SOCF2614 UNIT 1

Question 1

Defining the concept Macionis :2005

Answer 1

A family unit is a social group of two or
more people related by blood, marriage or
adoption, who usually live together”
Macionis: 2005.

Question 2

Defining the concept Kendall, 2011

Answer 2

“Families are relationships in which people
live together with commitment, form of
economic unit and care for any young and
consider their identity to be significantly
attached to the group. Sexual expressions
and parent-child relationships are part of
most but not all, family relationships”
Kendall, 2011.

Question 3

Functional components

Answer 3

purpose
for which things exist.

Question 4

Structural components:

Answer 4

form that a thing takes.

Question 5

Definitions
of family :Functional definition

Answer 5

• Raising/socialising
  children.
• Providing economic and
  other practical support.
• Providing emotional
  security.

Question 6

Definitions of Family: Structural definition

Answer 6

• The form a family takes.
• Extended/nuclear families.
• Modern society: various non
  traditional family structures.

Question 7

Functions of the Family

Answer 7

Family support
Emotional support
Communitarian support
Spiritual support
Financial support

Question 8

Family of Individuals

Answer 8

Families provide a settings for development of identity, both
family identity and an individual identity.

Question 9

Family identity: characteristics that makes one’s family unique

Answer 9

characteristics that make one’s family unique (family rituals and traditions).

Question 10

Families influences self-concept-

Answer 10

an individual’s idea about his/her
worth, characteristics, abilities and personality.

Question 11

• Familistic values

Answer 11

focuses on loyalty, stability,
togetherness and family as a whole.
Emphasises the needs, goals and identity of a group
communal/collective values (images of an ideal family).

Question 12

• Individualistic values

Answer 12

focuses on self-fulfilment,
personal goals, happiness and development of an
individual identity

Question 13

• Individuality

Answer 13

individual rights and freedom.
Little emphasis on family member’s happiness or
postponing personal satisfaction.

Question 14

“Family decline”

Answer 14

• Movement away from marriage and traditional gender role.
• Adult population married declined, single-parent families have increased, chid headed households are increasing.
• Self-realization underlies the increase in divorce and unmarried parenthood

Question 15

“Family change”

Answer 15

• Family is “an adaptive institution”.
• Attributes family change as much to economic trends and cultural trends.
• Structural forces have affected
  decisions to marry and created
  stress on family life.
• Economic trends have shaped
  marital timing, fertility rates, and
  willingness and ability of lower
  income individuals, especially to
  enter a marriage.

Question 16

White Paper on Families in South Africa

Answer 16

The White Paper on Families in South Africa provides insight on South African policy framework regarding families.
It highlights the South African historical background
relating to families– colonial, and apartheid
influence on families in South Africa.

Question 17

White Paper Family structures

Answer 17

LGBT families.
Polygamous families- polygyny.
Multigenerational/extended families.
Skip-generational families.
Single parenthood.
Child headed households.
Nuclear families.
Blended families

Question 18

White Paper Main Assumptions
Family policy can and should?

Answer 18

Highlight the crucial role that families play as critical building blocks of societies,
Create a system of monitoring the well-being of families,
* Provide a framework for the provision of services that benefit families in comprehensive ways and synergistic,
* Create the conditions for families to better carry out the many functions they perform for their members and for society, and
* Ensure that families are able to overcome and manage stressful conditions.

Question 19

White Paper Challenges

Answer 19

• Past: legacy of apartheid segregation policies.
• Exploitation of migrant labour.
• Erosion of rural life-migration and urbanization.
• Vulnerability to poverty and unemployment.
• Absent biological fathers- more than 41% of children live with
  their biological mothers only.
• Public health crisis (HIV/AIDS, Covid 19 epidemic) and gender
  based violence.
• Multigenerational and skip-generational households.
• Decline in marriages and increase of divorce rate.

Question 20

White Paper State intervention

Answer 20

Unemployment grant
Older persons grant
Disability grant
Child support Grant, Forster Care grant and Care Dependency Grant