Scheme 6.1 . The historical development of the institution of the family

The study of the family, or rather, prefamily, premarital relations, which were called "promiscuity" (lat. - mixed, common) or "polygamy" (Greek. - polygamy), began in the second half of the XIX century. In 1861, the German anthropologist I. Bachoven, in his work “Maternal Law,” argued that primitive people had no sexual relationship. Since it was not possible to establish a father, naturally, kinship was determined by the female line. This led to the dominance of women in all social relations (gynecracy, according to I. Bakhoven, or, to use modern terms, matriarchy). Subsequently, the transition to monogamy led, in particular, to such a social norm as ransom, which at that time meant compensation to other men for their lost rights to this woman. Here we discover the already developed social relations of the patriarchy.

The English anthropologist D. McLennan, not familiar with the writings of I. Baekhoven, found that at a certain stage in the development of society, the custom of exogamy appears, i.e., the rule for men to take wives only in childbirths external to their group ( "Essays on Ancient History", 1886). D. McLennan identified three forms of marriage: polygamy (polygyny), polygyry (polyandry) and monogamy (monogamy).

The American social anthropologist L. Morgan (1818-1881) first attempted to present a holistic picture of the history of the family as a social institution. From his point of view, the family in its development went through the following phases: a kinship family (marriage groups are divided by generation), a punalual family (sexual relations between parents and children are excluded), a married family (the man has the main wife among many wives). Historically, the development of the family went from unregulated sexual relations to their restriction within the framework of a monogamous family.

A monogamous family is distinguished by a close relationship between a man and a woman, and this relationship can only be dissolved by the will of the husband. The direct reason for the emergence of a monogamous family was the emergence of private property and the desire to protect it, to ensure the indisputability of paternity and the right of offspring to own family property.

An individual (marriage, matrimonial) family is the most common type of family in the world. It is characterized by the fact that it is not only socially, but also legally recognized. It is formed as a result of a special act of marriage. The family includes only the closest relatives: husband, wife, young children, or sons and daughters who have not yet married and have not become economically independent (nuclear family). The origin is determined by both lines - male and female.

Scheme 6.2. Family concept

Family as a social institution. As a social institution, the family is characterized by a combination of social norms, sanctions and patterns of behavior that govern the relationship between spouses, parents, children and other relatives.

When considering the family as a social institution, the following are studied:

• public consciousness in the sphere of marriage and family relations;

• patterns of family behavior;

• role relations in the family;

• the effectiveness of the implementation of its basic functions;

• social mechanism for changing norms and values.

Family as a small social group. As a small social group, a family can be defined as a community formed on the basis of marriage or blood relationship, the members of which are connected by common life, mutual assistance and mutual moral responsibility of spouses for the health of children and their upbringing.

When considering a family as a social group, the following are studied:

• conditions of formation and stages of family development;

• the dynamics of marital relations and the nature of relations between parents and children;

• distribution of responsibilities in the family;

• causes and motives of divorces;

• structure and functions of the family.

The family is the most fundamental universal social institution. Scientists have been studying the family for many decades. Sociologists give definitions of the concept of "family." For example, D. Murdoch, having studied the forms of families in 250 cultures (1949), tried to give a universal definition. According to D. Murdoch, the family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, reproduction. It is typical for sociology to consider the family as a social institution and as a social group.

Usually a modern family is created on the basis of marriage. Marriage is a set of social norms, as well as a system of mutual duties and rights that determine the relationship between a woman and a man, necessary for the functioning of the family.

Scheme 6.3. Family categories

Living conditions are a combination of macroenvironment factors (general social conditions) and microenvironment (immediate social environment). When considering this category of family, it is important to keep in mind both objective and subjective living conditions. Objective are divided into natural (geographical, biological, environmental) and social (socio-economic, socio-political, socio-cultural, ideological). The subjective living conditions of the family can be divided into externally subjective and intra-subjective. These relationships, depending on living conditions, generally affect family relationships and contribute to its stabilization or destabilization.

The family structure is a set of relations between its members, including, in addition to kinship relations, a system of spiritual and moral relations, including relations of power and authority.

Allocate the so-called authoritarian structure (authoritarian families), which are characterized by strict subordination of the wife to her husband, and children - to parents. Democratic families are based on the distribution of roles in accordance not with traditions, but with the personal qualities and abilities of the spouses, on the equal participation of each of them in decision-making, on the voluntary distribution of responsibilities in raising children on consciousness, and not on coercion.

The functions of the family are the ways of manifesting activity, the vital activity of the family and its individual members. They reflect the system of interaction between the family and society, on the one hand, and the family and the individual, on the other.

Lifestyle - a set of those types of life that are carried out jointly by all or some of the family members or one of them, but on behalf of or for the family. Here we are talking about role-based interaction in the family.

The way of thinking is a combination of values, norms, and attitudes in the sphere of family life.

The success of family relations is a category that characterizes the quality of family activities and the relations of spouses in the family.

The stages of the life cycle is a category that characterizes the dynamics of changes that occur in a family from its formation to disintegration.

The social essence of the family is expressed through a system of categories. These categories reflect the main aspects of marriage and the family, expressing the most important aspects of their functioning.

Scheme 6.4. Family Functions

The reproductive function of the family means that it is the leading institution of society engaged in the reproduction of offspring.

The educational function of the family implies the positive impact that it has on all members, and especially on children.

The economic and economic function involves conducting a joint household, discussing and implementing the family budget by all family members.

The function of socialization means helping all family members, especially children, in mastering the values, norms and patterns of society.

The recreational function (lat. Recreatio - restoration) makes it possible to restore the moral and physical strength, mental balance and health of family members through family relationships based on love and emotional support, mutual assistance. It also provides an opportunity for all family members to organize leisure, recreation and psychological relaxation.

The communicative and regulatory function reflects the social relations of intra-family communication, interaction with other families, helps to establish relationships at work (study), with neighbors and friends, get used to a new team, and make important decisions for the family.

Scheme 6.5. Family Life Cycle Stages

• Family education. This stage, as a rule, begins with marriage.

• Beginning of childbearing. It begins with the birth of the first child.

• End of childbearing. The birth of the last child.

• "An empty nest." This stage begins with the separation of the last child from the family.

• The end of the family. It begins with the death of one of the spouses, although today the issue of recognizing a family of one person is on the agenda.

Scheme 6.6

Characteristics of a modern family

Nuclear family. It forms only the family core: wife, husband, children. Other relatives, such as parents of spouses who were previously part of an extended family, are not included in the nuclear family. Such a family is the prevailing form of modern family life, 87% of the population of developed countries live in nuclear families.

Egalitarian family. Its basis is equal voluntary, free from coercion, material calculations, interference or pressure of third parties, the union of women and men. In such a family, the rights and dignity of men and women are not infringed, providing each of them with equal opportunities for professional, intellectual and spiritual growth.

Exogamous family. She obeys the prohibition of marriage of close relatives. In addition, people of modern society continue to adhere to one degree or another and endogamous standards, which limit the possibilities of their choice. Factors such as religion, race, social class, and educational level determine the group within which the individual prefers to seek a life partner.

Symmetrical family. It is characterized by a high degree of flexibility of family roles, which, in turn, provides high adaptation in the context of rapid changes in society. A rigid separation of roles by gender is a thing of the past. Both spouses now perform both leadership functions and the functions of followers, depending on the situation and competence in a particular issue.

Scheme 6.7. Problems of the modern family

Family-marriage relations are very sensitive to changes in the economy, politics and in the social sphere of society. Hence the trends that the modern family is exposed to and the problems they cause.

Deteriorating heredity. The spread of dangerous diseases, poor or unhealthy diet, unhealthy lifestyles, hereditary diseases, alcoholism, and antisocial behavior of parents pose a threat to the health and moral education of children.

Reducing the number of children in the family. During the XX century. in industrialized countries there has been a sharp decline in fertility. Families of modern developed countries rarely have more than 1-2 children. Currently, in Russia, about 90% of families have 1-2 children.

Later formation of social readiness to create a family. This problem is caused by the need to complete education (often higher) and the desire to make a career in order to economically provide a future family.

The increase in the number of divorces. Currently, in developed countries, including Russia, one out of three is falling apart - every second marriage. Such a spread depends on the residence of the family (city or countryside), religion, nationality, economic independence of the husband and wife, and other factors.

Change in marriage motivation. Love continues to be the main motive for marriage, but the number of marriages concluded to increase social status, improve financial situation, solve migration problems, etc. is growing.

Scheme 6.8. Trends in the development of the modern family

Detocentric family. It is characterized by the elevation of the role of private life, the sensual side of marriage and intimacy. More or less equal relations between husband and wife led to the realization of the need to plan the time of birth of children and their number. Due to this, the reproductive period is limited to a short time (within 5-10 years) and the birth of 1-2 children. A welcome child turns into an object of parental love and persistent affection. A detocentric family is by nature small.

The married family. In this kind of family, relationships are determined not by kinship (as in the patriarchal) and not by parenthood (as in the child-centered), but to a greater extent by the relationship between husband and wife. That is, parents in such a family refuse to completely subordinate their own interests to the interests of children. Some sociologists believe that such a family defines the face of modern civilization.

Alternatives to the family:

• life together without marriage (the so-called civil marriage);

• trial marriage;

• a commune, that is, joint management of a common household and raising children by several families and single persons;

• gay marriage;

• separation of marriage and family institutions, when a family is created by people who are not registered in the marriage, or family members registered in the marriage live separately.

Partial loss of some family functions, for example, such as reproductive, economic and economic.