Family Functions and Forms

Family Functions and Forms Grade 12 Family Studies

What is a Family? The Vanier Institute of the Family defines “family” as: • Any combination of two or more persons who are bound together over time by ties of mutual consent, birth and/or adoption or placement and who, together, assume responsibilities for variant combinations of some of the following …”

Family Functions • Addition of new members through procreation or adoption • Society has to maintain itself to survive • Population growth = increased wealth • Physical maintenance and care of group members • Including adults, children, dependent elderly members • If families don’t care for their members society must be organized to replace the family • Socialization of children • Teach skills, knowledge, values and grow into well adjusted adults.

Family Functions • Social control of members • Control behavior and maintain order in society • Monitor and evaluate behavior and provide feedback  protects reputation within society • Affective nurturance — love • Meeting emotional needs, Maintaining morale, participating in society, • Production, consumption, distribution of goods and services • Earn income

Family Forms • Families can take on a number of different forms. • Dual Career Family • Two parents with offspring living in a common household where both parents work. • Strengths • Good income  Higher quality of life • Shared household tasks and responsibilities • Weaknesses • Dependence on outside support for childcare, meal preparation, etc. • May cause disharmony due to activities and ambitions of both partners.

Family Forms • Single Parent Family • One parent with children under 18 years old • Strengths • Greater self-expression (parent is only accountable to the children and not a partner) • More stable home environment (if there was previously hostility or abuse) • Opens door for children to seek positive role models outside home • Weaknesses • Need for support systems • Strained finances • Jeopardized parent role (socialization  peers)

Family Forms • Single Career Family • Two parents with offspring living in a common household where one person is the financial provider. • Strengths • Primary source of socialization is by parent(s) • Fits demands of corporate jobs asking employees to travel, work long hours, evenings, etc. • Weaknesses • Difficult to maintain middle class quality of life financially

Family Forms • Remarried Nuclear Family (Blended Family) • Two parents and offspring from previous marriage living in a common household. • Strengths • Encourages shared parenting (may have been single parent prior) • Improves economic status • Weaknesses • Can be stressful blending two independent households together • May need economic help, counselling • Previous relationship commitments (economic and social)

Family Forms • Extended Family • Family includes members of different generations living in the same household (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives) • Strengths • Maintains family values  generation to generation • Lots of adults to fill socialization and household responsibilities • Weaknesses • Harder to move with more people in family

Family Forms • Experimental Family • Consists of individuals in multi-adult households (communes) or cohabitating. • Strengths • Many individuals to support individual needs  good for people in transition • Allows people not ready to commit to long-term relationships to share economic and social resources • Weaknesses • Tends to lack clearly defined responsibilities

Modern Family • We will be watching an episode of the TV program “Modern Family”. • Use your notes from today’s class and the class on “Marital roles” in order to answer the questions about the show. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyUNRWJg0P8&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Family Functions and Forms