Roles and Responsibilities of the Family Flashcards
Family members perform specific roles based…
…on their status in the home
What is a role?
A behaviour expected of someone due to their social position.
What is status?
The social position held by an individual in a particular situation.
Traditionally, males are…
- The head of the home.
- The main “breadwinner”. The main income earner who provides for the family.
The father must:
- Provide moral instruction and training
- Administer sanctions for unacceptable behaviour
- Explain expected patterns of behaviour
Father are the main ___-___ especially when important ___ must be made.
decision-makers, decisions
What is the main role of the mother?
Seen as caregivers and counsellors, ensuring the physical and emotional needs of the family are met.
What are 3 other responsibilities of a mother in the family?
- Socialization of children inclusive of cultural transmission
- Preparing meals
- To love her spouse
- To contribute financially
Name 3 roles of the parents.
- Helping children develop a positive self-esteem by praising them on their accomplishments and efforts
- Creating a healthy balance between work and play by monitoring the amount of time spent on homework, housework, schoolwork etc.
- Cultivating a sense of responsibility by giving children chores appropriate for their ages.
- Spending quality time with children - going on picnics, playing games etc.
- Developing discipline in children by correcting them and being stern when they don’t obey the laws of the home, school and land.
Name 3 roles of the children.
- Respect their siblings
- Complete household chores (willingly)
- Care for younger siblings
- Attend the school and take responsibility for learning; diligently
- Practice thrift: take lunch to school; use the cheapest means of transport; take care of possessions (books, clothes etc.), assist in backyard gardening
Name 3 roles of grandparents.
- Provide support for parents
- Aid/help the child’s social and emotional development
- Pass on customs, traditions and family values
How can roles of family change over time?
Can change/vary from one country to another or as time passes.
What are the overall four factors that are changing the roles within families?
- The Changing Status of Women
- The Changing Nature of Employment
- The Economic Environment
- Expansion of Family Planning
How has the status of women changed over time?
Women are no longer seen as the housekeeper.
Women have access to better jobs and can provide additional income for the home. As a result, they expect an equalitarian relationship
Women are insisting that gender roles are now shared in the home.
Women have better access to education and are influenced by global trends.
How has the nature of employment changed?
Jobs that were considered “male only” and “female only” have now changed.
Adults have the option to work from home which changes domestic roles.
There are many occupied technology-based jobs by both men and women so each parent in a household can work from home and share household responsibilities.
How has the economic environment changed?
The cost of living has increased so even if parents wanted to have a single income home, both would have to have jobs.
Single parents may have to resort to working two jobs to supplement their income.
How has the expansion of family planning changed?
More families are taking a more structured approach to having a family.
The typical Caribbean family now has two to three children.
Women are delaying marriage and pregnancy so that they can pursue their higher education. talents and careers. This changes their earning power and roles in the home
What is double work?
Women having a day job and working at home as well (housework, cooking etc)
Suggest 3 ways employers can help working mothers cope with the demands of their job and motherhood.
Employers can provide a set work schedule before hand
so mothers can plan their time at home accordingly.
Employers can assign assistants to work with mothers to lessen their workload and reduce stress when needed.
Ensure mothers don’t have to work overtime on weekends so they can provide meals for their family at home, do housework, spend time with them and get sufficient rest.
Assist with childcare if the mother is not able. For example, hiring a company driver to drop and collect children to and from school. Therefore, the mother won’t feel overwhelmed or stressed.
