Sociology unit 2

• Define a family

  • a group of people that consider themselves related by blood, marriage or adoption
• Describe the characteristics of a family

  • a family is an institution with its own norms, values and social roles which are determined by its functions

  • family is the most basic of all social institutions

  • universal in every culture though through different organisations

  • members live together for a long period of time

  • the adults in this group assume responsibility of the children
• Identify the different types of family (nuclear/ extended)

  • nuclear family - parents with their offspring (child) living in the same living quarters

  • extended family - the same quarter such parents, children, cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, etc
• Defernetiate the two types of dormant families

  • the family of orientation (by birth)

  • the family of procreation (by marriage)
• Different alternative forms of family and marriages include:
• Cohabitant couple:

  • A couple who aren't married, but who are living together
• Gay and lesbian households:

  • Couples of the same sex living together
• Single parent families:

  • Mother and father raising children in the absence of one of the other
• Childless marriages:

  • A couple who is married but don't have children
• Dual career families:

  • Families in which both heads of the household pursue careers and at the same time maintain a family life together
• Commuter marriage:

  • A marriage between spouses who live apart, usually because of the locations of their jobs, and who regularly travel to be together, as on weekends
• Multigenerational families:

  • Households that consist of three or more generations of parents and their families
• State the important functions of family

  • Regulations of sexual behaviour:

  The family must take responsibility to teach the children how to regulate their sexual behaviour

  • Replacement of members:

  Family must provide continuation of species

  • Socialization:

  Family is the earliest and most significant unit of socialization.

  Children learn the language, standards of behaviour norms, values and beliefs of their culture.

  • Social placement:

  The family is responsible for social placements of its members
• Family functioning variables:

  • Family level of cohesion
  • Family adaptability
  • Family type
• Family health role and utilization of health services are measured by scales if the investigator developed
• Family roles are the recurrent patterns of behavior by which individuals fulfill family functioning and needs
• Individual members of families occupy certain roles such as a child, sibling, grandchild
• Certain social and family expectations come with roles:

  • Parents are expected to teach, discipline, and provide for their children
• What are the responsibilities of children in a family

  • children are expected to cooperate and respect their parents

  • as family members age, they take on additional roles such as becoming a sprouse, parent or grandparent

  • a persons role is always expanding or changing, depending upon he's or her age and family stage
• Describe social groups

  • a group of people with comprehensive influence on the individual members

  • have the same aims and goals

  eg - family and church
• Characteristics of social groups:

  • Group members: small group between 2 or 20 people, has a social structure, members define themselves as belonging to a specific group with specific boundaries. Some groups limit their membership, while others are open and admit outsiders easily
• Interaction and pattern of interaction: the term group implies interaction between various members, each dependent on the other for interaction. Without interaction, a group can't exist. Examples include hospital context, school, work family, or church
• Common or similar groups: groups are created and united by common interests and certain goals which members cannot achieve individually
• Group sentiment or group awareness: members of the group recognize other members belonging to the group
• Group names: rules of conduct specify what members of a group should do and are expected to do
• Expressive and instrumental groups:

  • Characterized by strong positive emotional feelings between group members
  • Expression of feelings like friendship warmth, love, and affection is the most important interaction
  • Example: friendship
  • Instrumental groups are created to deal with particular tasks (task group)
• Primary groups:

  • Example: married couple friendship group
  • Generally has a few members
  • Face-to-face relationships between group members, personal and warm bond
  • Constant contact between members
  • Informal interactions to satisfy the need for human intimacy
• Some groups consist of different social and economic classes:

  • Example: in church, some people are rich, poor, upper, and middle class
  • Members have similar financial, occupational, or social backgrounds
• Permanent and temporary groups:

  • Family is an example of a permanent group
  • Some groups exist for a short while only
  • Example: a neighborhood group that meets for a project
• Open and closed groups:

  • No limitations on membership in an open group, anyone can join
  • Example: church group
  • Closed groups have specific requirements for membership
  • Example: HPCNA
• Voluntary and involuntary groups:

  • In voluntary groups, people choose their occupation
  • Example: nursing and teaching professions
  • Family is an involuntary group because one has no choice in belonging to it
• Diversity in nursing is important and essential because it provides an opportunity to provide quality care to patients
• Communication with patients can be improved and patient care can be enhanced when healthcare providers bridge the divide between the culture of medicine and the beliefs/practices that make up a patient's values
• Healthcare providers can maximize this potential
• Diversity in nursing includes:

  • Gender
  • Veteran status
  • Race
  • Disability
  • Age
  • Religion
  • Ethnic heritage
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Sexual orientation
  • Education status
  • National origin
  • Physical characteristics
• When the nursing workforce reflects its patients' demographics, communication automatically improves, making the patient feel comfortable
• A person who has little in common with you cannot adequately advocate for your benefit
• Nurses must learn to understand their patients' culture, environment, food, customs, and religious views
• Marginalized groups are different groups of people within a given culture, context, and history who are at risk of being subjected to multiple discrimination due to the interplay of different personal characteristics or grounds
• These personal characteristics or grounds include sex, gender, age, ethnicity, religion or beliefs, health status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education or income, or living in various geographical locations