Approaches to Defining Family Graphic Organizer

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Structural Approach

The structural Approach is the most common in the definition of family in the United States. It defines family as a group of people related by blood and legal adoption. According to research studies, most families in the United States define family using the structural Approach.

The strength of the Structural family approach is that all the family members are privileged due to the legal ties of a family. Family gives one the value of belonging, and the law protects the right to equality of resources among the members of the structural family. A drawback of being in a structural family is that it limits people from having contradicting beliefs as those of the family members. For example, a married couple is likely to be upheld within a family compared to a cohabiting couple. Thus, a structural family provides its members with the privilege of belonging.

2. Household Based

According to Burgess and Locke (1945), a family functions from a specific household where resources are distributed equally, and every family member must contribute equally to acquiring the resources. This structure portrays children as the core of the family, whereby parents are responsible for provision despite their differences as a family. The advantage of this setup is that children can choose who they want to spend more time. The drawback of this structure is commitment. One parent may choose to neglect their duties, thus overloading one parent.

3. Role-Based Approach

The role-based family structure is defined as how the family members interact and behave toward each other. Role-based Approach allows every family member to relate according to their roles as a father, mother, or child. For example, it portrays parents as the family providers, while children undertake their roles of helping their family in every way possible. The advantages of this structure are that while every undertakes their role, the family is deemed fit. But when a member of the family is not available, the family is considered not as a whole.

4. Interactionist Approach

The interactionist defines family as a social entity that symbolizes the interaction, communication, emotional attachment, and shared activities that make a family. It is a representation of how people relate and how they constantly reciprocate family expectations.  Unlike other family structures, the interactionist approach values the value of love and care tendered in a group of two or more people, except for the legal families tied by blood. This approach is achieved by identifying the people who show up and their value to the relationship.

The drawback of this setup is that no legal privileges are acquired in case the family breaks up. Thus, the need for family security.

The modern definition of family varies from the different setups we grow up. Any approach may define everyone’s type of family regardless of race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

Reference

Saunders, J.M., Dickenson, G.E. and Leming, M.R. (1996) “Understanding families: Diversity, continuity, and change,” Teaching Sociology, 24(3), p. 344. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/1318759.

Klaiss, D.S. (1946) “The family: From institution to companionship. by Ernest W. Burgess and Harvey J. Locke. New York: The American Book Company, 1945. 800 pp. $4.25,” Social Forces, 24(4), pp. 480–481. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/2572240.

Approaches to Defining Family Graphic Organizer

Paper details

As you complete this assignment, keep in mind that the 4 approaches to defining family presented on Pp. 21-26 in your textbook can be considered complimentary. If you defined family using a single approach you would end up excluding many types of families. Also keep in mind Ciabattari\’s statement that there are symbolic (related to how others see families, and how families see themselves) and practical (related to issues like custody, inheritance, and healthcare) implications to how we define family. Keep these implications in mind as you think about the strengths and drawbacks to each approach.

To complete this assignment, download the attached document. It consists of a graphic organizer in which you should fill in a definition, strength, and drawback to each of the 4 approaches to defining family described in chapter 2. Do your best to re-state the ideas from this chapter in your own words.