The Family: The Family: A Sociological PerspectiveA Sociological Perspective

Lyn GardnerLyn Gardnerl.d.gardner@swan.ac.ukl.d.gardner@swan.ac.uk

NB. THIS LECTURE IS AVAILABLE AS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ON:NB. THIS LECTURE IS AVAILABLE AS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ON:

http://shswebspace.swan.ac.uk/HNGardnerLD/http://shswebspace.swan.ac.uk/HNGardnerLD/

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTHCAREHEALTHCARE

How sociology can contribute to our How sociology can contribute to our understanding of familiesunderstanding of families

How this understanding can How this understanding can contribute to patient carecontribute to patient care

• Sociology helps to explain changes Sociology helps to explain changes and developments in family and developments in family relationshipsrelationships

• Draws on both Draws on both quantitativequantitative (for (for example social surveys such as the example social surveys such as the census), and census), and qualitativequalitative studies studies

The Role of SociologyThe Role of Sociology

LEARNING OUTCOMESLEARNING OUTCOMES

1.1. Demonstrate an understanding of Demonstrate an understanding of terminology used to discuss familiesterminology used to discuss families

2.2. Outline the Outline the changeschanges that have taken place that have taken place in the family, and how these link with in the family, and how these link with changes in wider society, for example changes in wider society, for example economic, cultural and so oneconomic, cultural and so on

3.3. Consider the implications of these changes Consider the implications of these changes for health carefor health care

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading

• All introductory sociology texts explore All introductory sociology texts explore this subjectthis subject

• Most of the sociology and health texts Most of the sociology and health texts have chapters on familieshave chapters on families

• Statistical material from The General Statistical material from The General Household Survey (2001) Household Survey (2001) http://www.statistics.gov.uk/lib2001/index.http://www.statistics.gov.uk/lib2001/index.htmlhtml

• Look at literary examples too – try Look at literary examples too – try biographies, novels and poetrybiographies, novels and poetry

TERMINOLOGY USED TO TERMINOLOGY USED TO DISCUSS FAMILIESDISCUSS FAMILIES

• HOUSEHOLD: a person or group of persons HOUSEHOLD: a person or group of persons who share domestic activities such as eating who share domestic activities such as eating some meals together, sleeping in the same some meals together, sleeping in the same dwelling and so on. May have kinship link, but dwelling and so on. May have kinship link, but increasing trend for single, unrelated persons increasing trend for single, unrelated persons sharing a dwelling for economic and sharing a dwelling for economic and situational reasonssituational reasons

• NUCLEAR FAMILY: A social group consisting of NUCLEAR FAMILY: A social group consisting of a man and a woman and their dependent a man and a woman and their dependent (whether natural or adopted) offspring(whether natural or adopted) offspring

• EXTENDED FAMILY STRUCTURE: EXTENDED FAMILY STRUCTURE: includes either ‘vertical’ extensions includes either ‘vertical’ extensions of a third generation, or ‘horizontal’ of a third generation, or ‘horizontal’ extensions such as aunts and extensions such as aunts and uncles, who live close by each otheruncles, who live close by each other

• LONE-PARENT FAMILY: One parent LONE-PARENT FAMILY: One parent with her/his never married with her/his never married dependent children; they may be dependent children; they may be widowed, divorced, separated or widowed, divorced, separated or single never-married womensingle never-married women

This Be The VerseThis Be The VersePhillip LarkinPhillip Larkin

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.They fuck you up, your mum and dad.They may not mean to, but they do.They may not mean to, but they do.They fill you with the faults they hadThey fill you with the faults they had

And add some extra, just for you.And add some extra, just for you.But they were fucked up in their turnBut they were fucked up in their turnBy fools in old-style hats and coats,By fools in old-style hats and coats,Who half the time were soppy-sternWho half the time were soppy-sternAnd half at one another's throats.And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf.It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,Get out as early as you can,And don't have any kids yourself.And don't have any kids yourself.

The Power of the FamilyThe Power of the Family

• ‘‘The ‘family’ is an important organizing feature The ‘family’ is an important organizing feature in our perceptions, our identities and our in our perceptions, our identities and our culture’culture’

• Families are viewed as being capable of ‘doing Families are viewed as being capable of ‘doing great harm, or to heal and make things well’great harm, or to heal and make things well’

• This rhetoric ‘sweeps through policy This rhetoric ‘sweeps through policy assumptions, models used by professionals, assumptions, models used by professionals, andand

through the lives of ordinary people’.through the lives of ordinary people’.Jones, D.W. (2002) Jones, D.W. (2002) Myths, Madness and the Family.Myths, Madness and the Family. Basingstoke: Palgrave.Basingstoke: Palgrave.

An Historical OverviewAn Historical Overview

• According to Donzelot (1979) by the C18th the According to Donzelot (1979) by the C18th the family was perceived to be a key element of the family was perceived to be a key element of the new social order in Western Europenew social order in Western Europe

• The family was seen as an institution where The family was seen as an institution where children could be disciplined, and adults/parents children could be disciplined, and adults/parents placed into a role of responsibility for their childrenplaced into a role of responsibility for their children

• However, as the century moved on and into the However, as the century moved on and into the C19th, doubts about the ability of some families to C19th, doubts about the ability of some families to fulfil this role were prevalentfulfil this role were prevalent

• At the highest levels of government and At the highest levels of government and elsewhere, debates took place about the impact of elsewhere, debates took place about the impact of industrialisation and urbanization on the moral industrialisation and urbanization on the moral climate, and upon family life (Weeks, 1981)climate, and upon family life (Weeks, 1981)

The Decline of the Family?The Decline of the Family?

• The concern for the moral degeneration of the The concern for the moral degeneration of the family was tangiblefamily was tangible

• There were concerns about overcrowding, There were concerns about overcrowding, ‘inbreeding’ amongst the poor, relationships and ‘inbreeding’ amongst the poor, relationships and childbirth outside of marriage childbirth outside of marriage

• Key to this was also the changing position of Key to this was also the changing position of women within society – gender roles were being women within society – gender roles were being re-negotiated, but at a cost, according to re-negotiated, but at a cost, according to comment at the time. comment at the time.

• Such changes threatened to violate ‘all the Such changes threatened to violate ‘all the decencies and moral observances of domestic decencies and moral observances of domestic life’ (Gaskell, 1836)life’ (Gaskell, 1836)

Rise of the Nuclear FamilyRise of the Nuclear Family

• The nuclear family was seen by some as being a The nuclear family was seen by some as being a better ’fit’ with emerging industrial capitalismbetter ’fit’ with emerging industrial capitalism

• Parsonian functionalism dominated sociological Parsonian functionalism dominated sociological thought during the 1950s and 1960s – the idea that thought during the 1950s and 1960s – the idea that the small, nuclear unit was particularly the small, nuclear unit was particularly suited/mutually beneficial to a developing capitalist suited/mutually beneficial to a developing capitalist societysociety

• But there were challenges from both a burgeoning But there were challenges from both a burgeoning feminist movement and other social commentatorsfeminist movement and other social commentators

• Despite the ubiquitous nature and enduring appeal Despite the ubiquitous nature and enduring appeal of the nuclear family, Simpson (1998) describes an of the nuclear family, Simpson (1998) describes an emergence of emergence of unclear familiesunclear families

Anti-FamilyAnti-Family

• During the late 1960s and early 70s, During the late 1960s and early 70s, ‘anti-family‘anti-family’ movements ’ movements emerged as a challenge to the apparent damaging effects of emerged as a challenge to the apparent damaging effects of family lifefamily life

• The family was seen as a stifling and potentially damaging place The family was seen as a stifling and potentially damaging place to liveto live

• Edmund Leach Edmund Leach (1967) wrote that ’far from being the basis of the (1967) wrote that ’far from being the basis of the good society, the family, with it’s narrow privacy and tawdry good society, the family, with it’s narrow privacy and tawdry secrets, is the source of all our discontents’.secrets, is the source of all our discontents’.

• Laing and EstersonLaing and Esterson (1970) echoed this position and argued (1970) echoed this position and argued further that small, tight-knit family structures are inherently further that small, tight-knit family structures are inherently suffocating – rather than providing comfort and security, they suffocating – rather than providing comfort and security, they provided space for mediating parental conflicts, which could be provided space for mediating parental conflicts, which could be damaging for the child as they try to incorporate conflicting damaging for the child as they try to incorporate conflicting values.values.

Sanity, Madness and the Sanity, Madness and the Family (1970)Family (1970)

• Laing and EstersonLaing and Esterson developed Fromm-Reichman’s (1948) developed Fromm-Reichman’s (1948) idea of the ‘schizophrenogenic mother’ in their book idea of the ‘schizophrenogenic mother’ in their book Sanity, Madness and the FamilySanity, Madness and the Family which was based on which was based on their interviews with 11 families, each having a family their interviews with 11 families, each having a family member diagnosed schizophrenicmember diagnosed schizophrenic

• Their thesis, that madness (particularly schizophrenia) was Their thesis, that madness (particularly schizophrenia) was largely a social creation, with it’s symptoms no more than largely a social creation, with it’s symptoms no more than the manifestation of distress in a person struggling to live in the manifestation of distress in a person struggling to live in an unliveable situation – the family – was provocative and an unliveable situation – the family – was provocative and controversialcontroversial

• Cooper (1972) emphasized the hierarchical structures of Cooper (1972) emphasized the hierarchical structures of families – gender and age – where subservience and families – gender and age – where subservience and dependence is learntdependence is learnt

Something Must be Done!Something Must be Done!

• The growing general anxiety about the state of the family and The growing general anxiety about the state of the family and family life needed to be addressed if families were not to family life needed to be addressed if families were not to degenerate further.degenerate further.

• This manifested itself through the development of state welfare This manifested itself through the development of state welfare principles and subsequent interventionsprinciples and subsequent interventions

• The family provided the major reference point for distinguishing The family provided the major reference point for distinguishing between the ‘public’ and the ‘private’ worlds of our society: does between the ‘public’ and the ‘private’ worlds of our society: does the outside world stop at the front door of the family?the outside world stop at the front door of the family?

• Increasingly the state has become involved with managing, Increasingly the state has become involved with managing, maintaining and defining the family: from Thatcher claiming the maintaining and defining the family: from Thatcher claiming the Tories to be the ‘party of the family’ in 1977, to pleas from all Tories to be the ‘party of the family’ in 1977, to pleas from all sides of the political spectrum during the last election to be sides of the political spectrum during the last election to be advocates for the so-called ‘hard-working family’advocates for the so-called ‘hard-working family’

Contemporary Concerns About Contemporary Concerns About the Familythe Family

• Increase in single-parent familiesIncrease in single-parent families• Increase in women in the work placeIncrease in women in the work place• Childcare – mother care/other care?Childcare – mother care/other care?• Increase in divorce rateIncrease in divorce rate• Youth crime, particularly young menYouth crime, particularly young men• Teenage pregnanciesTeenage pregnancies• Poor behaviour in schoolsPoor behaviour in schools• Feeding the familyFeeding the familyOr could Or could somesome of the above be simply seen as of the above be simply seen as

development/progression of the family, and thus development/progression of the family, and thus not be problematized?not be problematized?

Is there an alternative to the Is there an alternative to the family?family?

• Changing family forms abound – single parent, Changing family forms abound – single parent, reconstituted, civil partnerships, communes reconstituted, civil partnerships, communes and so onand so on

• But the But the idea idea of family endures, with all that it of family endures, with all that it brings in terms of expectations and brings in terms of expectations and obligationsobligations

• Schnieder (1980, 1984) argues that the belief Schnieder (1980, 1984) argues that the belief of family relationships as special, that ‘blood is of family relationships as special, that ‘blood is thicker than water’ is a fundamental truth of thicker than water’ is a fundamental truth of Western culture: it is largely unquestioned.Western culture: it is largely unquestioned.

Impact on Health and CareImpact on Health and Care

• Expectations that the family will care for Expectations that the family will care for sick/disabled/needy family members – sick/disabled/needy family members – obligations of family: the family as the obligations of family: the family as the ‘cornerstone’ of care provision‘cornerstone’ of care provision

• What support is there for families who What support is there for families who provide care? Example – the Care provide care? Example – the Care Programme Approach (CPA) has provision to Programme Approach (CPA) has provision to support families/carers of mental health support families/carers of mental health service usersservice users

• The ‘dark’ side of the family – are families The ‘dark’ side of the family – are families the best place to bring up children, for men the best place to bring up children, for men and women to live?and women to live?

ConclusionConclusion

• Whatever family form we live in currently, Whatever family form we live in currently, or have experienced in the past, it almost or have experienced in the past, it almost certainly has the most significant impact certainly has the most significant impact on our lives – past, present and future.on our lives – past, present and future.

• From what we learn and what we eat, to From what we learn and what we eat, to how we view ourselves and others: the how we view ourselves and others: the families we live in shape and influence usfamilies we live in shape and influence us

• In turn, the family-life we experience is In turn, the family-life we experience is shaped and influenced by changing social, shaped and influenced by changing social, cultural and economic forcescultural and economic forces

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading

Allan, G. & Crow, G. (2001) Allan, G. & Crow, G. (2001) Families, Households and SocietyFamilies, Households and Society. . Palgrave: Basingstoke. Palgrave: Basingstoke.

Bernardes, J. (1997)Bernardes, J. (1997) Family Studies Family Studies. Routledge: London. . Routledge: London.

Featherstone, B. (2004) Featherstone, B. (2004) Family Life and Family Support. Family Life and Family Support. Palgrave: Basingstoke.Palgrave: Basingstoke.

Jones, D.W. (2002) Jones, D.W. (2002) Myths, Madness and the FamilyMyths, Madness and the Family. Palgrave: . Palgrave: Basingstoke.Basingstoke.

Morrow, V. (1998) Morrow, V. (1998) Understanding Families: Children’s Understanding Families: Children’s PerspectivesPerspectives. National Children’s Bureau: London.. National Children’s Bureau: London.

Somerville, J. (2000) Somerville, J. (2000) Feminism and the Family.Feminism and the Family. Palgrave: Palgrave: Basingstoke.Basingstoke.