Reflections_of_Sociology_and_Family

Reflections of Sociology and Family Stephanie Rose Introduction to Sociology 101 Prof.Ruffner February 13, 2013 Reflections of Sociology and Family All families use theoretical approaches, whether they realize it or not. The functionalist theory to keep a family running smoothly, the symbolic interaction helps with constructing meaning and interactions in thing that happen every day. The conflict theory allows for everyone to have an opinion and opens lines of communication. When families take the time to reflect on these three theories, functionalist, symbolic, and conflict, they open the door to understanding each other better and having a happier, more productive life together. The theoretical approach, by functionalist, held that all social structures (institutions or stable units of society) exist because they fulfill some specific functions (Vissing, 2011a). Family, for example, has many functions within itself, whether it is a traditional family, mother, father, and children or a non-traditional family, such as, same sex marriages or a couple living together. Each person has responsibilities in their unit to make it stable. In today’s economy, one or both parents may have to work in order to support the family, to provide a safe and secure home. If one of the parents can stay home, whether it is a stay at home mom or a stay at home dad, someone has to be the cook, housekeeper, tutor, chauffeur, and bookkeeper etc. At least one person has to work outside the home to make money to pay the bills, buy clothes, food, and medicine etc. The children may have chores to help keep the home clean and when they are old enough they may have to take turns cooking. Children, also, have the responsibility of doing their school work. Someone is responsible for the yard work that needs doing. Each person has a job to do with in a family unit. As long as the family works together, they can have a happy home. The functionalist would call this the manifest approach. This is the intended function of a family (Vissing, 2011b). The latent function, or side benefits, of a family are having security, support, and love to name a few. Being secure in one’s home is often taken for granted, in many families, this is a good thing, it’s not something we think about, it just is. The support of one’s family lets you know that there is always at least one person, if not more, that will stand behind you in whatever you attempt to accomplish in life. This same support system, also, allows you to know that there is someone to stand-up for you if and when the need arises. Furthermore, having the knowledge that you are loved, and no matter what you do, your family will still love you, is priceless. They may be disappointed at some action or choice you have made but they will still love you. Functionalist, likewise, explain dysfunction within a family when an issue arises that disrupts the family. For example, when parents argue or children get into trouble. If a spouse, say, has an affair, it could cause the entire family unit to fall apart, or at the very least, cause the family, children, or spouses to feel unsecure and unloved until things get back to normal, if possible. Additionally, if a child gets involved in drugs, breaks the law, or maybe the pregnancy of a teen, this would have an impact on everyone in the family. It only takes one person within a family to be unhappy, for one reason or another, for everyone to be unhappy. The symbolic interactionism perspective emphasizes the processes of role-making, role definition, role negotiation, and role identity within the family (as cited by Hochschild 1989). Every member of a family is unique in their roles that they hold. A father may have a role identity of being the provider for the family, but also, a policeman, fireman, doctor, lawyer, or construction worker etc. A mother may have assumed the role of homemaker, nurse, teacher, or caregiver etc. Any children of a family union may still be at the stage of role playing, pretending to be like their parents, such as, playing mommy and daddy, or policeman or doctor. As they grow older they will enter into the faze of role taking, where they become more serious about what they need to do to accomplish their goals. Each individual in a family learns to interpret and value skills and the way they see items may change their view on how things are done. “Individuals learn to interpret and valve certain items and skills as rewarding through interaction with their social environment. This interaction with their social environment implies, that individuals from different social classes, religious backgrounds, and peer groups, may learn to valve different commodities as rewarding” (Rank, and LeCroy, 1983). When one or more in the family unit experience a change in the way they see things, whether it be religion or the way the home should be run, whatever the change may be, conflict can enter into the relationship. In any institution conflict is inevitable, sooner or later an issue will come up that the individuals will disagree. This does not always have to be a bad thing. Once the issue is worked out, it has the potential to bring the couple or family closer together. There are many reasons that a conflict may occur, but one of the main reasons is inequality. For example, a mom and dad have two children, a boy and a girl, as often happens the son will have more freedom than the daughter. The daughter would see this as being unfair and an argument is likely to occur. The daughter will believe that if the son can have permission then she should also, have the same level of freedom. The parents may see this as protecting the daughter, for she is more vulnerable than a boy. For a conflict resolution there are three essential requirements that must be met, 1) open communication, 2) accurate perceptions, of the degree and nature of the conflict, 3) Constructive efforts to resolve conflict, which at a minimum includes each person being willing to consider the others point of view (as cited by Beckman, 1979). As we can see family is an institution that each of these theories can be applied to. Functionalist theory shows that a family unit needs to be structured in a way that they can function. If someone does not do their roles, such as, pay the bills; go to work, or cook, etc., then the family suffers the consequences. The symbolic interaction theory shows that each family member may have different opinions of what some object or action means to them. This can be used to help a family grow closer together or it can tear a family apart. Parents or partners in a marriage may see religion from a different point of view, they could decide that they will not stay together because of this or one or the other could be persuaded to the same way of thinking and they may grow closer as a family. Conflict does not always have to be a bad thing, but it is not always a good thing either. Conflict can teach a family how to communicate with each other, how to listen and how to offer up an opinion without being offensive. The conflict theory could show families’ new ideas in how to do things better in the family unit. On the other hand, if one or the other is not willing to listen or talk things through, then the results could be devastating. It would seem that all families could benefit from these theories. References Rank, M. R., and LeCroy, C. W. (1983a). Family Relations. Vol. 32, No. 3. (p.443) Toward a Multiple Perspective in Family Theory and Practice: The Case of Social Exchange Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Conflict Theory. Published by: National Council on Family Relation. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/584622 Rank, M. R., and LeCroy, C. W. (1983b). (As cited by Beckman, 1979). Family Relations. Vol. 32, No. 3. (p.444) Toward a Multiple Perspective in Family Theory and Practice: The Case of Social Exchange Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Conflict Theory. Published by: National Council on Family Relation. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/584622 Symbolic Interactionism - Symbolic Interactionism and Family Studies. (As cited by Hochschild). (2013). Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1677/Symbolic-Interactionism-Symbolic-Interactionism-Family-Studies.html#ixzz2L1cQL6Ir Vissing, Y. (2011a). SOC 101: An Introduction to Sociology (Kindle Locations 140-142a). Bridgepoint Education Inc. Vissing, Y. (2011b). SOC 101: An Introduction to Sociology (Kindle Locations 140-142b). Bridgepoint Education Inc.