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?

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

SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS INTERPRETATION

Family

Mother

Father

Daughter

Son

Brothers

Sisters

Brother and Sister

Mother and

Father

Grandmother

Grandfather

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 Functions 1. Addition of New Members 2. Physical Care 3. Socialization 4. Regulate Behaviour 5. Maintain Morale & Motivate 6. Economics

1. Addition of new members

Births Marriage

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 necessity Affective nurturance: LOVEmeeting emotional

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

6. Economics
Producing & Consuming Earn income to purchase goods for the family.

NEEDS

WANTS

Why do Humans NEED Families?

Helpless at birth 1st families were reliant on each other for survival:

made unions based on:

1.
2.

Reproduction 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 protectedresulted 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 1880s 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 schoolparents therefore could not afford large families. Husband: provider Wife: Homemaker Children: 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.