The Family

The Family The most universal social institution is the family Every society organizes its members into families What constitutes a family varies from culture to culture

Family Systems A family is a group of people who are related by marriage, blood, or adoption who often live together and share economic resources

Nuclear Family A nuclear family consists of one or both parents and their children. This is the most recognizable family unit in America. There are two overlapping nuclear families: Family of Orientation Family of Procreation

Family of Orientation An individual’s family of orientation is the nuclear family into which the person is born or adopted. This family consists of his or her brother, sisters, and parents

Family of Procreation When an individual marries, a new nuclear family is formed This new family is now a family of procreation, consisting of the individual, his or her spouse and their children

Extended Family An extended family consists of two or more generations In an extended family, grandparents, parents, children, aunts & uncles and cousins may all live in one house or a grouping of houses

Kinship Families are part of a much larger kinship system Kinship is a network of people who are related by marriage, birth, or adoption

Marriage The set of norms that establishes and characterizes the relationship between married individuals There are no universal norms limiting the number of marriage partners an individual may have, where married couples reside, how they trace their decent, or who has authority in the family

Marriage Patterns In most industrial societies, people are married to one person at a time, called monogamy In pre-industrial societies, people are permitted to have multiple marriage partners at one time, called polygamy

Polygamy Polygamy can take two forms: polygyny and polyandry Polygyny is when a man is permitted to marry more than one woman at a time Polyandry is when a woman is permitted to marry more than one man at a time

Residential Patterns Once individuals are married, they must decide where to live. Patrilocality, most commonly in the world, is when married couples are expected to live near the husband’s parents Matrilocality is when married couples are expected to live near the wife’s parents

Descent Patterns Societies trace kinship in different manners Societies that trace descent through the father’s family is called patrilineal descent Societies that trace descent through the mother’s family is called matrilineal descent Societies that trace through both mother and father (industrial societies) are called bilateral descent

Authority Patterns There are three possible patterns of authority in families: Patriarchy: father holds the most authority Matriarchy: mother holds the most authority Egalitarian: mother & father share authority Most societies in the world are patriarchial, although industrial societies like the USA are becoming more egalitarian.

Functions of the Family The most important functions of the family are: Regulation of sexual activity: cannot marry or have sex with relatives Reproduction: Allows societies to survive Socialization: Children are taught the ways of the society Economic & Emotional Security: labor is divided among members and needs of family members are met