1.) Chapter 2 discusses two main subjects: the Theoretical Perspectives on Families and Family Research Methods. The Theoretical Perspectives ranged from macro-level analysis (Structural-Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives) to micro-level analysis (Symbolic-Interactionist, Social Exchange, and Family Systems Perspectives) and also included methods that involved both levels of analysis (Feminist, Ecological, and Developmental Perspectives). The second section of the chapter discussed Family Research Methods. Social scientists use six major research methods to answer various questions about family, these methods are: surveys, clinical research, field research, secondary analysis, experiments, and evaluation research.
2.) Since I have taken Sociology courses before, I have already learned about many of the various Theoretical Perspectives mentioned in the chapter. However, there are a few perspectives that I do not remember hearing before, such as the Ecological Perspective and the Family Development Perspective. I found the Ecological Model of Family Development (p. 35) helpful in my understanding of the Ecological Perspective. While reading about the Family Development Perspective, I came across the family life cycle. After reading about it, it clearly makes sense but I never previously thought about it as a cycle, I always thought of it simply as life. Through my reading, I learned about the idea of kinscripts as well. Kinscript, as we read, “arises in response to both extreme economic need and intense commitment by family members to the survival of future generations” (p. 37). Although, I was previously aware that in some families, children are raised by family members other than their parents, learning about the various aspects of kinscripts was rather interesting to me. I also want to mention that on page 32, grief counseling is discussed and this one paragraph changed the way I view grief counseling. Having lost many people I have known throughout my life, I am no stranger to grief and I know that everyone deals with it in their own way, but through this short passage I realized that grief counseling can in fact prolong feelings of depression and anxiety. Thus, in this way, counseling can sometimes do more harm than good.
3.) As I was reading about the Structural Functionalism Perspective, I came across Family Roles. I was taken off guard that the father/husband was called the “breadwinner” and that the mother/wife was the “homemaker.” It is said that social scientists call these families the “traditional family” but is this all that makes them traditional? I consider my family to be traditional, there’s a Mom, Dad, two kids; we even have pets - two cats and a dog. So since both of my parents work and “bring home the bacon” so to speak, does this mean that my family is not traditional?
-Kazzandra Thens
I too wondered about this. Both of my parents work but I think both of our families would still be considered traditional since the family roles are still necessarily the same. For instance, my dad usually provides while my mom makes sure that my siblings and I are taken care of and maintains the house. I also have a friend whose mom "brings home the bacon" and is still considered the home maker. She provides the money and also provides nurturing to her kids. The father however, usually travels for business which makes this possible. Would this family still be considered non traditional or traditional? Does your family fit into either of these molds?
ReplyDeleteI guess my family would somewhat fit into the traditional family mold. My Mom makes sure that the house is clean and such but my Dad does help out with a good amount of the household chores.
ReplyDeleteKazzandra,
ReplyDeleteI think it very interesting that you mentioned the section that discussed grief counseling and how it changed the way you view it. I too have lost many people throughout my life, one being my older sister in a car accident. I was forced to go to grief counseling by my parents and absolutely hated it. In my opinion, it made things worse. It made me think more and more about my sister, not allowing me to move on in my life. In fact, I became even more depressed and extremely ill. It wasn’t until I stopped going to counseling that I finally got passed my lost and regained my strength to become a healthy individual again. I agree with you that people deal with grief in all sorts of ways, but I am an individual who cannot sit in a room with a counselor weekly discussing how I am dealing with my loss without hurting more inside. So I would definitely agree that from experience, grief counseling just prolongs feelings of depression and anxiety for a person like me.
I also think your discussion about what constitutes a family to be labeled a “traditional family” is very interesting. My mom was for most of my life, until recently, a stay at home mom, while my dad brought home the money when he owned his own business; I also have/had 2 sisters. So, I guess that would be labeled as a “traditional family,” right? However, recently because of the horrible economy my dad lost his business so my mom had to pick up a job and I now have a deceased sister. So is my family not traditional anymore? Can a “traditional family” turn to a nontraditional family? The book mentions that the number of “traditional families” has declined compared to the past; perhaps the economy is the leading cause of this, forcing both husband and wife to enter the workforce in order to keep their family stable and even causing families to break apart due to the stress of unemployment.
--Natalie Fisher