Chapter FiveChapter Five

Family LifeFamily Life

ObjectivesObjectives

– To define the family and to briefly explore To define the family and to briefly explore several sociological perspectives on the family.several sociological perspectives on the family.

– To examine the historical development of To examine the historical development of ‘affective individualism’ and its role in the ‘affective individualism’ and its role in the construction of marital relationships.construction of marital relationships.

– To examine gendered divisions in the family.To examine gendered divisions in the family.– To discuss the role of neo-liberal ideas in the To discuss the role of neo-liberal ideas in the

relationship between the state and the family.relationship between the state and the family.

Defining familyDefining family

– Definition:Definition:– ““A group of people who are related to each other by blood A group of people who are related to each other by blood

ties, marriage or adoption. Families usually form economic ties, marriage or adoption. Families usually form economic units responsible for the upbringing of children”units responsible for the upbringing of children”

– Characteristics:Characteristics:• A universal institutionA universal institution• DiverseDiverse

– Vary according to ethnicity, class, religion, sexuality etc.Vary according to ethnicity, class, religion, sexuality etc.

• Shared kinshipShared kinship– Includes blood ties, marriage, de facto, same sex etc.Includes blood ties, marriage, de facto, same sex etc.– Sets out obligations/responsibilities of family membersSets out obligations/responsibilities of family members

Theorising about the familyTheorising about the family

– Functionalist perspective (Talcott Parsons)Functionalist perspective (Talcott Parsons)• Functional relationship between the nuclear family Functional relationship between the nuclear family

and the economic system and the economic system • Family as mutually beneficial because maintains Family as mutually beneficial because maintains

social stabilitysocial stability

– Symbolic interactionist perspectiveSymbolic interactionist perspective• Focus on the processes involved in developing Focus on the processes involved in developing

parental and marital behaviours and identitiesparental and marital behaviours and identities• The meanings and lived experiences associated The meanings and lived experiences associated

with these roles and how they are constructed with these roles and how they are constructed within the family through interactionwithin the family through interaction

Theorising about the familyTheorising about the family

• Structuralist perspectives Structuralist perspectives • How power relations impact on family form How power relations impact on family form

and its functionsand its functions

– MarxismMarxism• Family as an institution that upholds the Family as an institution that upholds the

values and structure of a capitalist society values and structure of a capitalist society

– FeminismFeminism• How the family produces and reinforces How the family produces and reinforces

men’s power (patriarchy) men’s power (patriarchy)

Affective individualismAffective individualism

– Definition:Definition:• Expectation of intimacy and affection between Expectation of intimacy and affection between

individuals within institutions such as the family individuals within institutions such as the family – Realisation can work against desire for intimacy Realisation can work against desire for intimacy

– Result of industrialism and capitalismResult of industrialism and capitalism• Privatisation of the family and the separation of the Privatisation of the family and the separation of the

home and workplacehome and workplace• Reshaped expectations of family life Reshaped expectations of family life

– Marriage based on romantic love rather than economicsMarriage based on romantic love rather than economics– Increased importance of mother/father-child bond but Increased importance of mother/father-child bond but

differentiation between mothering and fathering rolesdifferentiation between mothering and fathering roles

Gendered divisions in the familyGendered divisions in the family

– Domestic labourDomestic labour• Women still do vastly more housework than menWomen still do vastly more housework than men• Women’s tasks are daily, repetitive and invisibleWomen’s tasks are daily, repetitive and invisible• Men’s tasks are less frequent and more visibleMen’s tasks are less frequent and more visible

– Control of household incomeControl of household income• Four systems of household income managementFour systems of household income management

– ‘‘Whole wage system’, ‘allowance system’, joint management, Whole wage system’, ‘allowance system’, joint management, independent money management (Jan Pahl)independent money management (Jan Pahl)

• Each system has its own form of inequalityEach system has its own form of inequality• Gender not only feature relevantGender not only feature relevant

– Income of Maori family part of wider whanau resourceIncome of Maori family part of wider whanau resource

Neo-liberalism and the familyNeo-liberalism and the family

– Neo-liberalismNeo-liberalism• Definition:Definition:

– The state has become too large in recent years and a shift The state has become too large in recent years and a shift back to markets, economic efficiency, competition and back to markets, economic efficiency, competition and choice is an appropriate response to the crisis of the choice is an appropriate response to the crisis of the welfare statewelfare state

• Emphasis on economic rationalismEmphasis on economic rationalism– The market as the best means for allocating resourcesThe market as the best means for allocating resources

• Relationship between the state and the familyRelationship between the state and the family– The responsibility of individuals/families to look after their The responsibility of individuals/families to look after their

own needs in relation to health, education etcown needs in relation to health, education etc– New Zealand Code of Social and Family Responsibility New Zealand Code of Social and Family Responsibility

1997/8 1997/8

SummarySummary

– The family is a diverse institutionThe family is a diverse institution– Experience of family as one of Experience of family as one of

intimacy/support and inequalityintimacy/support and inequality– The ideology of affective individualism The ideology of affective individualism

is important to the construction of the is important to the construction of the modern familymodern family

– Gendered divisions within the familyGendered divisions within the family• Women disadvantaged relative to menWomen disadvantaged relative to men

– Separation of family and the stateSeparation of family and the state