1. Functions of Families

2. Why we study family…
To understand how families organize (types of families)
Understand family behaviour(s): traditions, beliefs, roles, responsibilities, etc.
Motivations: why we carry out
these roles.

3. Boys vs. Girls
Snips and snails and puppy-dog tails vs. sugar and spice and all things nice.
What message does this send to children?

4. See if you can spot some problems with this interpretation…
The following is a slide show that was prepared as a way to teach EAL (English as an additional language) students how to identify the English words for family members…
See if you can spot some problems with this interpretation…

5. Family

6. Mother

7. Father

8. Daughter

9. Son

10. Brothers

11. Sisters

12. Brother and Sister

13. Mother and
Father

14. Grand- mother

15. Grand- father

16. Grandfather and grandmother

17. Father and Daughter

18. Mother and son

19. Mother and Daughter

20. Father and Son

21. Universal Function of the Family
Shirley Zimmerman (U of Minnesota)
6 Key Functions
Addition of New Members
Physical Care
Socialization
Regulate Behaviour
Maintain Morale & Motivate
Economics

22. 1. Addition of new members
Births
Marriage
WHY?
Cycle of dependency: have children to look after you when you are older

23. 2. Physical Care
Society is not always organized to support people as a family can.

24. 3. Socialization
Teach children skills, knowledge, values, attitudes of larger society.
Foster ability of children to appropriately function in society according to their roles in adulthood.

25. 4. Regulating Behaviour
Maintain order in family society as a way to motivate order in the larger society.

26. 5. Maintain Morale & Motivate
Sense of duty / economic necessity
Affective nurturance: LOVE…meeting emotional needs in foundation of our commitment > contributes to the health of society.

27. 6. Economics Producing & Consuming
Earn income to purchase goods for the family.
NEEDS WANTS

28. Why do Humans NEED Families?
Helpless at birth
1st families were reliant on each other for survival: made unions based on:
Reproduction
Hunting vs. gathering

29. Agricultural Families
Created a sustainable and abundance food supply.
Formed enduring couples so men (fathers) would help look after the children.
Farms required a lot of labour.
Land = wealth and needed to be worked and protected…resulted in larger families (i.e. more children).

30. Agricultural Families
MEN:
Worked and protected the land.
WOMEN:
Domestic chores > rearing children, household chores.

31. Urban Industrial Families
Changes in roles: Men, women, and children worked outside the home in factories.
Emergence of the Industrial Nuclear Family:
Motherhood became the sacred and primary role of women.
Women nurtured and stayed home. They were supported by their husbands.
Men: money earners for their wives and children.
Children: Compulsory education enacted in 1871 in Ontario.
Child labour laws passed in the 1880’s to protect children.

32. Modern Nuclear Family Emerges at the beginning of the 20th century.
Delayed marriage until purchase of own home.
Children supported by their parents until the finished school…parents therefore could not afford large families.
Husband: provider
Wife: Homemaker
Children: play under supervision of mother & attend school.

33. The Modern Consumer Family
Read the article and answer questions 1-3 at the end of page 19.