Chapter 1 reading: The Changing Family

1) Summary:
Chapter 1: The Changing Family, discusses how families are similar and different, tries to define the family, and talks about different myths about families and which are viewed as functional/dysfunctional. The chapter begins discussing how to define the family. No universal definition of the family exists, as the text presents, which is no surprise to me since no two families are the same. Families differ across the world in traditions and expectations, however they may show some similarities in how they function in adjacent cultures and parts of the world. These similarities among families are said to be five important functions of families in order to ensure society's survival. These five functions are:

• regulation of sexual activity--fulfilling societal norms on what is culturally accepted among engaging in sexual activity. in this function incest taboo is brought to light.

• procreation and socialization--becoming a family is a part of procreating and contributing to the growth of the human race and through procreating a family experiences socialization when they teach their children about the accepted values of society.
  

• economic security--demonstrates how the family leans on each other for support and survival, whether it just needed to be fed, clothed, and sheltered or if there are more serious financial obligations to be fulfilled the family provides this support and help.
  

• emotional support--two kinds of emotional support are defined: primary and secondary. Primary emotional support is provided by the family. Secondary emotional support is provided by those who we are slightly less close to such as co-workers, classmates, professors, supervisors, etc.

• social class placement--a family is placed in a social class based on the previous status of the parents who raised them. a family can also change their social class based on certain motivations of the family members and different accomplishments achieved or not achieved to move the family up to the A-list or down to the D-list.
  

The chapter then moves on to speak about different forms of marriage and types of relationships and on what levels they differ from one to the next. What is considered to be a "normal" kind of family is referred to as the nuclear family and the extended family is the most common type of family existing. Residence and authority is one thing that defines differences among families. Patriarchy, matriarchy, and egalitarian families differ in who is "in charge" of the family and who has a more submissive role. Monogamy and polygamy are also two things that defines differences among families as the chapter discusses.




2) Something that I found interesting while reading was the Fictive Kin concept of family. Yes, I am aware that there are multiple types of "family members" but I found it interesting that this concept of a "family friend" is considered in the dynamics of what can be considered family. My family does indeed have a bunch of people who we consider to be "family friends" and often do consider them a part of the family.

Another concept I found was the discussion of Polygamy. Before reading this chapter I never fully understood why polygamy exists, and still somewhat don't see its necessity because I believe strongly in monogamous relationships. However, its more common than I thought it was throughout the world; Africa, South America, and the Middle Eastern societies all embrace polygamy. The chapter addresses multiple interesting reasons why people see polygamy as almost necessary because of a "shortage of men" in some countries, multiple women seek out a single man as a companion rather than being alone and left behind. Money has something to do with it too, "poor women would rather marry a rich polygamist than a poor monogamist."




3) When reading the sections of chapter one about family structure and social change and some myths about the family, there were a couple questions that came to mind. There are many television shows that demonstrate different kinds of family relationships as mentioned in the reading Hannah Montana, Two and a Half Men, and iCarly are three examples of family relationships that can be seen as "unconventional" yet, we accept and promote the values expressed in the shows by tuning in to watch episodes on a weekly basis, even though these family types (single father raising the children, older brother taking care of his sister in absence of parents) are not what we consider to be ideal. So my question is does the media effect the family? Is the media a reflection of the changes we see going on in family structure and functioning? Why do you think this is?

Another question was raised off of a particular statement in the reading addressing Myths about the Past. Preceding the excerpt, the section talks about how such "golden days" had never existed despite what many of us to believe to be true (ideal family patterns such as those in 7th Heaven, The Brady Bunch, and other TV shows). Instead its viewed that families were hard working and hard pressed with many struggles such as illness and disease and that not growing up in a nuclear family was more common back in the day than today because of diseased parents leaving children behind. Also its viewed that families never publicly discussed child abuse, incest, domestic violence, marital problems, harassment, etc.

"Many families lived in silent misery and quiet desperation because these issues were largely invisible."
Why is this? Why are people beginning to speak out now instead of earlier on in history? Is it a sign of the times?

Finally, a third question I have for the chapter over all is why do people spend so much time focusing on what's expected of a family than what works best for them? If there is no right or wrong family (or is there?), then why do people focus so much on this? As long as you're happy in your individual situation and its functional, what else matters?

--Megan Callahan