Family pt. 1
Social Institutions: a system of statuses, roles, values, and norms organized to satisfy one or more of society’s basic needs. The most universal = family. Every society organizes its members into families.
Family: a group of people related by marriage, blood or adoption. Family of orientation – family we are born or adopted into Family of procreation – established upon marriage; consists of the individual, spouse, and their kids Marriage – legal union based on mutual rights and obligations.
Nuclear Family – composed of one or both parents and children Extended family – two or more generations of the same family whose members share economic resources and a common household
Choosing a Mate All cultures and societies have norms and laws about who may marry whom. Homogamy: People are most likely to know and prefer to marry others like themselves. People tend to marry those with social characteristics similar to their own (race, age, religion) Heterogamy: marriage between individuals who have different social characteristics. For instance, crossing traditional barriers of age, race, social class, and ethnicity
Family functions Socialization: teaches the child what he or she must learn to participate in society Socioemotional: the family is the one place in society where an individual is unconditionally accepted and loved. Family members accept one another as they are; every member is special and unique.
Family functions Reproductive: provides an orderly means for producing new members, generation after generation. For some cultures and religions, it is the primary purpose for sexual relations. Regulating sexual activity: it is almost always up to the family to enforce the norms, whatever they may be. Some cultures have more sexual freedom than others. Ex. No incest in the U.S.
Family functions Social Status: provide economic resources that open and close occupational doors. The family also passes on values that affect social status. Economic function: the family provides what is needed to survive.