SOCL1016

Block 2
Introduction to the Family
 Assistive Reproductive Technology Modern technology that assists in fertilisation.
Methods include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), Gamete
Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT), Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT),
intracytoplasmic sperm injections.
 Child Care Act & Domestic Violence Act Protection mechanisms for intra-family
abuse.
 Conflict Perspective Family’s role is to maintain social inequality, the class system
& status quo at the macro (productive) and micro (reproductive) levels. Family is an
economic unit of re/production, ownership and consumption. Children are
socialized into norms and values expected of their social roles as workers/owners.
Family is part and parcel of societal class and gender inequality and exploitation.
Inequality pervades the family unit and is sustained by the existence of the family
unit. Dysfunction is likely to be as inherent, structural and systemic.
 Deficit Model Presents fatherhood & masculinity as a pathology when analyzing the
criticism of the family life course perspective.
 Family A primary unit of both basic education and primary healthcare. “A social
institution that binds people together through blood, marriage, law, and/or social
norms” (Zelditch). “An intergenerational social group organised and governed by
social norms regarding descent, affinity, reproduction and the nuturant socialisation
of the young” (White). “A social group related by blood or kinship, marriage,
adoption, or affiliation with close emotional attachments to each other that endure
over time and go beyond a particular physical residence” (Amoateng & Richter).
Includes biological, social, economic, cultural and political aspects.
 Family Effects Ways in which the family influences health and illness. Genetics,
lifestyle and diet, environment, family co-experience, social, cultural, socio-
economic, health seeking behaviour.
 Family Life Cycle Model Developed by Glick in 1947. Views age as the primary
indicator of biological and social time of an individual’s life. Through the family
unit, the life of an individual, the family, age cohorts and historical time are ordered
and sequenced through the stages of marriage (formation), birth of first child
(extension), birth of last child (completed extension), departure of first child
(contraction), departure of last child (completed contraction), and finally the death
of the original spouses (dissolution).
 Feminist perspective Provide and continue the social structures that dis/priviledge
wo/men similarly and/or differently. Within the family, members often take an
active interest in maintaining their own gendered privilege or resisting their own
oppression.
 Functionalist Perspective The family’s role is to regulate sexual behaviour of adults,
replace members of society who die, provide primary socialization of the young, and
provide emotional care, support, and healthcare of members. Family as a building
block of society and a site of refuge from society at large. Family as instrumental in
childhood primary socialization and adult personality stabilization. Distinct
instrumental paternal & affective maternal roles. Well functioning family leads to a
 well functioning society & vice versa. Dysfunction is likely to be viewed as
temporary & due to maladjustment.
 Healthcare Levels The various levels in which the family determines health seeking
behaviour.
- Primary Prevention Active steps to prevent the contraction of a disease or
onset of a condition, for example, immunizations and vaccinations, eating well,
condomizing.
- Secondary prevention The first stop for the identification and initial treatment
of symptoms we ourselves have diagnosed as ‘ab-normal’ or that are causing us
‘dis-ease’ even when disease may be absent. Redirect us to any further help or
healthcare channels. Lay referral networks. Allopathic and/or complementary
and alternative medicine. Initiatives to minimize risk/monitor effects of an
already diagnosed disease/illness.
- Tertiary prevention High end, specialist treatment and care of someone with
an advanced chronic condition or a terminal disease. Minimize negative effects
and maximize functionality. Often includes palliative, hospice, and psycho-
social care.
 Health Status The ability of a family member to receive adequate healthcare that
ensures an acceptable level of mental, physical and emotional health and general
well being within society.
 Life Chances Describe the ability of people to benefit from all opportunities in life
to the full and thus achieve their goals within society (Marshall, 1998), including
quality education, food security and stable relationships.
 Marriage Act, Recognition of Customary Marriages Act & Civil Union Act South
African Law that recognizes civil marriages and civil unions (between partners of
different and same sex), customary marriage (‘Indigenous’ African and Muslim
Marriages Bill allow polygyny). There is no common law statute. Divorce is
recognized for all forms of marriage & includes ‘no fault’ clause. Adoption rights
are extended to civil union partnerships. Parental rights include maternity and
paternity leave and rights accorded to both parents in case of divorce. Reproductive
rights include contraceptives, termination of pregnancy and reproductive
technology legislation (Children’s Act).