Felino Marie Seymour Burgos, III Rindy Edilbert Miguel Emmarlone Ravago Sociology

October 14, 2010

Mr. Robert Paul Jurado

The family is the nucleus of civilization1 - Will and Ariel Durant

Social Change: The Disintegration of Families

The Family The family, as we all know, is the basic unit of a society. But first we should ask ourselves about the distinction of a family and a home. In defining a family, we usually encounter this confusion and we often interchange the two terms. What is a home? Home refers to the quality of interpersonal relationships, the atmosphere, and the spirit that obtains within a family through the interactions among its members.2 It includes the values cherished by the group, its orientation. So, a home is produced after the family is formed. Home depends on the existence of a family. How do we describe a family? Family refers to the physical and the structural form of this primary relationship.3 It has to do with tangible realities rather than intangible values. A family is a structure that is formed by the love of a father and a mother. Therefore, a family is the simplest group in a society wherein it was formed because of love. When do we consider a group of people a family? Members in a particular association or institution call themselves one family when they form great relationship with each other. But this is not sufficient in looking for the things that constitute a family. The said example is not a real family. They call themselves a family because of bonding and memories. This is just a metaphorical manifestation on how they express their love to each other. Since family is a concrete structure in a society, we must look for the things which constitute a family. Family constitutes a father, a mother, a child or children, biological or adapted. A family is a small society in a society wherein each member has the task to perform. A father and a mother do not work for themselves, but for their children. Every member should work, not for their own selves, but for the whole family. Within this cooperation in the family, a home is formed, wherein it is a manifestation of the quality of the family as a who le. The family is, in a sense, a school for human enrichment. The family is the place where different generations come together and help one another to grow wiser and harmonize the rights of individuals with other demands of social life; as such it constitutes the basis of society.4 In the Philippines, we have different forms of family. First is the nuclear family. Nuclear family consists of the father, the mother, and their natural-born children. The couple sets up residence in a new area, either near or far from the residence of their parents.5 This form of
Rilloma and Sarsoza, Jr., Nuggets of Wisdom (Caloocan: Philippine Publishing House, 2005), 54. Quiamba, Jacob S., The Asian Family in Changing Society (Manila: FACC, 1965), 3. 3 Ibid. 4 Pope Paul, Gaudium et Spes (Vatican) 5 Panopio and Rolda, Society and Culture, Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology (Quezon City: Bookman, Inc., 2000), 166.
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family is the most common nowadays. Second is the extended family. This is found commonly among Filipino families because married children continue to reside with the family of orientation and to be economically dependent on the parents.6 This is the most ancient form of family in the Philippines and among Asian countries. It can be traced back since the time of barangay system, before the Spaniards came. This has a negative and positive effect. This family is formed for economic convenience, but on the other side, there is a great possibility for misunderstanding among the two families residing in one house. It will cause quarrelling among the members of both families. And the third is the truncated family. This form of family lays stress on the grandparent-grandchildren relationship. Grandparents assume the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren when the parents die or the parents are too busy on their work.7 Parents have more time in working and as a result they can easily provide the needs and wants of their children, however, ineffective communication is the key factor in marital break-ups, tempestuous parent-child relationships, child and teen depression, and poor performance in school. Parents do not spend time and effort ensuring that their children develop their potential because they are too busy at work. The Importance of Families in Society There are two simple functions of the family, these are procreation and orientation. Procreation refers to the creation of the family through birth of natural children. This is the primary function of the family, to produce members in the society, but this is not enough. Parents need to orient and indoctrinate their children. Orientation is the informal training of these children in the values and culture of a specific group to make them acceptable members. During the formative period of life, the most important relationships are within the home. Children of both sexes need assuring, satisfying relations with both parents in order to develop into socially adjusted and productive citizens.8 The role of parents is very important since they are the primary teachers and formators of their children. Whatever the child will be depends on the formation done by the parents. Children have many potentialities but some of them can be bad. So, Value for the family is the most important thing to be learned. Children must also learn to value the family as the parents do. This will help them to appreciate their parents and value the lessons, as they are being internalized, they learned from their parents. Sadism, sexual perversion, theft, and other antisocial activities will continue to accelerate as the instability of the home increases. Anxiety and emotional disability will increase as persons exist in a maladjusted society where they have failed to gain in the home basic training in social relations. The home continues to be the foundation and the primary teaching institution of a properly functioning society.

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Ibid., 166-167. Ibid., 168. 8 Weldon and Viertel, Marriage and Family Life (Makati: Church Strengthening Ministry, 1978), Preface.