Family Traditional Definition Limits Families to a Research Paper

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Family

Traditional definition

Limits families to a heterosexual union with children

Does not account for other family types

Does not accept gay unions

Is highly positivist in data analysis and collection

The traditional family defintion focuses on the family with a heterosexual orientation. This defintion is functional in orientation and highly conservation in terms of its approaches to family. Consequently, other forms of family are not recognized or accepted as legitimate forms of family. This posture means that these families are not families. Single parents, extended families, and other non-traditional models are not entertained. Additionally, this approach is highly positivist in orientation and depends heavily on the creation of categories of families and the use of statistical data. The analysis attempts to understand trends based on the mean and departures from that mean. This is a major limitation since the nuanced nature of family requires that different types of data be collected which flesh out meaning and give understanding to the experience of the members of the family.

Contribution of Sociology

Initial critique of the definition by Coontz (1992)

This type of family is very limited and fails to account for much of the world.

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Conflict theorist defined family using conflict of interest in the family and power relations.

The feminist critique

Coontz (1992) challenges the initial proposition that the traditional ideal family ever existed at all. This family defined as a married heterosexual couple raising their children, has functioned as a dominant cultural norm

. From the beginning, sociologists questioned the accuracy of this construction, and have subsequently identified alternate views that give greater latitude to the concept of family.

The consideration of power and inequality drive the conflict perspective and as a result, power relations are important. Family relations are therefore used to maintain the power inequalities in society (Coontz, 2000 p.286)

From the conflict view point families in the UK are shaped by capitalist conceptions and the need to maintain a surplus reserve of labor. The family forms therefore change when the demands of the capitalist system change.

Feminist critique-They call into question the validity of the patriarchal system, which gives men more privilege and power than women do. Feminist understand the family as an oppressive institution, which should be dismantled or….....

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