Changes

'''Family''' denotes a group of people affiliated by a common ancestry, affinity or co-residence. Although the [[concept]] of consanguinity originally referred to relations by "blood,"  [[Anthropology|anthropologists]] have argued that one must understand the idea of "blood" [[metaphor]]ically, and that many societies understand 'family' through other concepts rather than through genetic proximity.

'''Family''' denotes a group of people affiliated by a common ancestry, affinity or co-residence. Although the [[concept]] of consanguinity originally referred to relations by "blood,"  [[Anthropology|anthropologists]] have argued that one must understand the idea of "blood" [[metaphor]]ically, and that many societies understand 'family' through other concepts rather than through genetic proximity.

It has been argued by many [[sociology|sociologists]], [[anthropology|anthropologists]] [[philosophers]], and  [[psychoanalysts]] that the main function of the [[family]] is to perpetuate [[society]]. Either socially, with the "social production of children", or biologically, or both. Thus, one's [[experience]] of one's family shifts over time. From the perspective of children, the family is a family of orientation: the family serves to locate children socially, and plays a major role in their [[culture|enculturation]] and socialization. From the point of view of the parent(s), the family is a family of procreation the goal of which is to produce and enculturate and socialize children. However, producing children is not the only function of the family; in societies with a [[sexuality|sexual]] division of labor, [[marriage]], and the resulting relationship between two people, is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household.

It has been argued by many [[sociology|sociologists]], [[anthropology|anthropologists]] [[philosophers]], and  [[psychoanalysts]] that the main function of the [[family]] is to perpetuate [[society]]. Either socially, with the "social production of children", or biologically, or both. Thus, one's [[experience]] of one's family shifts over time. From the perspective of children, the family is a family of orientation: the family serves to locate children socially, and plays a major role in their [[culture|enculturation]] and socialization. From the point of view of the parent(s), the family is a family of procreation the goal of which is to produce and enculturate and socialize children. However, producing children is not the only function of the family; in societies with a [[sexuality|sexual]] division of labor, [[marriage]], and the resulting relationship between two people, is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household.

A conjugal family consists of one or more parents/guardians and their children. The most common form of this family is regularly referred to as a nuclear family. [http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth370/gloss.html] - "a woman and/or husband and dependent children." -  

A conjugal family consists of one or more parents/guardians and their children. The most common form of this family is regularly referred to as a nuclear family. [https://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth370/gloss.html] - "a woman and/or husband and dependent children." -  

A consanguineal family consists of a parent and his or her children, and other people. This kind of family is common where mothers do not have the resources to rear their children on their own, and especially where [[property]] is inherited. When important property is owned by men, consanguineal families commonly consist of a [[husband]] and [[wife]], their children and other members of the husband's family.  

A consanguineal family consists of a parent and his or her children, and other people. This kind of family is common where mothers do not have the resources to rear their children on their own, and especially where [[property]] is inherited. When important property is owned by men, consanguineal families commonly consist of a [[husband]] and [[wife]], their children and other members of the husband's family.  

Archaeologist Lewis Henry Morgan (1818–1881) performed the first survey of kinship terminologies in use around the world.  Though much of his work is now considered dated, he argued that [[kinship]] terminologies reflect different sets of distinctions. For example, most kinship terminologies distinguish between [[gender|sexes]] (the difference between a brother and a sister) and between generations (the difference between a child and a parent). Moreover, he argued, kinship terminologies distinguish between relatives by blood and [[marriage]] (although recently some anthropologists have argued that many societies define kinship in terms other than "blood").

Archaeologist Lewis Henry Morgan (1818–1881) performed the first survey of kinship terminologies in use around the world.  Though much of his work is now considered dated, he argued that [[kinship]] terminologies reflect different sets of distinctions. For example, most kinship terminologies distinguish between [[gender|sexes]] (the difference between a brother and a sister) and between generations (the difference between a child and a parent). Moreover, he argued, kinship terminologies distinguish between relatives by blood and [[marriage]] (although recently some anthropologists have argued that many societies define kinship in terms other than "blood").

Morgan made a distinction between kinship systems that use ''classificatory'' terminology and those that use ''descriptive'' terminology. Morgan's distinction is widely misunderstood, even by contemporary anthropologists. Classificatory systems are generally and erroneously understood to be those that "class together" with a single term relatives who actually do not have the same type of relationship to ego. (What defines "same type of relationship" under such definitions seems to be genealogical relationship. This is more than a bit problematic given that any genealogical description, no matter how standardized, employs [[words]] originating in a folk understanding of kinship.) What Morgan's terminology actually differentiates are those (classificatory) kinship systems that do not distinguish lineal and collateral relationships and those (descriptive) kinship systems which do. Morgan, a lawyer, came to make this distinction in an effort to understand [[Seneca]] inheritance practices. A Seneca man's effects were inherited by his sisters' children rather than by his own children. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0011-3204%28197903%2920%3A1%3C131%3AAVOMOK%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E]     

Morgan made a distinction between kinship systems that use ''classificatory'' terminology and those that use ''descriptive'' terminology. Morgan's distinction is widely misunderstood, even by contemporary anthropologists. Classificatory systems are generally and erroneously understood to be those that "class together" with a single term relatives who actually do not have the same type of relationship to ego. (What defines "same type of relationship" under such definitions seems to be genealogical relationship. This is more than a bit problematic given that any genealogical description, no matter how standardized, employs [[words]] originating in a folk understanding of kinship.) What Morgan's terminology actually differentiates are those (classificatory) kinship systems that do not distinguish lineal and collateral relationships and those (descriptive) kinship systems which do. Morgan, a lawyer, came to make this distinction in an effort to understand [[Seneca]] inheritance practices. A Seneca man's effects were inherited by his sisters' children rather than by his own children. [https://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0011-3204%28197903%2920%3A1%3C131%3AAVOMOK%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E]     

   

   

Morgan identified six basic patterns of kinship terminologies:

Morgan identified six basic patterns of kinship terminologies:

These types refer to [[ideal]] or normative [[structure]]s found in particular societies. Any [[society]] will exhibit some variation in the actual composition and conception of families. Much sociological, [[history|historical]] and [[anthropology|anthropological]] research dedicates itself to the understanding of this variation, and of changes in the family form over time. Thus, some speak of the '''bourgeois family''', a family structure arising out of 16th-century and 17th-century European households, in which the family centers on a marriage between a man and woman, with strictly-defined [[gender]]-roles. The man typically has responsibility for income and support, the woman for home and family matters.  

These types refer to [[ideal]] or normative [[structure]]s found in particular societies. Any [[society]] will exhibit some variation in the actual composition and conception of families. Much sociological, [[history|historical]] and [[anthropology|anthropological]] research dedicates itself to the understanding of this variation, and of changes in the family form over time. Thus, some speak of the '''bourgeois family''', a family structure arising out of 16th-century and 17th-century European households, in which the family centers on a marriage between a man and woman, with strictly-defined [[gender]]-roles. The man typically has responsibility for income and support, the woman for home and family matters.  

Philosophers and psychiatrists like [[Gilles Deleuze|Deleuze]], [[Félix Guattari|Guattari]], [[Ronald David Laing|Laing]], [[Wilhelm Reich|Reich]], explained that the patriarchal-family conceived in the West [[tradition]] (husband-wife-children isolated from the outside) serves the purpose of perpetuating a propertarian and [[authoritarian]] society. The child grows according to the Oedipal model, which is typical of the structure of capitalist societies, and he becomes in turn owner of submissive children and protector of the woman.[http://www.feltrinelli.it/FattiLibriInterna?id_fatto=3891]  (article appeared on ''Il Manifesto'' October 15 2004) [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8807840545&id=H19BcLL2thEC][http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0374502684/] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415270995&id=STuD7NFAYy8C Adorno]'' ISBN 0415270995, [http://pep-web.org/document.php?id=psc.035.0003a]  

Philosophers and psychiatrists like [[Gilles Deleuze|Deleuze]], [[Félix Guattari|Guattari]], [[Ronald David Laing|Laing]], [[Wilhelm Reich|Reich]], explained that the patriarchal-family conceived in the West [[tradition]] (husband-wife-children isolated from the outside) serves the purpose of perpetuating a propertarian and [[authoritarian]] society. The child grows according to the Oedipal model, which is typical of the structure of capitalist societies, and he becomes in turn owner of submissive children and protector of the woman.[https://www.feltrinelli.it/FattiLibriInterna?id_fatto=3891]  (article appeared on ''Il Manifesto'' October 15 2004) [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8807840545&id=H19BcLL2thEC][https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0374502684/] [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415270995&id=STuD7NFAYy8C Adorno]'' ISBN 0415270995, [https://pep-web.org/document.php?id=psc.035.0003a]  

The family institution conflicts with [[human]] [[nature]], and one of its core functions is performing a suppression of instincts, a repression of desire commencing with the earliest age of the child. This psychic repression is such that social repression becomes desired, forming docile subjects for society. [[Michel Foucault]], in his systematic study of [[sexuality]], observed more precisely that desire, other than being repressed, is shaped and used as a tool, to control the individual and alter interpersonal relationships. organized religion, through moral prohibitions, and the economic power, through advertising, make use of unconscious sex drives. Dominating desire, they dominate individuals.

The family institution conflicts with [[human]] [[nature]], and one of its core functions is performing a suppression of instincts, a repression of desire commencing with the earliest age of the child. This psychic repression is such that social repression becomes desired, forming docile subjects for society. [[Michel Foucault]], in his systematic study of [[sexuality]], observed more precisely that desire, other than being repressed, is shaped and used as a tool, to control the individual and alter interpersonal relationships. organized religion, through moral prohibitions, and the economic power, through advertising, make use of unconscious sex drives. Dominating desire, they dominate individuals.

{{Quote|the [conjugal] family organization, precisely to the extent that it was insular and heteromorphous with respect to the other [[power]] mechanisms, was used to support the great "maneuvers" employed for the [[Malthusian]] control of the birthrate, for the populationist incitements, for the medicalization of sex and the psychiatrization of its nongenital forms.

{{Quote|the [conjugal] family organization, precisely to the extent that it was insular and heteromorphous with respect to the other [[power]] mechanisms, was used to support the great "maneuvers" employed for the [[Malthusian]] control of the birthrate, for the populationist incitements, for the medicalization of sex and the psychiatrization of its nongenital forms.

According to the work of scholars [[Max Weber]], Alan Macfarlane, Steven Ozment, [[Jack Goody]] and Peter Laslett, the huge transformation that led to modern marriage in Western democracies was "fueled by the religio-cultural [[value]] system provided by elements of Judaism, early Christianity, Roman Catholic canon law and the Protestant Reformation".[http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3322]

According to the work of scholars [[Max Weber]], Alan Macfarlane, Steven Ozment, [[Jack Goody]] and Peter Laslett, the huge transformation that led to modern marriage in Western democracies was "fueled by the religio-cultural [[value]] system provided by elements of Judaism, early Christianity, Roman Catholic canon law and the Protestant Reformation".[https://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=3322]

In contemporary Europe and the United States, people in academic, political and civil sectors have called attention to single-father-headed households, and families headed by same-sex couples although academics point out that these forms exist in other societies. Also the term blended family or ''stepfamily'' describes families with mixed parents: one or both parents remarried, bringing children of the former family into the new family.<ref>[http://www.blendedandblessed.com/BlendedBlog.dsp Blended and Blessed] - Encouraging Step-Families

In contemporary Europe and the United States, people in academic, political and civil sectors have called attention to single-father-headed households, and families headed by same-sex couples although academics point out that these forms exist in other societies. Also the term blended family or ''stepfamily'' describes families with mixed parents: one or both parents remarried, bringing children of the former family into the new family.<ref>[https://www.blendedandblessed.com/BlendedBlog.dsp Blended and Blessed] - Encouraging Step-Families

===Contemporary views of the family===

===Contemporary views of the family===

Social conservatives often express concern over a purported decay of the family and see this as a sign of the crumbling of contemporary society. They feel that the family structures of the past were superior to those today and believe that families were more stable and happier at a time when they did not have to contend with problems such as illegitimate children and divorce. Others dispute this theory, claiming “there is no golden age of the family gleaming at us in the far back historical past”.

Social conservatives often express concern over a purported decay of the family and see this as a sign of the crumbling of contemporary society. They feel that the family structures of the past were superior to those today and believe that families were more stable and happier at a time when they did not have to contend with problems such as illegitimate children and divorce. Others dispute this theory, claiming “there is no golden age of the family gleaming at us in the far back historical past”.

The Family Equality Council [http://www.familyequality.org Family Equality Council] envisions a future where all families, regardless of [[creation]] or composition, will be able to live in [[community|communities]] that recognize, respect, protect, and celebrate them.  The organization en[[vision]]s a world that celebrates a diversity of family constellations and respects individuals for supporting one another and sustaining loving families.

The Family Equality Council [https://www.familyequality.org Family Equality Council] envisions a future where all families, regardless of [[creation]] or composition, will be able to live in [[community|communities]] that recognize, respect, protect, and celebrate them.  The organization en[[vision]]s a world that celebrates a diversity of family constellations and respects individuals for supporting one another and sustaining loving families.

A study performed by scientists from Iceland found that mating with a relative can significantly increase the number of children in a family. A lot of societies consider inbreeding unacceptable. Scientists warn that inbreeding may raise the chances of a child getting two copies of disease-causing recessive genes and in such a way it may lead to genetic disorders and higher infant mortality.

A study performed by scientists from Iceland found that mating with a relative can significantly increase the number of children in a family. A lot of societies consider inbreeding unacceptable. Scientists warn that inbreeding may raise the chances of a child getting two copies of disease-causing recessive genes and in such a way it may lead to genetic disorders and higher infant mortality.

Scientists found that couples formed of relatives had more children and grandchildren than unrelated couples. The study revealed that when a husband and wife were third cousins, they had an average of 4.0 children and 9.2 grandchildren. If a woman was in relationship with her eighth cousin, then the number of children declined, showing an average of 3,3 children and 7,3 grandchildren . [http://www.infoniac.com/science/related-couples-have-more-children.html]

Scientists found that couples formed of relatives had more children and grandchildren than unrelated couples. The study revealed that when a husband and wife were third cousins, they had an average of 4.0 children and 9.2 grandchildren. If a woman was in relationship with her eighth cousin, then the number of children declined, showing an average of 3,3 children and 7,3 grandchildren . [https://www.infoniac.com/science/related-couples-have-more-children.html]

==Size==

==Size==

Natalism is the [[belief]] that [[sexuality|human reproduction]] is the basis for [[individual]] [[existence]], and therefore promotes having large families.

Natalism is the [[belief]] that [[sexuality|human reproduction]] is the basis for [[individual]] [[existence]], and therefore promotes having large families.

Many religions, e.g., [[Judaism]] [http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/NipponDawn/torah.html], encourage their followers to procreate and have many children.  

Many religions, e.g., [[Judaism]] [https://www.angelfire.com/ca2/NipponDawn/torah.html], encourage their followers to procreate and have many children.  

In recent times, there has been an increasing amount of family planning and a following decrease in total fertility rate in many parts of the world, in part due to concerns of overpopulation.

In recent times, there has been an increasing amount of family planning and a following decrease in total fertility rate in many parts of the world, in part due to concerns of overpopulation.

* Foucault, Michel (1978). ''The History of Sexuality: Volume I: An Introduction''. New York Vintage Books. ISBN-13: 978-0679724698

* Foucault, Michel (1978). ''The History of Sexuality: Volume I: An Introduction''. New York Vintage Books. ISBN-13: 978-0679724698

* ''More Than Kin and Less Than Kind'', Douglas W. Mock, Belknap Press, 2004, ISBN 0-674-01285-2

* ''More Than Kin and Less Than Kind'', Douglas W. Mock, Belknap Press, 2004, ISBN 0-674-01285-2

*Denis Chevallier, « Famille et parenté : une bibliographie », Terrain, Numéro 4 - Famille et parenté (mars 1985) , [En ligne], mis en ligne le 17 juillet 2005. URL : http://terrain.revues.org/document2874.html. Consulté le 15 juin 2007.

*Denis Chevallier, « Famille et parenté : une bibliographie », Terrain, Numéro 4 - Famille et parenté (mars 1985) , [En ligne], mis en ligne le 17 juillet 2005. URL : https://terrain.revues.org/document2874.html. Consulté le 15 juin 2007.

*[[Jack Goody]] (1983) ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=LVkYFGqylfQC The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe]'' (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press); translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese. review: {{cite web [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0304-2421%28198505%2914%3A3%3C371%3ANWOTHO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage]

*[[Jack Goody]] (1983) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=LVkYFGqylfQC The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe]'' (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press); translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese. review: {{cite web [https://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0304-2421%28198505%2914%3A3%3C371%3ANWOTHO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage]

* Family & Society. Islamonline.net [http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Zone-English-Family/FYEZone]

* Family & Society. Islamonline.net [https://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Zone-English-Family/FYEZone]

*[[Jacques Lacan]] [1938] (2001) ''Les complexes familiaux dans la formation de l’individu'' ( the familial complexes in the formation of the individual ) ''Essai d’analyse d’une fonction en psychologie'', published in ''[[Autres écrits]]'', Editions du Seuil, 2001, pp. 23-84. First appeared in volume VIII of the ''Encyclopédie française as the entry article for "The Family". [http://www.revue-interrogations.org/article.php?article=70]

*[[Jacques Lacan]] [1938] (2001) ''Les complexes familiaux dans la formation de l’individu'' ( the familial complexes in the formation of the individual ) ''Essai d’analyse d’une fonction en psychologie'', published in ''[[Autres écrits]]'', Editions du Seuil, 2001, pp. 23-84. First appeared in volume VIII of the ''Encyclopédie française as the entry article for "The Family". [https://www.revue-interrogations.org/article.php?article=70]

*Fugier Pascal ''[http://www.revue-interrogations.org/article.php?article=70 Note de lecture on Lacan]'' ¿ Interrogations ? - Revue pluridisciplinaire en sciences de l’homme et de la société. Numéro 4. Formes et figures de la précarité. Juin 2007.

*Fugier Pascal ''[https://www.revue-interrogations.org/article.php?article=70 Note de lecture on Lacan]'' ¿ Interrogations ? - Revue pluridisciplinaire en sciences de l’homme et de la société. Numéro 4. Formes et figures de la précarité. Juin 2007.

*[[Gilles Deleuze]], [[Félix Guattari]] ''Capitalism and Schizophrenia'', consisting of the two volumes ''Anti-Œdipus'' (1972), and ''A Thousand Plateaus'' (1980). See in particular ''Anti-Œdipus'', Part 2, ch 7, pp. 123-33.

*[[Gilles Deleuze]], [[Félix Guattari]] ''Capitalism and Schizophrenia'', consisting of the two volumes ''Anti-Œdipus'' (1972), and ''A Thousand Plateaus'' (1980). See in particular ''Anti-Œdipus'', Part 2, ch 7, pp. 123-33.

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.unh.edu/frl/ Family Research Laboratory]

* [https://www.unh.edu/frl/ Family Research Laboratory]

* Family evolution and contemporary social transformations[http://seres.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/index_archivos/Version%20inglesa%20Historical%20CharacterRev.pdf] (A page of [http://seres.fcs.ucr.ac.cr Estación de Economía Política)]

* Family evolution and contemporary social transformations[https://seres.fcs.ucr.ac.cr/index_archivos/Version%20inglesa%20Historical%20CharacterRev.pdf] (A page of [https://seres.fcs.ucr.ac.cr Estación de Economía Política)]

* [http://www.familyfacts.org Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion] (a Heritage Foundation site)

* [https://www.familyfacts.org Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion] (a Heritage Foundation site)

* [http://www.oneplusone.org.uk/ One Plus One]

* [https://www.oneplusone.org.uk/ One Plus One]

* [http://www.familiesaustralia.org.au/ Families Australia] - independent peak not-for-profit organisation

* [https://www.familiesaustralia.org.au/ Families Australia] - independent peak not-for-profit organisation

* [http://www.unitedfamilies.org United Families International] International organisation

* [https://www.unitedfamilies.org United Families International] International organisation

* [http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family UN - Families and Development]

* [https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family UN - Families and Development]

* ''Wiktionary entries for Western kinship terminology providing multilingual translations''

* ''Wiktionary entries for Western kinship terminology providing multilingual translations''

** [[Wiktionary:mother|mother]], [[Wiktionary:father|father]], [[Wiktionary:son|son]], [[Wiktionary:daughter|daughter]], [[Wiktionary:brother|brother]], [[Wiktionary:sister|sister]]

** [[Wiktionary:mother|mother]], [[Wiktionary:father|father]], [[Wiktionary:son|son]], [[Wiktionary:daughter|daughter]], [[Wiktionary:brother|brother]], [[Wiktionary:sister|sister]]

** [[Wiktionary:uncle|uncle]] [[Wiktionary:aunt|aunt]] [[Wiktionary:nephew|nephew]] [[Wiktionary:niece|niece]]

** [[Wiktionary:uncle|uncle]] [[Wiktionary:aunt|aunt]] [[Wiktionary:nephew|nephew]] [[Wiktionary:niece|niece]]

** [[Wiktionary:cousin|cousin]]

** [[Wiktionary:cousin|cousin]]

*[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_20001109_de-facto-unions_en.html Family, marriage and "de facto" unions - vatican.va]

*[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_20001109_de-facto-unions_en.html Family, marriage and "de facto" unions - vatican.va]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]