THE CHANGE IN FAMILY STRUCTURES essay
THE CHANGE IN THE FAMILIES FORMS AND FUNCIONS IN SOCIETY
STUDENT’S NAME: TN
ID: 1066385
INSTRUCTOR: GLORIA MICHALCHUK
ESL 140 – COURSE # 7052-1
NOVEMBER 25th, 2003
THE CHANGE IN THE FAMILIES FORMS AND FUNCIONS IN SOCIETY
Society is composed of many elements based on values, traditions, cultures, government’s policies etc.; and family is one of the main basic ingredients, forming the society. Therefore, as the society changes its element, family is also forced to change the flow of life. Yet, during the past 50 years, our society has undergone big social transformations which are seen as “dramatic and unparallel changes” or a “veritable revolution”. Thus, the two basic forms of family, the extended family and the nuclear family, are losing their original social function, meaning and power gradually. They no longer stay at their “baby forms”; they have been changed radically because of the innovation of society. In this paper, we will examine the transmutations of these two typical families: the nuclear family is represented by the United States, and on the other side, the extended family is shown by Japan. Firstly, in order to realize the changes in different families of society nowadays, we have to understand what these families are, what their original structures are and how they work. In fact, in “Family Structure and Society”, Pakenham clearly shows the forms and functions of the extended family and the nuclear family. We will examine the changes in nuclear family that is represented by the United States. The term “traditional nuclear family”, according to Pakenham’s article, is defined as an unit family, which consists only of a husband and a wife. One sociologist, Talcott Parsons, has suggested that this nuclear family is a common family pattern in the United States and most Westernized industrial societies. The members of this type of family are totally separated apart from both the larger kin group and the workplace, economically
STUDENT’S NAME: TN
ID: 1066385
INSTRUCTOR: GLORIA MICHALCHUK
ESL 140 – COURSE # 7052-1
NOVEMBER 25th, 2003
THE CHANGE IN THE FAMILIES FORMS AND FUNCIONS IN SOCIETY
Society is composed of many elements based on values, traditions, cultures, government’s policies etc.; and family is one of the main basic ingredients, forming the society. Therefore, as the society changes its element, family is also forced to change the flow of life. Yet, during the past 50 years, our society has undergone big social transformations which are seen as “dramatic and unparallel changes” or a “veritable revolution”. Thus, the two basic forms of family, the extended family and the nuclear family, are losing their original social function, meaning and power gradually. They no longer stay at their “baby forms”; they have been changed radically because of the innovation of society. In this paper, we will examine the transmutations of these two typical families: the nuclear family is represented by the United States, and on the other side, the extended family is shown by Japan. Firstly, in order to realize the changes in different families of society nowadays, we have to understand what these families are, what their original structures are and how they work. In fact, in “Family Structure and Society”, Pakenham clearly shows the forms and functions of the extended family and the nuclear family. We will examine the changes in nuclear family that is represented by the United States. The term “traditional nuclear family”, according to Pakenham’s article, is defined as an unit family, which consists only of a husband and a wife. One sociologist, Talcott Parsons, has suggested that this nuclear family is a common family pattern in the United States and most Westernized industrial societies. The members of this type of family are totally separated apart from both the larger kin group and the workplace, economically
References: Pakenham, K.J. (1998).Family Structure and Society. Making connection. New York: Cambridge University Press. (271-284) David Popenoe. (1991). Breakup of the Family: Can we reverse the trend?. In K.J Pakenham (Eds.). Making connection. New York: Cambridge University Press. (308 – 323) Footlick, J.R. (1990). The Changing American Family. In K.J Pakenham (Eds.). Making connection. New York: Cambridge University Press. (294-306) Donald Light, Jr., & Suzanne, Keller. (1982). Divorce. In K.J Pakenham (Eds.). Making connection. New York: Cambridge University Press. (277-279) Nonoyama, Hisaya. (2000). The Family and Family sociology in Japan. Retrieve November 24, 2003 from Academic Search Premier Database (item 4060216). Available from the University of Alberta Library Website.