The family is the first social group par excellence. It is within the family that the first interpersonal relationships and strong emotional bonds are established, and communication begins. Numerous studies have been conducted on the concept of family, and sociological theories have highlighted this institution's unique characteristics.
A sociological analysis
A family is a social unit consisting of two or more individuals living in the same household and typically related by kinship or affinity. The concept of family has evolved over the years. Various family typologies have been classified. Some of these seem to have disappeared, except in a few countries; others have been introduced more recently. Family sociology studies the family as it evolves in response to social changes . Let's look at these typologies in more detail.
1. Extended or patriarchal familyThis is the model encompassing all families led by a "patriarch," usually the eldest member of the family. There are multiple married couples living together. All educational and work activities are concentrated within the family unit.
2. Nuclear family: a group composed of parents and children. This model already differs from the previous one, as the number of cohabitants is smaller and the various activities take place not only within the home but also outside, establishing other relationships.
3. New families: a family model that has been established since the 1970s. These are different family units, but especially in recent decades, they have settled, some with great difficulty, within a society that still has taboos about certain aspects. Let's discover these new families.
The “new” families
In recent years, the rights of new families have been demanded on the one hand, and the defense of the traditional family model on the other. The issue is primarily triggered by religious and sexist concerns. Religion "condemns" de facto couples , and the taboo surrounding same-sex couples still prevents us from discussing the family on a par with the traditional family. The achievement of certain rights is essential for many individuals to identify as a family unit. But if society changes, why can't the concept of family evolve as well? The new family units are divided as follows:
1. Single-parent family: A family unit consisting of a single parent and children. In years past, many families consisted of only one parent, the most likely cause being the early death of one parent. Today, if this type of family exists, it's because the divorce rate has increased, and many women continue having children even without their partner—in short, these are voluntary choices, not tied to fate.
2. Reconstructed families: families in which one of the two parents is remarried and lives with any children of the new partner.
3. De facto families: cohabitants are not bound by the bond of marriage, therefore the religious institution collapses.
4. Homosexual couples: there is still no talk of family even if civil unions are starting to increase more and more and there are demonstrations to be able to adopt children.
How to consider family?
The family is such an important social microsystem that it strongly influences the overall development of every community and promotes the primary socialization of the individual, understood above all as the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. It evolves over the years, but at the foundation of every family unit there are always emotional bonds, and this does not change the way we understand it. The family can be considered a legal organism governed by a set of rules relating to its origins and formation, the protection of minor children, marriage, and alimony. It is an ethical organism ( Durkeim : organicist theory) in that new generations discover and acquire the fundamental norms of moral behavior within it. It is a social organism with a specific sociological connotation: it is, in fact, a primary group characterized by its own particular internal dynamics (Lewin), a rich network of interpersonal relationships, and extremely important socio-cultural influences.
Filomena Oronzo
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Some texts for further study
I graduated in Sociology with a specialization in Social and Territorial Policies, and earned a master's degree in E-Government and E-Management in Public Administration. I love reading and writing. For me, sociology means experiencing everyday life in all its nuances and nuances. Today, I am an Administrative Assistant at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo in Trieste, and above all, I am a wife and mother, the greatest asset of all.
