definitions of family
TRANSCRIPT
FamilyFamily
Lesson objectivesLesson objectives• To have a working definition of Family and
Household and to be able to distinguish between the two.
• To be able to identify the difficulties of defining the Family.
Families: Yes/NoFamilies: Yes/No
Families: Yes/No?Families: Yes/No?
Families: Yes/No?Families: Yes/No?
Families: Yes/No?Families: Yes/No?
George MurdockGeorge Murdock‘The family is a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults’
Giddens: A modern Giddens: A modern perspective:perspective:
• “A group of individuals related to each other other by blood ties, marriage or adoption, who form an economic unit, the adult members of which are responsible for the upbringing of children”
An even more modern An even more modern Giddens definition:Giddens definition:
• “A small group of closely related people who share a distinct identity and responsibility for each other that outweighs commitment to others. This group is commonly, but not necessarily, based on marriage, biological descent or adoption”
The Family and Households – The Family and Households –
Modern DefinitionsModern Definitions• Family • ‘ A family is a social unit made up of people who
support each other in one or several ways; for example socially, economically or psychologically (in providing love, care affection etc.) or whose members identify with each other as a supportive unit’ (Nik Jorgensen, 1994)
• ‘A family is a group of people to whom we may be biologically related and to whom we feel a sense of kinship.’ (McNeill, Blundell and Griffiths, 2003.)
• [Kinship refers to a relationship based on ‘blood’ or marriage.]
• Household• ‘A household consists of a person living alone, or
two or more people who share the same residence – for example, a house or flat. Members of a household also share housekeeping – for example, sharing the rent and household chores. People who live together in a household may or may not be related.’ (Sociology in Focus for OCR AS Level’.)