FAMILY

1. The Family
By: Batino, Maira A.
Bete, Gemma C.

2. According to Zaide (1998), the family refers to a group of people united by
ties of marriage, blood or adoption. As a group, the members of the family live
together under one roof and that they constitute a single housekeeping unit.
It is a universal institution that has the following common characteristics:
1. The family members associate with one another in their respective roles as
husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter or brother and
sister.
2. As the members of the family enjoy life together playing their different
roles, they tend to create a common subculture where a member is made to
feel aware of his role through a long period of socialization during
childhood.

3. Family Structures
Different structures emanate due to changing family patterns and cultural
variations practiced by family members in a given society. The nature of each
family structure and the interactions therein has been observed to influence the
personality development of its members.
Panopio (1994) states that family structures are based on internal
organization, descent, residence and authority.

4. Classifications of Family based on internal organization
1. Conjugal Family
Conjugal family is composed of only the husband and the wife as in a
newly-wed couple.
2. Nuclear Family
Nuclear family is often referred to as either a primary or an elementary
family. It is composed of the married couple and their children.

5. 3. Extended Family
Extended family is composed of two or more nuclear families or several
generations of families living together under one roof.
Classification of family based on descent
Families tend to trace their ancestry from either the paternal or maternal
sides. It does not mean, however, that the genealogical ties are closer than
others. On the bases of descent, families are considered as:

6. 1. Patrilineal Family
Patrilineal family wherein family members trace their relationships and
affiliates with relatives on the father’s side.
2. Matrilineal Family
Matrilineal family wherein a person traces his relationships and affiliates
with relatives on the mother’s side.
3. Bilateral Family
Bilateral family a person traces his relationships and affiliates with relatives
on both parents.

7. Classifications of family based on residence
It is based where the couple prefers to stay. It may be the:
1. Patrilocal Residence
Patrilocal residence wherein the newly married couple lives with or near
domicile of the parents of the bridegroom.
2. Matrilocal residence
Matrilocal residence wherein the newly married couple lives with or near
the domicile of the bride’s parents.

8. 3. Bilocal Residence
Bilocal residence wherein the couple chooses to stay with either the
groom’s parents or the bride’s parents, depending on factors like the relative
wealth of the families or their status, the wishes of the parents or certain
personal preferences of the bride and the groom.
4. Neolocal Residence
Neolocal residence wherein the couple resides independently from the
parents of either groom or bride.
5. Avunculocal Residence
Avunculocal residence wherein newly married couple is prescribed to reside
with or near the maternal uncle of the groom.

9. Classifications of family based on authority
This is based on who wields authority in the family. According to this, families
are classified as:
1. Patriarchal Family
Patriarchal which is a type of family where authority vested in the oldest
male in the family, often the father. The sons, specially the eldest, also enjoy
special prestige and privileges. The males speak for the familial group with
regard to property relations, legal obligations and criminal offenses. This type
of family is characterized by family solidarity and ancestor worship.

10. 2. Matriarchal Family
Matriarchal which is a type of family where the authority is vested in the
mother or the mother’s kin. This type is very rare and can be found in societies
where the mother dominates the household.
3. Egalitarian Family
Egalitarian which is a type of family where the husband and the wife
exercise a more or less equal amount of authority.

11. 4. Matricentric Family
Matricentric which is a recently emerged type of family found in the suburbs
of the United States where the prolonged absence of the father gives mother a
dominant position in the family, although the father may also share with the
mother in decision-making.
 Functions of the Family
Regardless of family structure, the family as a basic social institution needs
to perform several vital tasks. With the passage of time, these functions were
either weakened or strengthened due to social and cultural changes.

12. Several sociologists enumerate the functions of the family.
1. Socialization of children
Parents act as basic socialization agents for their children. They transmit to
their children standards of behavior, value systems, basic skills, motivations and
work attitudes. These are integrated in their personalities, which they use to
further socialize as they go beyond their family, peer group, school and
workgroup.
2. Regulator of sexual behavior and activity
Among Cordillerans especially those in highlands, liberal sex is frowned
upon. The resentment for incest is very strong. Universally, incest taboo is a
regulation.

13. It forbids marriage between closest of kins. This norm minimizes sexual
competition within families by restricting legitimate sexuality to spouses. It also
forces people to marry outside of their immediate families. Reproduction
between close relatives can mentally and physically impair offsprings. The close
reproduction among close relatives would confuse kinship ties and threaten
social order.
3. Social placement
The reproduction of children maintains social organization. Birth is
preferred to married parents where they can confer their own social identity in
terms of race, ethnicity, religion or social class.

14. 4. Material and emotional security
To a greater extent, most families look to kin for physical protection,
emotional support and financial tend to be healthier than those living alone.
 A healthy Family
A healthy home is a place where every member is taken seriously as a
person and where he/she knows he/she is valued, respected and loved.
Happiness always resides in a healthy family. Porachin (1998) enumerates the
signs of a healthy family as follows:

15. 1. Healthy families maintain in a spiritual foundation.
A shared religious core supported by a church affiliation gives stability to
the individual and his family.
2. Healthy families make the family a top priority.
Mother Teresa made this observation on the modern family: “I think the
world today is upside down, and is suffering so much because there is so very
little love in the homes and in the family. We have no time for our children, we
have no time for each other, there is no time to enjoy each other.” Make time to
be together. Do not allow work or other activities to infringe upon family life.

16. 3. Healthy families ask and give respect.
Respect is a two-way street. In order to receive respect, you must first give it.
The most effective way to gain respect from children is to treat them with
respect.
4. Healthy families communicate and listen.
Respect other people’s points of view even when it differs from your own.
In the book by Mary Durkin, Making Your Family Work, she says the following
five qualities are common to active listeners:
a. Giving the other person opportunity to express ideas and feelings without
interrupting,

17. b. Making an honest attempt to understand those ideas and feelings,
c. Setting aside preconceived opinions about the other person,
d. Showing respect for the other person’s right to hold a view different from
yours, and
e. Demonstrating your appreciation of the effort the other person is making.
5. Healthy families value service to others.
Place little emphasis on working to raise children to become the biggest, the
best, the prettiest and brightest, or the most popular – but focus on raising
children who care about others and who work to improved conditions for the
less fortunate.

18. 6. Healthy families expect and offer acceptance.
A good family provides a psychological safety net that makes members feel
accepted.

19. RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD
Parents want to have a biological and creative expression of themselves.
They beget children to love and be loved in return. Parenting, however has its
rewards and pleasure, hardships and inconveniences. New parents soon learn
that parenting is not an easy task. Taking care of children takes long hours of
physical labor and sleepless nights. The parents’ life as a couple changes. The
presence of children changes everything. Couples should, therefore, give
considerable thought to the duties and responsibilities involved in parenthood.
They must learn to accept and love the experience as parents and strive to be
the best possible parents by fulfilling their parental roles of meeting the needs
of the children and sharing of responsibilities.

20. Meeting children’s needs
The simple role of parents is to meet the needs of children so they grow healthy.
Within all children are “the seeds of growth” that is, a natural inclination to develop to
maturity (Rice, 1979). Their primary needs are physical, emotional, social and
intellectual. Parents need to share the responsibilities in fulfilling these needs of their
children.
Primary needs of children
1. Physical needs
The tendency to grow is natural. The parental task is to discover the physical needs
of their children and to provide for these needs in order to hasten their development.
Nutritious food, adequate and appropriate clothing and safe shelter will enable
children to attain maximum physical growth.

21. 2. Emotional needs
Children need love, affection, understanding, approval and security.
When parents give these emotional needs, children develop positive feelings
and become emotionally secure and stable. When these emotional needs are
denied or thwarted, children become hostile, fearful, anxious, insecure and
develop a feeling of resentment toward their parents.
3. Social needs
Gregariousness is an inborn tendency. As children grow, they want to be with
others. They want to be accepted by the group but do not know how to
relate. The task of parents is to provide their children with the opportunities
necessary for socialization.

22. Being a part of society means that one should learn and belong to the group by
knowing their customs, mores, habits and manners.
4. Intellectual needs
Intelligence is a biological equipment. Children’s potential for intellectual
growth is inherent. They are naturally curious and desire to delve in several
new experiences. The parental role in fulfilling this need is for them to
provide the necessary for cognitive, affective and psychomotor development.
5. Moral needs
Children have the capacity for moral growth. They rely on people they trust.
Parents should take this opportunity to teach their children values so they could
distinguish right from wrong. Their abilities have to be developed through
moral reasoning and imitating the good examples set by elders.