional void/absence. Good communicative dialogue between children and their parents where the adults describe their work situation as it relates to the home to create resilient children, could possibly benefit the household.

Read More

Structural Functionalism Living Wage

1039 Words | 5 Pages

How might the following 3 theoretical approaches explore the topic of poverty in the family - structural functionalism, social conflict, symbolic interactionism? Structural functionalism a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis et al,2013, p.10). Structural functionalism can be a very valuable theory when addressing poverty. It focuses on the structure of things and can be used to analyze the effects that structure has on poverty.

Read More

Ancient Greece: The Eximious Ideal Change

843 Words | 4 Pages

This can first be seen when women started to work. Since ancient times women started to work which was ideal for families to make more money and be better off. “The sisters are out there doing work, doing serious work, both this generation of my age and above…” (Burnham). This is an improvement in ideals because in the past the women were housewives who didn’t work for a job; they just stayed home. Now they are career driven and work to take care of themselves and their families.

Read More

Family Systems Theory: Theories Of Family

532 Words | 3 Pages

Although I feel like families fit multiple theories at any given time, I agree most with the Family Systems Theory. This theory takes a look at the entire family and how it functions as a complete unit as opposed to the individuals. It takes a look at the interconnected relationships within the family unit and how they function together. This theory makes me think of an engine. When all parts of an engine are working properly the engine runs smoothly or purrs as a mechanic might say.

Read More

Postmodern Approach To Family Therapy

1568 Words | 7 Pages

This is seen when the understanding of femininity evolved from females being expected to stay at home and ensure the well-being of the family; to the present times, where women can be employed and contribute to the financial stability of the family (Langen, 2005). In this way social constructionism can be said to helpful in family therapy in that it recognises the different values and perceptions upheld in large cultural or ethnic groups, and how they help define a functional family relative to a specific time in history (Robideau, 2008). It also recognises that the meaning and interpretation of a reality is created and can be altered through conversation (Robideau,

Read More

Gender Roles And Stereotypes In Parsons And Bales

1105 Words | 5 Pages

The female’s role is “expressive”, and entails responsibility for dealing with the family’s internal needs. Parsons and Bales believed that this kind of role differentiation is a universal feature of not just the family, but of all social groups. Thus, husbands were seen as doing relatively little family work as part of a larger pattern of sex role differentiation in which men specialize in the family breadwinner role while wives monopolize the housework and childcare inside the family. There are main female stereotypes and these are as follow; femme fatale in which she uses her sexual power in order to gain her needs, the girl next door allowing and trusting young woman that is perfect for a marriage, gold- diggers and trophy wives who marries her husband for self- sufficiency, the career woman who

Read More

Friends With Kids Film Analysis

931 Words | 4 Pages

The Symbolic Interaction Theory explains that “the more the transitional procedures are unambiguous, the greater the ease of transitioning into a new role (Roy, Schumm, & Brit, 2014, p. 39). First, Julie and Jason want this child, so it’s not an unplanned pregnancy, and they are thrilled to become parents. Julie endures the pregnancy for nine months, and she gives birth to her baby spontaneously while Jason accompanies her. Also, their way of child care is successful because of Jason’s crucial support. In the lecture on Parenthood and Family, Professor Roy states that spousal support is crucial to mothers, and fathers’ participations bring a lot of benefits such as decrease mother’s stress (Roy, 2015).

Read More

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Family Theory

1359 Words | 6 Pages

Family theories have been used throughout the history of nursing to help guide patient care and provide the best patient outcomes. Certain theories may be more applicable to the specific patient encounter; however, each theory has benefits and drawbacks to their use. The purpose of this paper is to examine two selected theories, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. I will also discuss a theoretical family in relation to one theory, and how that theory can be best integrated into the care provided by an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). Description of Theories

Read More

Discuss The Major Changes In American Family Families

422 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout the last century there have been major changes in families. There has been a major transformation of family life and there is no longer a “typical” family that people aim to achieve. All families are different and there is no longer the superficial sameness of families. Some major changes that have risen in the last century that have come to people’s attention is, marriage, cohabitation, divorce, and diverse family structures. Each person has their own concept of their typical family and I will describe my position on how these changes have affected people.

Read More

Talcott Parson's Sex Role Theory

888 Words | 4 Pages

Sex Role Theory: Talcott Parson’s theory that men and women perform their sex roles as breadwinners and wives as mothers (Conley, 2017, p 293). This idea of the nuclear family is centered around a working man who is the breadwinner and the wife will stay home to care for the children and keep clean the house. Each spouse has a specific role to play in the marriage and neither one would consider deviating from that role. Growing up on a large parcel of land with uncles, aunts and grandparents surrounding me, I observed the sex role theory quite well. All but one of the women in my family stayed home to care for the children and keep the home.

Read More

Chinese Family Values

2149 Words | 9 Pages

GEJC 1120 Term essay Wong Yuet Hei 1155017881 The functions, values and beliefs of traditional Chinese Family and their relation with the gender inequality behind – Reflection upon lecture 6- Family and Kinship Introduction Everything that exists has a function; this is a rooted belief of functionalists. From a structural functionalist perspective, family is a social institution; it functions for the survival and well-being of society.

Read More

Sociological Perspective Family

1672 Words | 7 Pages

Through the socialisation of children, the family reproduces both labour power and a false ideology which keeps the capitalists system going. ‘Families thus support the concentration of wealth and reproduce the class structure in each succeeding generation (Macionis and Plummer 2002:440). Engles indicated that families turn women into the sexual and economic property of men. Woman perform unpaid work in the home that would otherwise cost a lot to those who benefit from it. Conflict theorists have seen the family as a social arrangement benefiting men more than women, allowing men to maintain a position of power.

Read More

Traditional Family Traditions

1008 Words | 5 Pages

Nowadays, as divorce has become socially accepted, the figures have grown. According to the article “The American Family”, nearly 50 % of marriages in the United States end up in divorce. This fully affects the idea of traditional marriage because, from those divorces, new uncommon family structures emerge, such as, single father or mother parenting families. Moreover, according to a study called, “An International Look at the Single- Parent family” by Ludger Woesmann, “in the United States, in 2012, 21 percent of 15-year-old students lived in single-parent families […] this puts the United States at the top among the countries.” These figures illustrate the social change society is going through and how the concept of an ideal family structure is becoming obsolete nowadays as well.

Read More

More about Sociological Perspectives On Families

Related Topics

Open Document