Family

• 1. D O N E B Y : S A N G E E T A A N D S U N E T A S A M U E L A N D K A V I T A D O O K I E

2. WHAT IS A FAMILY? A Family can be defined as a group of people bound by that complex set of relationships known as kinship ties: for others it is a group characterised by common residence, economic co operation and reproduction. It is the basic unit within society which ensures continued existence of society procreation of new generations. It is within the family that sexual activities: child bearing: maintenance, support and socialization of the young are performed. The family is the primary unit within society as it is within the structure that family members learn their set of concepts, values, knowledge and skills; it is there that the child is provided with its place in society- prestige or status; it is the focal point, in many cases, for leisure. 2 3. THE FAMILY FROM A FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE The impact of the institution of the family on the lives of Caribbean people can be understood from a functionalist perspective. Functionalism says (and society agrees) that the family should carry out several functions listed below for order, stability and harmony in society, 1. The reproductive function 2. The socialization function 3. The economics function 4. Providing love and a sense of belonging These functionalist ideas and values provide a basis for the common interpretation of the institution of family across the region, the family is seen as the basic unit of society, if these functions are carried out in an optimal manner and if everyone plays a role, then families would be happy and society would not be treated by any breakdown of social order. 3 4. THE FAMILY FROM A CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE The conflict perspective presents a more accurate picture of the institution of family, particularly the nuclear family, as largely a product of capitalist organisation of the economy and society - As such it embodies much of the character of capitalist reactions with workers - conflict, contradiction, and oppression. The nuclear family, which is often promoted as a universal family form reflects an ethnocentric value that we have inherited. Conflict theorists say that the value attributed to the nuclear family at present in our social institution of the family result mainly because it is the value of the rich and powerful in the society. The extent to which others hold this value is a reflection of the condition known as false consciousness. 4 5. FAMILY FORMS IN THE CARIBBEAN Nuclear family was brought to the Caribbean by the European is also known as an elementary family, this is the tem used to define a family group consisting of two adults of the opposite sex, at least two of whom maintain a sexual relationship and a child/children who are either adopted or biological of the sexual cohabited adults and is characterized by common residence, economic corporation and reproduction. 5 6. FAMILY FORMS IN THE CARIBBEAN 6 Extended family was brought by the Indians to the Caribbean in the form of the joint household. This defines a family type that extends beyond the nuclear family, consisting of grand parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all living nearby or in the same household. In some circumstances, the extended family comes to live either with or in place of a member of the nuclear family: a family that includes in one household near relatives in addition to a nuclear family. 7. FAMILY FORMS IN THE CARIBBEAN 7 Single parent family- A single parent usually refers to a parent who has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the child/ children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver who is not living with a spouse or partner, or those who are not married. The dominant caregiver is the parent in which the children have residency with the majority of the time. 8. FAMILY FORMS IN THE CARIBBEAN 8 Sibling household- consist of children living by themselves a s a result of their parents dying or abandoning them. The eldest is usually the most responsible individual as he/she works to provide for the younger children 9. FAMILY FORMS IN THE CARIBBEAN Common law family- this is a family consisting of the opposite sex or the same sex living together as though married. It is a irregular form of marriage that can be legally contracted in an extremely limited number of jurisdictions and is universally recognised as a valid marriage. 9 10. IMPACT OF FAMILY ON CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE? Individuals- while a particular group is said to have dominant set of ideas and beliefs about family, different individuals in that family will experience these ideas and beliefs differently. For instance in an Indian family the men are respected and obeyed, and family gender relations are based on the family hierarchy. TH experience of a girl in such a family is far different from that of the eldest son,, who is the heir and is groomed to take over as head of the family.. Such a girl in the Caribbean will most likely be educated, even up to the tertiary level, but the relationship in which she lives demands reverence for her father, deference to her brother and a code of conduct based on obedience and purity. Groups African Families- Kin in the extended African family includes uncles, aunts, grandparents, and others related by blood, marriage or fictive kinship ties. These ties extend to people in the Diaspora who send money back home or sponsor family members to become new migrants in the metropole. Muslim Families in Islam the issue of kinship and the extended family include the practice of polygamy- the custom of having different wives. Such families come under a great deal of scrutiny by others and they may deliberately restrict their social interaction to avoid the curiosity and criticism of those in the mainstream. 10 11. Women Caribbean women find themselves accommodating to institutional ideas which have locked them into certain roles that have worked to their disadvantage relative to men. They are seen primarily as mothers the major caregiver and nurturer and the natural person to be the homemaker. Men seldom share this burden equally. For the most parts women also work outside the home and then come home to the second shift- domestic chores, taking care of children, supervising schoolwork and becoming up to date with what is going on with everyone. These institution ideas and how they play out in individuals homes are responsible for gender socialization- how young girls and boys in families understand the different roles played by men and women and learn to perpetuate them. The Family- nuclear family has long been privileged as the ideal family and has long been at odds with diverse, uniquely Caribbean family forms. Today the institutional idea of the family are more accepting of different families, even within the traditional nuclear family. This single-parent arrangement used to be frowned upon and was thought of as the breakdown of the family. Today it tends to be more accepted, along with the adoptive nuclear family. since the idea of the nuclear family has now been expanded, other family forms seem to be more accepted. Thus terms, like illegitimate are no longer valid because the bias favouring marriage is gradually being eroded in the institutional realm, showing that institutional ideas and beliefs undergo change over time. Education - social institution of the family impacts on education in many ways. Parental involvement is necessary for a child's academic success but parents of the lower socio economic status are not really involved. The demand of the working-class jobs, an inadequate academic foundation, and being intimidated by the e attitudes of the teacher, it nevertheless remains true that family background is an important factor in educational performance. 11 12. 12 Thank You for your time and attention! Hope this presentation was educational and helpful to you