Description

In this assignment, you will write an essay (750-1,000 words) addressing the following prompts. Cite two to four scholarly sources in your essay: Briefly describe how a sociologist would study family processes from the theoretical perspectives of structural functionalism, conflict, and social exchange. Give an example of each. Describe the Standard North American (SNA) family Compare & contrast the SNA to one other family structure. Explain how trends affect ethnic groups in the United States. Compare & contrast social, cultural, and historical constructs to various types of families. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. Benchmark Information This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency: BSS 3.1: Explain social processes through the functional, conflict, and symbolic interaction perspectives.

Benchmark – Types of Families Essay

Family processes are interactional variables like caring, sharing, and communicating, which are not always easily visible (Howe, T. R. 2018. p.32). Structural functionalism is maintaining the status quo of a society or family with specific structures remaining in place to ensure the system works as it should with specific people in power, each person plays an important part in keeping the family functioning as it always has. Sociologist would study family processes from the theoretical perspective of structural functionalism by seeing how the family works as a whole and then what role each family member plays. That will help them to understand why systems continue without change. For example, if ask women if they want to be a stay at home mom, most will say no; however, there are women who stay home regardless of how they feel because their husband wants them to. When men bring in all the funds, it keeps them at the top the way things were years ago. Conflict theory believes that conflict is a normal and natural part of family life.

Through conflict, it can help the development of relationships between people by arranging power relations. It helps to get things out in the open and resolved. Looking back at the example above where a woman may want to work, but her husband does not want her to can cause a conflict. However, by her speaking up, it teaches her to have a voice and that as a woman; she does have the freedom to voice her opinion. It also opens the door for her husband to possibly see things different once he hears her side. A sociologist may study family processes from this perspective by looking at how the conflict is resolved/how they are attempting to resolve it. Social exchange is a theory where people think things over and weigh the possible outcomes of their actions. For example, a woman could think if she tells her husband she wants to get a job, he will be upset and feel she wants to be in charge; however, with economical changes the husband could possibly need an extra income coming in but does not want to seem he is unable to provide for his family, so by her initiating the conversation it could help him feel comfortable with having that conversation. The family process can be studied from this perspective by examining the quality of support. A sociologist can study family processes through many different theories such as structural functionalism, conflict, and social exchange.

There is no definition of a family; each culture has their own idea of what a family is. The Standard North American Family (SNAF) is the ideal family in which all other families are judged if they do not fit into this category. It consists of a husband who works, a stay at home mother, their children who was conceived by the two of them together; there is no outside children, middle-class, and they are white. A SNAF is perceived as having good children because they have both parents in the home raising them together. Whenever an issue arises with a child, it is automatically assumed that they are of color and live in a dysfunctional home. However, single mothers can still raise good, well-mannered children. “Although circumstances might require doing family in complex and even atypical ways, these heterosexual, White rural women sustain quite traditional ideological notions of what a family is and should be: one mother and, if possible, one father as well” said Margaret Nelson. Most women who separate from their husband or significant other moves back home with their own mother. They then depend on their family to help them with the upbringing of their child; however, the mother is still the responsible adult for her child and is the one who is in charge.

Trends often affect ethnic groups in the United States. Because of immigration, Americans are more diverse. “Nearly 59 million immigrants have arrived in the U.S. in the past 50 years, mostly from Latin America and Asia” (Cohn, D. and Caumont, A. 2016). With the increase in a birth rate, Millennials will soon be the largest generation. Although many suffer from debt, they are more encouraged about their financial situation than previous people. The role of women in leadership positions has increased. “Mothers were the sole or primary breadwinner in a record of 40% of all households with children in 2011” (Cohn, D. and Caumont, A. 2016). American families are changing; there are more cohabited families than married, men are doing more house work, and both men and women are working full time.

References

Howe, T. R. (2018). The changing american family. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), Marriages and Families in the 21^(st) Century (2^(nd) Ed.). Retrieved from http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in-the-21st-century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php

Howe, T. R. (2018). How we study the family: Theories and research methods. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), Marriages and Families in the 21^(st) Century (2^(nd) Ed.). Retrieved from http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in-the-21st-century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php

Nelson, M.K. (2006). Single Mothers “Do” Family. Journal of Marriage & Family, 68(4), 781-795. Retrieved from https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00292.x            

References

Howe, T. R. (2018). The changing american family. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), Marriages and Families in the 21^st Century (2^nd Ed.). Retrieved from http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in-the-21st-century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php

Howe, T. R. (2018). How we study the family: Theories and research methods. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), Marriages and Families in the 21^st Century (2^nd Ed.). Retrieved from http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in-the-21st-century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php

Nelson, M.K. (2006). Single Mothers “Do” Family. Journal of Marriage & Family, 68(4), 781-795. Retrieved from https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00292.x