...Marriage & Family Changes: American Society DeVry University April 11th, 2014 Spring 2014, Session II Changes to Marriage & Family: American Society The American society has had very dramatic changes in the ways that certain aspects of our modern culture are shifting the traditional American family. These changes bring a new different perspective to the rise in divorce rates. Cohabiting relationships rather than traditional marriages has brought a new way of viewing relationships. Blended families of both gay and heterosexual design surface new issues. And children being born out of wedlock and its normalcy in today’s society. High Rise in Divorces The American society has been demonstrating signs and symptoms of change with the rise of technology. Marriage has long been recognized as a fundamental social institution but with the rise of modern economies and the associated individualism, many functions once confined to marriage now take place outside of it (Musick & Bumpas, 2012). Divorces has several factors that contribute to the high incidence in our modern times. Many parents use the media as surrogate parents, allowing the internet and social media to be the child’s main support, instead of dedicating personal quality time to their children. In change, these children have grown up in the last decade young marriages tend to dedicate more time to their social platforms rather than spending one on one time with their spouses. Social media also affects...
Words: 1210 - Pages: 5
...Functionalists see the family as an immensely important sub-system of society. Murdock acclaimed that one of the four essential functions that the family performs in order to meet the needs of society and its members is to 'stabilise satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner'. As this prevents the ‘social disruption’ caused by promiscuity. However, Marxists would argue that this role serves more as an economic function, as it allows property ownership and wealth to be directly passed onto the legitimate heirs of the father. The second function that Murdock believed that the family performed was to 'reproduce the next generation' as without this function, society would not continue. The third purpose of the family is to socialise the young into society's shared norms and values. And lastly, the fourth function of the family is to meet its member’s economic needs and provide basic amenities such as shelter, clean water and food. According to Parson, there are two basic types of society, one of which is the traditional pre-industrial society, which he felt was more tailored to the extended family. In an extended family a vast number of people would be needed to successfully undertake tasks such as weaving and farming, in order for the family to make a profit and govern themselves. The other type of social group is the modern industrial society, which is more suited for the nuclear family, based on the theory of functional fit. Parson's Functional fit theory suggests...
Words: 1042 - Pages: 5
...functionalist believes that the family structure is like a sub system to society. He says that the family performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society and it's members. These functions are: successful socialisation of the young into society's shared norms and values, the members of the families economic needs are met regularly e.g food and shelter, stable satisfaction of the sex drive with the same partner and finally the reproduction of the next generation without which society would struggle to continue. However, there are many criticisms of Murdock's theory. Other sociologists have argued that his 'rose tinted' harmonious consensus view that the family meets the needs of both wider society and all members of the family is foolish and nieve. Feminists argue that the family was only created to serve the needs of men and oppress the women whilst marxists argue that although the structure of the family meets the needs of capitalism, it doesn't meet the needs of the family itself or society as a whole. Another functionalist known as Parsons, proposes the 'functional fit' theory. This theory states that the functions the family performs will depend on the kind of society in which it is found and that the functions the family is required to perform will effect its 'shape'. Parsons distinguishes between two kinds of family structure: The nuclear family consisting of just parents and dependant children and the extended family of three generations living together...
Words: 1038 - Pages: 5
... Name: Essay Title: Assess the view that, in today’s society, the family is losing its functions (24 marks) | Underline or highlight the key concepts, terms and instructions, by identifying these key elements it will allow you to focus on answering the question. It is important to use relevant sociological terminology within the context of you essay. List the key sociological terms that will be appropriate for this essay. Industrial family, pre-industrial family, unit of production, unit of consumption, nuclear family, lone parent family, social policies, state intervention, symmetrical family, privatised, joint and segregated conjugal roles, commercialisation of housework | IntroductionSignpost to the question and clearly explain the key concepts /terms of the question | Functionalists such as Murdock and Parsons say that the family is losing its functions; they, and other functionalists, see the family as a particularly important, basic building block within society. Murdock argues that the family only performs four essential functions to meet the needs of society, whereas Parsons states that the functions that a family performs depends upon the kind of society in which it is found. | Paragraph 1PointThe point must be appropriate in answering the question. | The traditional pre-industrial family is seen to be the extended family, where there are three generations of the family all living together, it was seen as a multi-functional unit, in that it...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...functionalist view of the role of the family in society (33 marks). Murdock, a functionalist, describes the family as a universal institution based on the nuclear family model. The functionalist view of the role of the family in society is that it maintains social order. The family is a tool for socialisation and a key social institution in sustaining the value that society works by consensus. Murdock identified four main functions of the family: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. These four functions cover the role of the family in society. The sexual and reproductive functions are what keep society populated. If they became dysfunctional then society would not have the people inhabiting it. The economic function is the parent’s responsibility to take care of their family financially, usually through the division of labour where the man will take on the instrumental role of financial provider for the family while the woman will adopt the expressive role and take care of the home and family members. Marxists would contest this viewpoint arguing that the division of labour is capitalist dogma used to control the labour force and stop them from developing consciousness. The final function identified by Murdock was the educational functional, this is function where the family learns how to be socialised. It is this function that maintains the value consensus which allows society to remain functional. This is a key role of the family to functionalists if this function...
Words: 587 - Pages: 3
...Postmodernism: Study 1 Postmodernists Beck and Beck-Gernsheim argue that the contemporary UK is characterised by diversity, variation and instability and see diversity as having a positive impact on society. For example women no longer aspire exclusively to romantic love, marriage and children. Premarital sex, serial monogamy, cohabitation, economic independence, single sex relationships and childlessness are now acceptable alternative lifestyles. Men’s roles too are no longer clear cut in postmodern society resulting in a ‘crises of masculinity’ and this has led to men redefining both their sexuality and family commitments. Therefore Beck and Beck-Gernsheim argue that such choice and diversity has led to a renegotiation of family relationships as people attempt to find a middle ground between individualisation and commitment to another person and/or children. Postmodernism: Study 2 In support of Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, Beck argues that society today is a ‘risk society’, as there is more choice & diversity than ever before. The emphasis is on individual needs and people have the freedom to leave relationships if their needs are not met, meaning that diversity is having a positive impact on some indivduals. Giddens argues that romantic love has been replaced by ‘confluent love’ this type of love arises in what Gidden’s calls a ‘pure relationship’ where the couple will stay together out of choice. The relationship is negotiated and is based on openness and mutual satisfaction...
Words: 972 - Pages: 4
...Assessed Essay In what ways can the representation of the family in Nada be read as a microcosm of Spanish society in the immediate post-Civil War era? Carmén Laforet's first novel, “Nada” is set in the war torn city of 1940's Barcelona, and depicts the aspiration of a young woman arriving to the city. This protagonist, Andrea, has her dreams quickly shattered as she witnesses, from the shadows, the chaos and mental and physical torment within the house. The novel is loosely based on Laforet's own experiences, her circumstances are very similar to that of Andrea; in the novel Andrea expects to find joy and love within her grandparents house in Barcelona, as she lived there as a child, however her hopes of this are quickly shattered,“cuando yo era la única nieta pasé alli las temporadas más excitantes de mi vida infantíl...¿todo esto podíá estar tan lejano?” (p22) Even though, taken literally, the narrator is reminiscing over earlier, happier times spent in the house, it echoes memories of Spain in general before the Civil War. Laforet herself was born in Barcelona and both Andrea and Laforet moved away as children and returned during the early 1940's in their late teens to study at the University of Barcelona. From this, Laforet experienced the struggles of post-war Spanish society first hand and evidence of this pervades the novel, drawing a picture of the times, which are not only represented in the city, but almost metaphorically in the household in which the majority...
Words: 1598 - Pages: 7
...Between Traditional and Modern Society From the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century till the present day, the shift between tradition and modernity has developed incredibly. The relationship between traditional and modern society, also known as ‘Mass society,’ is distinguished between the past and present, along with continuity and change. The establishment of different inventions and customs from traditional society have been handed down from generations to generations, which help shape modern society. However, one may wonder, what are the main features from traditional society that have made a dramatic impact for life today? Also, is one more sympathetic to one society, than the other? Traditional and modern families have several differences in terms of family honour, gender roles in the labour force and marriage, along with the role of government on legitimate killings and the food markets. Furthermore, technology from the industrial revolution, such as, the automobile, coal mines, and steam engines also played a great role. Thus, through the many different concepts, the role of family, government and technology, one can see that modern society is better developed and more individualistic than traditional society. FAMILY In traditional society, the honour of one’s family is based on the behaviour of the family as a whole. An individual who does something wrong, can affect not only their own honour, but also the honour of the entire family. This results in a downfall...
Words: 3029 - Pages: 13
...learn how an outcast group that is looked down up on still has its role in traditional society. The Hijras are a transgender social group who are located amongst southern and mid-eastern Asia. They are a group of males who portray themselves as females in society and survive by engaging in begging and prostitution. They are also considered performers for special occasions in different societies. This group focuses on beliefs that are different from the beliefs of many other India cultures. Gender does not play a big role in their culture because they believe that there is no such thing as man or woman. Religion plays a major role in the construction of the Hijras, and it is one of the main reasons they still play a role in South Asian society. Even though they are looked down up on through out society, the Hijras are just one of many marginal groups in society that have unique social roles, and play a part in tradition society. The Hijras acceptance with their feminine side makes them stand out from the rest of the social groups. The ancestors of past generations offered unique beliefs that set up the modern societies for the Hijras belief. The concept of making their ancestors proud carried on through our generations and it one of their religious beliefs. It was nothing but tradition that led the Hijras to making the decisions they did, and decisions that changed their views up on society. This was just a prime example of following tradition and sticking to the beliefs of their...
Words: 1653 - Pages: 7
...means they see it as something created and defined by society itself. They believe we can see the position that children occupy in society is not fixed but differs between different time, places and cultures by comparing the western idea of childhood today with the childhood in the past and in other societies. It is accepted in our society today that childhood is a special time of life and that children are different from adults. They are seen as physically and psychologically immature and not yet able to run their own lives. Jane Pilcher (1995) notes the most importance feature of the modern idea of childhood is separateness. Childhood is seen as a clear and distinct life stage and children in society occupy a different status from adults. However this view of childhood as a separate age status, children and adults being different, is not found in all societies. Stephan Wagg (1992) says “Childhood is socially constructed. It is, in other words, what members of particular societies, at particular times and in particular places, say it is. There is no single universal childhood, experienced by all. So, childhood isn’t ‘natural’ and should be distinguished from mere biological immaturity”. This means that, while all human beings go through the same stages on physical development, different cultures construct or define this process differently. Ruth Benedict (1934) argues that children in simpler, non-industrial societies are generally treated differently from their modern western...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...Traditional Society and Modern Society Tradition and modernity are two differing principles which continue to manifest across the world and there have been societies which have retained these traditional values and others which have shifted either partially or completely towards a modern society. Even though there is no such thing as a completely traditional or completely modern society at the present time, the collision between the two forms of organization has great significance for everyone alive today. Man is a social animal and has been living in groups since the pre-historic times. With time, these groups have evolved to become organized and civilized societies and have adopted different norms, cultures and trends that distinguish them from the other societies. But the process of evolution did not stop and continues till date, leading to the formation of the modern society by putting the traditional society behind the scene. The question of preferring the modern society over traditional one or vice-versa is a highly debatable issue and cannot be adequately answered without taking into account the pros and cons of both forms of the societies. While the traditional society boasts the value and worth of its traditions and its long-cherished culture and norms the modern society is proud of the amazing technology and the freedom of choice and expression to its dwellers. The beliefs that traditional society has are different than the ones of modern society. Some are the exact...
Words: 1123 - Pages: 5
...clothing, and shelter. Poverty is primarily caused by hunger, illness, and thirst and affects the entire society by generating many problems and making people to live substandard lives. It is normally classified in absolute and relative poverty. Absolute poverty refers to a state of not being able to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing that are very important in sustaining life. Relative poverty, on the other hand, is a state of not being able to obtain resources in relation to a certain mean resource and normally applies to people who are not able to meet societal social needs. According to Townsend (1979), a family is considered to be in relative poverty if it is not able to afford the required diet, get involved in societal activities, and use basic health and educational facilities. Problems connected to poverty bring political, economic, and social disorder in the society. There are two theories that apply to poverty; conflict theory and structural theory. Conflict theory explains that poverty leads to class conflict in a society (Giddens & Simon, 2006). This comes as a result of the oppression of the poor by the rich. It says that conflict must remain in order to create a positive change in the society and that the wide gap between the rich and the poor is very significant. Structural function theory explains that poverty has a purpose in the society since it motivates people to work hard (Andersen & Taylor, 2006). This ensures that all jobs are attended...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...it's important to identify the causes of discrimination. Ignorance, fear and stereotyping Discrimination is often based on ignorance, fear and stereotypical viewpoints. For example, religious and/or sectarian discrimination is often fuelled by people living and working in separate communities and therefore not having ample opportunity to interact with people from the other group. Discrimination in Northern Ireland has not been helped by the fact that most children either go to protestant or catholic schools and many grow up in neighborhoods that are largely divided along the same lines. The erecting of walls (either real or psychological) between communities is a perfect breeding ground for discrimination. It is the responsibility of society to reject a "them and us" mentality wherever it is encountered and to ensure that young people get the opportunity to mix with people who have different backgrounds or characteristics. Irresponsible behavior by politicians, the media and other influential groups Most people get their views on a wide range of social and political topics from consuming media (TV, radio, Internet, newspapers, etc.) and listening to the views of politicians, religious leaders and other people who have some form of...
Words: 1198 - Pages: 5
...Gerhard Lenski saw the society as a product of the development of technology.According to him, it is the technology which shapes one’s society. Lenski’s socioculturalevolution consists of five societies, mainly, the hunting and gathering society, the horticulturaland pastoral society, the agricultural society, the industrial society, and lastly the post-industrialsociety. These societies evolved through the creation of new technology that enables us human toincrease production and to sustain a larger amount of population.The movie, Apocalypto, features the first four type of society in Lenski’s socioculturalevolution. Jaguar Paw’s tribe in my opinion is a hunter-gatherer society but it is having itstransition to the horticultural-pastoral society. Jaguar Paw’s tribe belongs to the hunter-gatherer society since they hunt for their food as seen in the very beginning of the movie wherein theycaught a wild boar in the middle of the forest. The tribe of Jaguar Paw also has a shaman who isin the person of the dad of Jaguar Paw, Flint Sky. Their tribe was also family-centered since itwas like they treated each other like brothers and sisters. They are concerned with each other likea family does with each other. In the movie, the dad of Jaguar Paw once told him that heshouldn’t show his fear to the neighbourhood since it will greatly affect the whole tribe. If we areto compare it to the present, usually, people won’t take into consideration the feelings of others.It is like people mind...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
...specifically millennials, people have begun to deeply consider its effects on society. One such effect is the constant availability of information, true or false. Accurate information can benefit and evolve a society whereas false information breeds hate and elongates struggle and grief. Communities based on beneficial information or tactics aid in the lives of millennials as well. With the way Millennials experience information and partake communities based on true information, elements of Kafka’s and Camus Existentialist writings can be adhered to daily life. Existentialism is a literary movement that focuses in on the individual as opposed...
Words: 1477 - Pages: 6
