1. Chapter 14 Family Life Today
Unit 4 Notes
Family dynamics

2. Bell Activity
It has been said that a nation is only as strong as its families.
Do you feel this is true?
How can families contribute to the strength of a nation?

3. The Changing Family
Family roles and functions have changed throughout history in order to meet the changing needs of family members.
In early history, families hunted and gathered food in order to survive.
Family members filled roles that allowed the family to live off the land and to be protected from predators.
Permanent communities were not established because family groups were continually moving to find food.

4. The Changing Family
As agriculture evolved, families were able to set up permanent homes and to acquire land.
Each family was independent and able to meet their own needs by assigning family members various tasks to perform
With the industrial revolution new pressures were brought to the family and society.
Families moved from the rural areas to the urban areas.
Families no longer worked only to survive and for their own families.

5. Family members took jobs that served larger groups, but provided income to purchase food, clothing and shelter
Families became consumers.
Urban populations grew and rural populations declined.
The Father was usually the main provider,
With this role he was limited to shorter times at home from his job .
The Mother, was usually the full time homemaker, and provided care for the children
MARRIAGES WERE BASED ON MEETING PEOPLE’S NEEDS AS WELL AS ON LOVE.

6. The Changing Family Technology : continues to affect families
More jobs available in many areas of technology development
Household care made easier with new and growing technologies
Women joining workforce in greater numbers
Child care needs began to be met by child care providers in homes, nursery schools, and child care centers

7. The Changing Families
Social Security Act: before inception of the act, many older adults were care for by their adult children and grand children.
Social Security Act and other sources of income help older adults live independently.

8. Family Functions Families perform several basic functions Nurturance
Economic support
Emotional support
Nurturance
Education
Protection
Opportunities for Recreation

9. Physical Needs Families provide necessities of life: Food Clothing
Shelter
Furnishings health care
The way these necessities are provided vary from culture to culture

10. Physical Needs continued
Tasks include:
preparing meals
Keeping the house clean
Doing laundry
Work out side the home to provide income

11. Emotional Needs
Families provide a “safe haven” for their family members
Family member s learn how to “give and take” of living together in a close relationship
In a loving home each person is free and encouraged to reach their potential

13. Nurturance
Families provide the environment for developing social skills of children
This prepares them to function in the outside world
Children learn about culture of the society they live in and how to function effectively in their culture

14. Nurturance
The family teaches its values to children and provides guidance as they learn right from wrong.
Children learn what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior so that they may become productive members of society

15. Education
From birth, children are taught the ways of their culture by their families
They are taught how to speak a language
How to eat, bath, dress themselves
How to get along with and other social skills

16. Education Families convey or model their beliefs concerning religion
Many families will attend some form of worship service
Children may receive a system of religious beliefs and personal ethics that they will use their entire life

17. Procreation Reproduction Bring next generation into the world
Male-female bond forms foundation for parenting and family life across the cultures, forms of marriage may be very different
Our Culture values monogamy – (one husband one wife)

18. Procreation Forms of marriage:
In some cultures polygamy (many wives)is acceptable
In some cultures the ability for a women to reproduce is highly valued
In our culture a women is seen as valuable whether she can have children or not.
Whether or not to have children is controlled by the husband and the wife as well as how many children they will have

19. Procreation
In some cultures women are valued primarily for the number of children they can bring into the world.
These women are viewed as possessions of their husbands.
Women are denied education and careers
tend to have a greater number of children.

21. Protection
Adult member of the family are responsible for the care of all its members
They are responsible for protecting their family from harm.
They are also responsible for encouraging their children to practice good health and safety habits
Form wholesome friendships and avoid situations where they are likely to become victims of crimes

22. Recreation Recreational pursuits provide the family members with:
Time to enjoy each others company
Relaxation
Physical activity
Opportunity to learn communication skills
Learn good sportsmanship

23. Roles and Responsibilities
Family members have both given roles and chosen roles.
Each of these roles has roles includes certain responsibilities, though the specific responsibilities will vary among families.
Members of the families have certain roles.
Given role: you acquire when you become a part of a family
Chosen role: role you choose such as a wife or husband when you marry, or perhaps a mother or father.

24. Roles and Responsibilities
Roles are defined as responsibilities and how well you fulfill these responsibilities determines how well the role is carried out. When all members fulfill their roles and responsibilities, communicate clearly, and treat each other with affection and respect, they contribute to a functional family system. When responsibilities are not fulfilled and interpersonal relationships breakdown or deteriorate, the family become dysfunctional.

25. Characteristics of Strong Families
There are a number of characteristics that appear to be common among strong families.
Strong families:
Communicate and listen to each other
Support one another and respect individual uniqueness
Trust each other; spouses trust one another, parents entrust their children with responsibilities, children trust their parents
Have a sense of play and humor; they laugh with each other and use humor to diffuse explosive situations

26. Characteristics of Strong Families
Exhibit a sense of share responsibilities
Recognize right and wrong and guide children in choosing behavior that is acceptable to the Family and society.
Believe in family traditions, they respect the cultural and ethnic traditions of other families
Realize the importance of healthy interaction among members, but respect privacy and foster conversation and sharing
Share a belief in the importance of a religious or philosophical foundation.

27. Characteristics of Strong Families
Believe in the contribution they can make to their communities. They work together for a good balance between emphasis on individual rights and acceptance of responsibilities to the community.

28. Family Structure
Nuclear Family: includes 2 parents and at least 1 child
Single-Parent Family: 1 parent and at least 1 child
Blended Families: a single parent marries another person. Stepparent and stepchild come into play

29. Family Structure
Extended Families: includes relatives other than a parent or a child who lives with them
Guardians: take all financial and legal responsibility for raising
Adoption: a legal process where a child lives with some one other than their biological parents
Foster Children: a child who lives in a temporary home until a permanent home is found

30. Family Life Cycle
Beginning Stage: separation from parents/adjustment to marriage
Childbearing Stage: focus on having & raising kids
Parenting Stage: kids are school age/focus on family & kids around school/activities

31. Family Life Cycle
Launching Stage: Children leave home for college, careers & marriage. Parents refocus on their relationship
Middle Years Stage: Preparing for retirement. Parents become grandparents
Aging Stage: Retirement/focus on friendships, hobbies, interest and travel