Overview
This lecture explores the evolving definitions and structures of families, the roles individuals play within families, and how gender expectations influence family dynamics.
Traditional and Modern Definitions of Family
- Traditionally, a family is defined as people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
- The most standard traditional family structure is the two-parent family.
- Joint families include three or more generations living together, often found in South Asia, Southern Europe, and the South Pacific.
- Modern definitions of family include single-parent families, foster families, same-sex couples, childfree families, and blended families.
- Commitment, caring, and emotional ties are now considered core characteristics of families, regardless of structure.
Expanding Concepts of Family
- People may consider close friends or pets as family members, not just those related by blood or marriage.
- Research shows many pet owners include their pets as part of the family.
Changes in Family Structure
- Family structures change due to factors like divorce, remarriage, and child placement in stepfamilies or blended families.
- The family of orientation is the family into which one is born; the family of procreation is the family one creates as an adult.
Family Roles and Systems
- Family systems theory states that each family member has specific roles and expectations aimed at achieving family stability.
- Changes in one family member's role affect expectations and roles for all other members.
- Fairy tales like Cinderella illustrate how roles and expectations shift within blended families.
Gender and Family Roles
- Traditional roles assign housekeeping and childrearing to women, and providing/protecting roles to men.
- More families now share household and childrearing duties, but women still often do more (the "second shift").
- Children’s career ambitions are influenced by their parents’ approaches to gender roles at home and work.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Traditional Family — a family structure based on blood, marriage, or adoption.
- Joint Family — multiple generations of relatives living together.
- Family of Orientation — the family into which one is born.
- Family of Procreation — the family one creates as an adult.
- Family Systems Theory — the view that family members have roles and rules designed for family stability.
- The Second Shift — extra household and childcare duties typically done by women after paid work.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on your own definition of family and examples of non-traditional families.
- Review examples of changing family roles and discuss how gender expectations have shifted in your own experience.