Functions of Families

Why we study family…

To understand how families organize (types of families)

Understand family behaviour(s): traditions, beliefs, roles, responsibilities, etc.

Motivations: why we carry out these roles.

Boys vs. Girls

Snips and snails and puppy-dog tails vs. sugar and spice and all things nice.

What message does this send to children?

SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS INTERPRETATION…

The following is a slide show that was prepared as a way to teach EAL (English as an additional language) students how to identify the English words for family

members…

Family

Mother

Father

Daughter

Son

Brothers

Sisters

Brother and Sister

Mother and

Father

Grand- mother

Grand- father

Grandfather and grandmother

Father and Daughter

Mother and son

Mother and Daughter

Father and Son

Universal Function of the Family

Shirley Zimmerman (U of Minnesota)

6 Key Functions1.Addition of New Members2.Physical Care3.Socialization4.Regulate Behaviour5.Maintain Morale & Motivate6.Economics

1. Addition of new members

BirthsMarriage

WHY? Cycle of dependency: have children to look after you when you are older

2. Physical Care

Society is not always organized to support people as a family can.

3. Socialization

Teach children skills, knowledge, values, attitudes of larger society.

Foster ability of children to appropriately function in society according to their roles in adulthood.

4. Regulating Behaviour

Maintain order in family society as a way to motivate order in the larger society.

5. Maintain Morale & Motivate

Sense of duty / economic necessityAffective nurturance: LOVE…meeting

emotional needs in foundation of our commitment > contributes to the health of society.

6. Economics

Producing & ConsumingEarn income to purchase goods for the family.

NEEDS WANTS

Why do Humans NEED Families?

Helpless at birth1st families were reliant on each other for

survival: made unions based on:1. Reproduction2. Hunting vs. gathering

Agricultural Families

Created a sustainable and abundance food supply.

Formed enduring couples so men (fathers) would help look after the children.

Farms required a lot of labour.Land = wealth and needed to be worked and

protected…resulted in larger families (i.e. more children).

Agricultural Families

MEN: Worked and protected the land.

WOMEN:Domestic chores > rearing children,

household chores.

Urban Industrial Families

Changes in roles: Men, women, and children worked outside the home in factories.

Emergence of the Industrial Nuclear Family: Motherhood became the sacred and primary role of

women. Women nurtured and stayed home. They were

supported by their husbands. Men: money earners for their wives and children. Children: Compulsory education enacted in 1871 in

Ontario. Child labour laws passed in the 1880’s to protect

children.

Modern Nuclear Family

Emerges at the beginning of the 20th century.Delayed marriage until purchase of own

home.Children supported by their parents until the

finished school…parents therefore could not afford large families.

Husband: providerWife: HomemakerChildren: play under supervision of mother &

attend school.

The Modern Consumer Family

Read the article and answer questions 1-3 at the end of page 19.