Family as a Social Institution Review

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definition of family as a social institution, various family compositions, functionalist and feminist perspectives, and comparative studies of families in China and Australia.

Social Institution

A stable system of social patterns that define and organize social life, characterized by specific roles, norms, beliefs, and values.

Social Construct

A concept or practice that is created and maintained by social and cultural processes rather than being an inherent biological reality; examples include the changing concept of family.

Nuclear Family

A contemporary family composition typically consisting of two parents and their dependent children.

Extended Family

A family structure that extends beyond the nuclear family, including relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins living nearby or in the same household.

One-Parent Family

A family composition consisting of a single parent raising one or more children.

Blended Family

A family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships.

Same-Sex Parent Family

A family composition where two people of the same sex or gender identity act as the parents of a child or children.

Multigenerational Family

A family household containing more than two generations of a family living together.

Couple-Only Family

A family composition consisting of two people in a relationship without children.

Family of Choice

A contemporary family arrangement where individuals choose their family members based on emotional bonds rather than strictly biological or legal ties.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective that views the family as a sub-system of society that performs essential roles such as socialisation, reproduction, economic stability, and emotional support.

Feminism

A sociological perspective that examines the family in terms of gender inequality, focusing on patriarchy, the division of labour, and how family roles may oppress women.

Patriarchy

A social system in which power is primarily held by men, often discussed in feminist views of the family regarding gender roles and socialisation.

Comparative Method

A sociological methodology involving the study of the experience of families in one society (e.g., Australia) compared with families in other societies (e.g., China).

One Child Policy

A government policy in China intended to control population growth, which significantly impacted cultural beliefs, population pyramids, and family structures.

Baby Bonus / Paid Parental Leave

Examples of Australian government policies or assistance designed to provide financial support and impact the experience of family life.

No-Fault Divorce / IVF / The Pill

Key developments and factors that have influenced the legal, biological, and social experience of modern family life.

Assimilation & Protectionism

Government policies that led to the Stolen Generation, involving the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their parents to be integrated into white society.

The Stolen Generation

The historical consequence of Australian government policies where Indigenous children were removed from their families, impacting the institution of the family for Indigenous Australians.