Family

• Family


  A socially recognized group with emotional connections and serving as an economic unit. Families can share goals and values without necessarily living together.
• Traditional Family Structure


  • Parents and children
  • Grandparents and unmarried relatives
  • Grandparent-led families
• Old-fashioned View of Family

  Defined by blood or ancestry, often resembling clans
• Modern Definition of Family

  Embraces diverse structures beyond bloodlines, including single-parent households, same-sex couples with adopted children, and grandparent-led families
• Society now accepts various family structures, including single-parent families, same-sex families, and grandparent-led families
• Gender Role Learning in the Family


  Children instinctively learn gender roles within the family environment. Traditional gender roles often involve the father as the provider and the mother as the homemaker, with assigned tasks for boys and girls reflecting these roles.
• Societal changes, such as women entering the workforce

  Have challenged traditional gender roles
• Economic recessions, like that of the 1930s


  Contributed to the rise of women in the labor force, altering perceptions of gender roles within families
• Influence of Family on Behavior

  The family serves as a crucial institution influencing individuals' behavior and perceptions in various social contexts, including school, work, and public spaces. Children's observations and experiences within the family shape their interactions and understanding of gender roles outside the home.
• Impact of Family Structure on Gender Roles

  Changes in family structure, such as the loss of a parent or the presence of a same-sex couple with adopted children, can influence children's concepts of gender roles. For example, in the event of a parent's death, the surviving parent may take on additional roles, affecting children's perceptions of gender roles within the family. Similarly, diverse family structures transmit gender socialization messages through parental modeling of gender-based behaviors.
• Types of Family


  • Nuclear/conjugal family
  • Extended family
  • Blended/reconstituted family
  • Joint family
• Parents as Primary Influencers


  Parents play a very significant role in socializing children's gender identity, providing the first lessons about gender during early childhood.
• Researchers face challenges in distinguishing between the influences of parents on children and the influences of children on parents, necessitating careful interpretation of findings.
• Gender-Stereotypical Expectations


  Parents hold expectations about gender-typed traits, abilities, activities, and roles, with some showing traditional views and others expressing egalitarian attitudes. Fathers tend to be more rigid in their expectations for sons than daughters.
• Differential Treatment of Daughters and Sons


  Parents may treat girls and boys differently, often through the encouragement of gender-stereotyped activities and toys, reinforcing gender stereotypes.
• Efforts to foster more flexible gender roles in children are recommended to promote socioemotional and cognitive development. Parents can encourage diverse play activities and challenge gender stereotypes through discussion.
• More research is needed to understand the extent and manner of parental influence on children's gender development, including the relative importance of parents compared to other socializing agents.
• Family as an Agent of Change

  Families serve as fundamental units to protect and empower girls and women. Family relationships profoundly influence girls' and women's access to education, employment, and participation in civic and community activities.
• Incorporating Family Perspectives


  A family perspective is essential in understanding social behavior and effecting societal change. Families play a central role in integrating individuals into society, coping with adversity, and socializing children.
• Despite the recognized importance of families, academic and policy discourses on gender often overlook the family perspective, leading to conflicting initiatives and policies. A comprehensive approach acknowledges the cultural context, intergenerational relationships, and individual circumstances within families.
• Family Resources and Processes

  Families supply social and cultural capital and significantly influence individuals' life chances. Incorporating an understanding of family roles and processes into policy recommendations and initiatives is crucial for achieving gender equality and empowerment.
• Engaging Boys and Men

  Strategies to end gender-based violence and discrimination against girls and women must involve engaging boys and men. Recognizing the role of families ensures that policies and initiatives consider intergenerational relationships and family dynamics.
• Vigdis Finnbogadottir


  First female president in the world, made history as the world's first democratically elected female president, serving as the President of Iceland from 1980 to 1996, winning three consecutive elections. Her presidency symbolized Iceland's commitment to gender equality and marked a significant milestone in the advancement of women's rights and representation in politics. She was also a prominent cultural figure, advocating for Icelandic language and literature up to the international stage. Following her presidency, she continued to be an advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment on the global stage, working with organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations. She received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to politics, culture, and gender equality, both domestically and internationally.