THE FAMILY
THE FAMILY
A family is a social institution in societies that unite people in a cooperative group to oversee the
bearing and rising of children.
Functions of a family
i) Satisfaction of sexual needs
It is the first essential function of the family. A society cannot survive unless it has a system of
replacing its member from one generation to other. It provides the stable institutionalized means
with specific individual occupying the social roles of mother and father.
ii) Socialization
The family is the first and most important setting for child rearing. It continues throughout the life
cycle
iii) Material and emotional security
It can serve as offering physical protection, emotional support and financial support thus people
living in a family tend to be healthier than people living alone.
iv.) Social Legitimate birth into a family gives the individual a stable place in the society children
inherit from their parents not only the maternal goods but also social status. They belong to the
same race, ethnicity religion and social class.
Types of family
a) The Nuclear Family:
This family consists of husband, wife and children. This is the characteristic of modern societies,
however, urban societies consist of nuclear families because of its resembling structure and
harmony with the urban societies.
Characteristics of Nuclear Family:
1. It consists of husband, wife and children with no external interference and thus, having stability.
THE FAMILY
2. Social interaction is intense and deep, closeness and sacredness is more and individual gets more
attention and have a deep impression on the personalities.
3. There is no cultural rigidity but there is a tendency to change, to innovate and to accept the
changes easily that take place in society.
4. The relationship of husband and wife is based upon mental regard and harmony by
giving weight to each other’s opinion and also giving the right of opinion to the children.
5. It is a unit and presents the best example of economic cooperation with intense unit and
dependence on each other.
b) Extended Family:
A family consisting of parent’s children and near relations likes grandfather or uncle etc. living in
a same house. This was current in traditional families
Characteristics of extended family
i. Its number is more, consisting of three generations i.e., parents, children, grand-children.
ii. The eldest of the family, man or woman, is head of the family who decides family matters and
all obey his or her orders.
iii. All economic affairs are common and are spent with the approval of the head of the family just
as, in India Pakistan, agricultural activities are done collectively and income is used commonly.
iv. This is a custodian of social values, cultural traditions and customs. In matters of death,
marriage occasions and cultural tradition are abided by this type of family and dislikes any change.
v. Education of children in such a family, is a collective responsibility, lacking individual attention
and thus producing personal problems. The abilities and personality of an individual do not get
chance of promotion and personal complications become serious.
c) Adoptive family:
A family where one or more of the children has been adopted.
d) Bi-racial or multi-racial family:
A family where the parents are members of different racial identity groups.
e) Blended family:
THE FAMILY
A family that consists of members from two (or more) previous families. Families may use a
variety of terms for the various family members (Step Dad, Gary, etc.).
f) Foster family: A family where one or more of the children is legally a temporary member of
the household. This “temporary” period may be as short as a few days or as long as the child’s
entire childhood.
g )Gay or Lesbian family:
A family where one or both of the parents’ sexual orientation is gay or lesbian.
h) Patriarchy Family:
Such a family, where power to decide lies with father or man. The headship of the family is with
the elder man or the father. Women are not given importance and no consent or suggestion is taken
from them.
i) Matriarchy Family:
Where a woman or elder woman of a family decides matters. Men have no concern with family
matters and an elder woman decides matters and has all economic matters and sources with her.
j)Egalitarian Family:
In this type of family, neither man nor woman is authority to decide but both wife and husband
give equal importance to each other’s suggestion. Decisions are made with mutual consent.
Children are also included but it does not mean that every decision is made in a democratic manner
but domestic matters pertain to mother and business matters and education pertain to father. In the
selection of mate, children are consulted. This type is current in modern industrial society and is
thought a symbol c I culture and civilization.
Marriage
Contractual relationship between husband and wife to live together.
Reasons for Marriage
− To love and assist one another.
THE FAMILY
− To have a lifetime companion.
− To have realistic expectations and shared goals.
− To feel comfortable doing premarital counseling to make certain this is the right choice.
− To feel connected with a person you love and to grow with that person emotionally.
− Procreation purposes.
Systems of Marriage in Kenya
Five different systems of marriages systems in Kenya are:
(i) Civil marriages
(ii) Christian marriages
(iii) Hindu marriages
(iv.) Muslim marriages
(v) Customary marriages.
Types of marriage
- Monogamous marriage. It is a type of marriage involving two parties that is husband and wife.
- Polygamous marriage. This is a type of marriage that takes two forms
(a) Polygyny marriage. This is a type of marriage that unites one man with two or more females.
(b) Polyandry. This is a type of marriage that unite one female and the two or more males.
PRIVILEGES
Def: The principle or condition of enjoying special rights or immunities.
Assignment (Group discussion on people who enjoy privileges in the society)
Modernization
Modernization is process of social change initiated by industrialization in the mid-18th century
The process of using the most recent methods, ideas, equipment, etc. so that something becomes
or seems more modern
THE FAMILY
Factors of modernization
− Education
− Culture
− Religion
− Money
− Globalization
− Technology
− Laws
Impacts of Modernization
(i) Fertility change i.e. use of family planning
(ii) Change in age at marriage and age at first birth
(iii) Dishonesty and unfaithfulness among marriage couples
(iv.) Change in size and structure of the households
(v) Female headed households
(vi.) Marriage dissolution/divorce and separation
(vii) Women’s economic participation
DRUG ABUSE
The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug.
Causes of drug abuse
a) Unstable home environment, often due to drug abuse or mental illness of the parent
b) A poor relationship with parents
c) Use of drugs by friends / peers
d) Permissive attitude towards their own drug use and the drug use of the adolescent
e) Behavioral problems combined with poor parenting
f) Poor achievement in school
g) Apparent ambivalence or approval of drug use in the school, peer group or community
h) Availability of drugs from friends
Alterations in Mood
THE FAMILY
One of the most obvious side effects of prescription drug abuse is the alterations in the user’s
mood. This means that one moment the user could be very calm and relaxed and soon after they
may seem very irritable. Overtime, their mood changes or alterations in behavior may seem closer
apart; this is because they are developing a tolerance to the prescription and need more of it to feel
the same desirable feeling.
Effects of drug abuse
a) Impotence
b) Health problems
c) Erratic Behaviour
d) Confusion
e) Anxiety
f) Suicidal Tendencies
g) Addiction
h) Aggressiveness or irritability
i) Lack of pleasure from previously enjoyed activities
