MAJOR SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

THE FAMILY

Margaret Mead
The family is, as far as we
know, the toughest
institution we have. It is, in
fact, the institution to
which we owe our
humanity.

Family (from Latin: familia)

In human context, a family is

a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity,
or co-residence.
In most societies it is the principal institution for the
socialization of children. Extended from the human
"family unit" by biological-cultural affinity,
marriage, economy, culture, tradition, honor,
and friendship are concepts of family that are physical
and metaphorical, or that grow
increasingly inclusive extending to community,
village, city, region, nationhood, global
village and humanism. (source: Wikipedia.org)

THE FAMILY

Is the smallest social institution with the unique

function or producing and rearing the young
The basic unit of Philippine society and the
educational system where the child begins to learn
his ABC
The basic agent of socialization because it is here
where the individual develops values, behaviors
and way of life through interaction with members of
the family (Vega, 2004)

Characteristics of the Filipino Family

The family is closely knit and has strong family ties

The members have the tendency to cling together in

their activities and feelings

There is a strong loyalty among them not usually found

in Western families

The interests of the individual are often sacrificed for

the welfare of the group

Characteristics of the Filipino Family

The Filipino family is usually an extended one and

therefore, big.

The typical family today averages five children.

In spite of the family planning programs and population

efforts promoted all over the country, many Filipinos

have more children than would be justified by those

who are concerned with population growth.

Characteristics of the Filipino Family

In the Filipino family, kinship ties are extended to

include the compadre or sponsors.
Compadres and comadres are regarded as
relatives and closer ties are formed.
Parents get sponsors (ninong and ninang) in the
baptism of their child and wedding of a son or a
daughter.
These sponsors are supposed to act as second
parents to the child and have the responsibility of
guiding, advising, and helping their godchild.

Kinds of Family Patterns

Following are the different family patterns as
classified by sociologists:
Nuclear

Membership
Extended

Family according to structure

Conjugal or nuclear family

This is the primary or

elementary family
consisting of husband, wife
and children

Consanguine or extended
family
It consists of married
couple, their parents,
siblings, grandparents
uncles, aunts and cousins