Question 1a Outline the roles of the family in an African context (15)

(According to Ritzer,G 1992) , the family in Africa is a complex institution and one cannot
describe it without falling into the trap of generalizations and reductionism. Nevertheless, the
family in Africa is the basic social unit founded on kinship, marriage, adoption and other
relational aspects. The family is also marked by tensions between African cultural values,
Christian teachings, secularism, religions and other ideologies. The family is a unit of
production, consumption, reproduction and accumulation. In its simplest form, it consists of a
husband, wife and children, and in its complex and most common form it is extended to include
grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters who may have their own children and other
immediate relatives. In the traditional pre-colonial society, polygamy was practiced and such
marriages contributed to the extension of family relationships by incorporating many people. The
extended family formed and still forms the basis of all social cooperation and responsibility. In
traditional society, the wider family was the primary place where an individual exercised his or
her freedom. The individual existed in connection to a larger group, including his or her wider
family.

Stable satisfaction of Sexual needs as one of the first role of a family. This is the most
important essential function of family in the African context. Family has been performing this
functions since the inceptions of human civilization. It is a well known fact that sex urge is the
most important and powerful instinct and natural urge of human being. It is the primary duty of
family to satisfy the sexual urge of its members in a stable and desirable way. Through the
mechanism of marriage family regulate the sexual behavior of it’s members. Because satisfaction
of sex instinct brings the desire for life long partnership of husband and wife. Satisfaction of this
sex needs in a desirable way helps in the normal development of personality. Ancient African
Philosopher opines that satisfaction of sex needs is the primary objective of family. If it is
suppressed it creates personality maladjustments.

Procreation and Rearing of Children it is another important sectional role of a family. In the
African culture it is believed that child bearing completes a family. Necessary arrangement of
stable satisfaction of sexual urge resulted in procreation. Family provides the legitimate basis for
production of children. It institutionalizes the process of procreation. By performing this function
of procreation family contributes to the continuity of family and ultimately human race. Hence
perpetuation of human race or society is the most important function of family. Not only the
production of children but also child rearing is another important function of family. Family is
the only place where the function of child rearing is better performed. It provides food, shelter,
affection, protection and security to all its members. It plays a vital role in the process of
socialization of child. It provides healthy atmosphere in which the personality of the child
develops properly. Family takes care of the child at the time of need. Hence it is rightly remarked
that family is an institution par excellence for the procreation and rearing of children. It has no
parallels.

Provision of Home moreover, family perform another important role of providing a home for
common living to all it’s members. (Scott J. 2006) cited that it is only in a home that children are
born and brought up. Even if children are born in hospitals in modern time still they are taken
care of and properly nourished in a home only. Because family and a home have no substitute. In
a home all the members of family live together and a child is brought up under the strict
vigilance of all it’s members. All the members need a home to live happily with comfort, peace
and protection. A home provides emotional and psychological support to all it’s members. Man’s
necessity of love and human response got fulfilled here. Family provides recreation to it’s
members. In a home family performs the role of a modern club. Man got peace by living in a
home.

Socialization furthermore, It is another important essential role of family. It is said man is not
born human but made human. New born human baby became human being after they are
socialized. Family plays an important role in the socialization process. It is one of the primary
agents of socialization. Living in a family human baby learns norms, values, morals and ideals of
society. He learns culture and acquires character through the process of socialization. His
personality develops in the course of his living in family. From family he learns what is right and
wrong and what is good or bad. Through socialization he became a social man and acquires good
character. (Newman D.M)

Religious functions more so in Africa they are different religions. Family is the center of all
religious activities. All the family members offer their prayers together and observe different
religious rites, rituals and practices jointly. All the members believe in a particular religion and
observe religious ceremonies at home. Children learn different religious values from their
parents. Living in a spiritual atmosphere spirituality develops among the children. Family
transmits religious beliefs and practices from one generation to another. But at present family
became more secular in their outlook. Common family worship became very rare and absolute.
Still family continues to play an important role in shaping religious attitude of its members.

Cultural functions, family also performs several cultural functions as well. It preserves different
cultural traits. Man learns and acquires culture from family and transmits it to succeeding
generations. That is why family is considered as center of culture. Family performs a number of
social functions. It teaches about social customs, mores, traditions, norms, etiquette to the
coming generations. Family exercises social control over its members and bring them into
conformity with accepted standards. Senior members of family directly control the behavior of
children and thereby they became a good citizen.

Conclusion- In addition a Family as a primary social group performs several health related
functions for its members. It look after the health and vigor of its members. It takes care of the
sick old and aged persons of the family. By providing necessary nutritive food to its members
family takes care of the health of all. Of course modern family delegates some of its health
related functions to hospital. The child is born today in a hospital or in a clinic and taken care of
by nurses. Family-performs several recreational functions for it’s members by entertaining them
in various ways. In ancient period family was the only center of recreation. All the members
together organize family feasts, visit the family relations organize family picnics.
Question 2

What are the main causes of problems in the family institution (15)

According to Archer, J. 2000, the institution of family is the site of a number of social problems.
These include intimate partner violence (IPV), child abuse, and elderly abuse. The effects of
violence on family members produce immediate negative outcomes and negative outcomes that
span over the life course and that reach into the second generation. Other family problems may
coexist with family violence. Divorce causes emotional upset. There is a relationship between
divorce and poverty for women and children and more negative outcomes for children of
divorced parents. Drug abuse and abandonment in families harm adults and children. Society
takes steps to lower the incidence and prevalence of each problem, except for divorce. Divorce is
common and is generally considered socially acceptable, even though negative outcomes for
adults and children are associated with divorce. These family problems are likely to extend into
the future.

Domestic violence is a significant social problem in the United States. It is often characterized as
violence between household or family members, specifically spouses. To include unmarried,
cohabitating, and same-sex couples, family sociologists have created the term intimate partner
violence. Women are the primary victims of intimate partner violence. It is estimated that one in
four women has experienced some form of IPV in her lifetime (compared to one in seven men)
(Catalano 2007). IPV may include physical violence, such as punching, kicking, or other
methods of inflicting physical pain; sexual violence, such as rape or other forced sexual acts;
threats and intimidation that imply either physical or sexual abuse; and emotional abuse, such as
harming another’s sense of self-worth through words or controlling another’s behavior. IPV
often starts as emotional abuse and then escalates to other forms or combinations of abuse
(Centers for Disease Control 2012).
Divorce and remarry, while fairly common and accepted in modern U.S. society, was once a
word that would only be whispered and was accompanied by gestures of disapproval. In 1960,
divorce was generally uncommon, affecting only 9.1 out of every 1,000 married persons. That
number more than doubled (to 20.3) by 1975 and peaked in 1980 at 22.6 (Popenoe 2007). Over
the last quarter century, divorce rates have dropped steadily and are now similar to those in 1970.
The dramatic increase in divorce rates after the 1960s has been associated with the liberalization
of divorce laws and the shift in societal make up due to women increasingly entering the
workforce (Michael 1978). The decrease in divorce rates can be attributed to two probable
factors: an increase in the age at which people get married, and an increased level of education
among those who marry—both of which have been found to promote greater marital stability.

Communication open and honest communication is vital for healthy families. Without clear,
effective communication, members of the family won’t feel heard. Your children should feel like
they can talk to you about anything, and that you value their feelings, thoughts, and dreams. You
should share your feelings with them too. Sometimes we assume that other people know our
needs, feelings, and opinions without telling them. Your family can get through a lot if you have
a strong communication system. Physical expressions, gestures, and even an affectionate look
are all effective ways to communicate.

Effective discipline deciding how to discipline a child can be one of the hardest parts of being a
parent. Ensuring that your children have manners and respect is extremely important. Many
parents don’t know how to respond to negative behaviour. Determining which type of discipline
is right for your family should be a personal choice based on your temperament, your child’s
temperament, and your family’s discipline philosophies.

Balancing work/school and family life in today’s household, it’s common for both parents to
work. This is good for your finances, but it can put a strain on your family life. With chores,
schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social events, it can be hard to find a healthy balance –
but it is not impossible. First, make sure you and the rest of your family share the load of the
chores. Try to eat together as a family at least once a day, or set a date where you do something
you all enjoy and make it a routine.

Child Abuse Children are among the most helpless victims of abuse. Infants are also often
victims of physical abuse, particularly in the form of violent shaking. This type of physical abuse
is referred to as shaken-baby syndrome, which describes a group of medical symptoms such as
brain swelling and retinal hemorrhage resulting from forcefully shaking or causing impact to an
infant’s head. A baby’s cry is the number one trigger for shaking. Parents may find themselves
unable to soothe a baby’s concerns and may take their frustration out on the child by shaking him
or her violently. The long-term effects of child abuse impact the physical, mental, and emotional
wellbeing of a child. Injury, poor health, and mental instability occur at a high rate in this group,
with 80 percent meeting the criteria of one or more psychiatric disorders, such as depression,
anxiety, or suicidal behavior, by age twenty-one. Abused children may also suffer from cognitive
and social difficulties. Behavioral consequences will affect most, but not all, of child abuse
victims. Children of abuse are 25 percent more likely, as adolescents, to suffer from difficulties
like poor academic performance and teen pregnancy, or to engage in behaviors like drug abuse
and general delinquency.

Today’s families face a variety of challenges, specifically to marital stability. While divorce rates
have decreased in the last twenty-five years, many family members, especially children, still
experience the negative effects of divorce. Children are also negatively impacted by violence and
abuse within the home, with nearly 6 million children abused each year. With the divorce rate
higher than it’s ever been, many children will experience a divorce, live with a single parent, and
become part of a blended family if one of their parents remarry. These family challenges can be
distressing for all members of the family. In a blended family, you will have to do a lot of
compromising, mesh parenting styles, and combine efforts to manage complex households.
Things can be even more complicated if there are children on both sides. It’s important to make
all the children feel important and included.     
References

Amato, Paul. (2000). “What Children Learn From Divorce.” Journal of Family Issues
21(8):1061–1086.

American Community Survey. (2011). “Marital Events of Americans: 2009.” The U.S. Census
Bureau.

Barr, Ronald. (2007). “What Is All That Crying About?” Bulletin of the Centres of Excellence for
Children’s Wellbeing 6(2).

Benson, Michael, and Greer Fox. (2004). When Violence Hits Home: How Economics and
Neighborhood Play a Role. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Justice.

Berlin, Lisa. (2009). “Correlates and Consequences of Spanking and Verbal Punishment for
Low-Income White, African American, and Mexican American Toddlers.” Child Development
80(5):1403–1420.

Carlson, M., S. Harris, and G. Holden. (1999). “Protective Orders and Domestic Violence: Risk
Factors for Re abuse.” Journal of Family Violence 14(2):205–226.

Catalano, S. (2007). Intimate Partner Violence in the United States. Washington, DC: US
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Newman D.M and O”brien J (2003),. Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life, 6th
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Ritzer, G. (1992). Sociology, Theory, Third edition. New York, McGraw-Hill.

Scott, J. (2006). Social Theory: Central issues in Sociology Landon Sage Publications.