![]() Later in life, adult children often care for elderly parents. Families provide for one another’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. In addition, the functionalist perspective views families as groups that perform vital roles for society-both internally (for the family itself) and externally (for society as a whole). Such families may include groups of close friends or teammates. In other words, families are groups in which people come together to form a strong primary group connection and maintain emotional ties to one another over a long period of time. These two theories indicate that families are groups in which participants view themselves as family members and act accordingly. These distinctions have cultural significance related to issues of lineage.ĭrawing on two sociological paradigms, the sociological understanding of what constitutes a family can be explained by symbolic interactionism as well as functionalism. A family of procreation describes one that is formed through marriage. A family of orientation refers to the family into which a person is born. Sociologists identify different types of families based on how one enters into them. Here, we’ll define family as a socially recognized group (usually joined by blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption) that forms an emotional connection and serves as an economic unit of society. Sociologists, on the other hand, tend to define family more in terms of the manner in which members relate to one another than on a strict configuration of status roles. Social conservatives tend to define the family in terms of structure with each family member filling a certain role (like father, mother, or child). The question of what constitutes a family may be an even more difficult one to answer it’s a prime area of debate in family sociology, as well as in politics and religion. Both marriage and family create status roles that are sanctioned by society. Sociologists are interested in the relationship between the institution of marriage and the institution of family because, historically, marriages are what create a family, and families are the most basic social unit upon which society is built. In practicing cultural relativism, we should also consider variations, such as whether a legal union is required, whether more than two people can be involved, or whether the marriage is a religious one or a civil one. For our purposes, we’ll define marriage as a legally recognized social contract between two people, traditionally based on a sexual relationship and implying a permanence of the union. What is marriage? Not even sociologists are able to agree on a single meaning. Sociologists may study that viewpoint to determine if it is actually true. Some view this decline as a problem with outcomes related to values, crime, financial strength, and mental health. ![]() It means that teachers and counselors and even people who meet children in a restaurant can’t assume they live with two married parents. It means that nearly every child in most parts of America is either in or is close to a family that is not headed by a married couple. The approximately 20 percent drop is more than just a statistic it has significant practical effects. By 2010, that number of households headed by married couples had dropped to 45 percent (Luscombe 2014). ![]() Marriage could certainly be seen as the foundation of the culture. That meant that most children grew up in such households, as did their friends and extended families. In 1960, 66 percent of households in America were headed by a married couple. Should those assumptions be changed? Is marriage still the foundation of the family and our society? Many of the tax laws, medical laws, retirement benefit laws, and banking and loan processes seem to favor or assume marriage. ![]() We’re told that children need two parents. Many of us learn from a young age that finding and joining the right person is a key to happiness and security. Marriage and family are key structures in many societies. Figure 14.2 If you asked a small child who is in their family, their response might depend more on their living arrangements than on their understanding of formal family structures.
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