Sociology of the Family - Intro to Sociology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Introduction to Sociology

Download Sociology of the Family - Intro to Sociology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity!

The Sociology of the Family

What is a “Family”?

• An institution for breeding and raising kids?
• Any group of persons with ties of kinship, ie, blood or marriage?
• Any household comprising interdependent residents?
• Any group or couple in which members provide for or rely on others financially, emotionally or both?
• Overall, “family” is a RHETORICAL term- it does not refer to a concrete phenomenon.

The Functionalist View of Family

• “Families” evolve to serve social functions
• The definition of “family” will change as the

needs of the larger society changes

• Contrary to some criticisms, the functionalist

perspective is not inherently conservative as it

accepts that society can accommodate new

family forms

The Family Ecology Perspective

• “Families” are the smallest in a set of nested spheres that define human social ecology
• Families are influenced by and impact on the rest of those spheres
• The other spheres are the built environment, the social environment, and the natural environment
• The ecological perspective emphasizes practical work to better the various aspects of the family’s environment.

Conflict and Feminist Perspectives

• Conflict and feminist perspectives seek to confront and end oppression, particularly oppression of women, in families and family-related policies
• These goals include changing policies that harm female-led households, fighting domestic violence, recognizing the validity of unpaid labour, and pushing for legal recognition of same-sex couples.
• Like the ecological perspective, this perspective is emphatic about performing real advocacy, not only academic theorizing.