How Theories Can Provide Various Perspectives for Examining/Understanding Families - Free Paper

Introduction

Analysis, the way families, operate and relate with their environment plays a crucial in understanding the ways things came into existence and the reason for the differences among various societies. Understanding the family as a social institution can be made possible through various lenses, with the theoretical perspectives being the critical element in offering varying perspectives in relation to how people view families. Understanding the families is crucial for people to appreciate the existing diversities, the past of the families, marriage, and in making decisions. The paper analyses how the various theories offer varying perspectives of families, and among the theories influencing human perspectives include the family ecology perspective, the exchange theory, and the feminist theory. Through the theories, it becomes easy to understand the families within our surroundings.

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Description of the Family

In understanding better the perspectives brought about by the theories, I opt to analyze a prominent family within my society. The family consists of six individuals in which there are three boys and one girl. The family is affluent, with the father having an influential role in the government procurement offices within the state of California. The mother is a teacher in one of the secondary schools in the state. The family has accumulated wealth and helped the less fortunate in society. The rise to prosperity could be attributable to the availability of infrastructure and various social amenities that played a crucial role during the upbringing of the parents. Two of the boys got married to ladies from wealthy families hence cementing their status further in the society as among the wealthiest. The remaining boy goes to school at Harvard University and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Engineering. The girl also got married to a businessman, and she is currently actively involved in the management of the business. The society within which we reside discourages inequality at all costs, and those found enhancing gender discrimination are punished through the application of rules aimed at ensuring both genders get equal treatment. Equal rights have been crucial for the development of both genders in society hence the reason for the massive success of the family. Consequently, the mother and the girl in the family were able to attain a high level of education that played a crucial role in their well-being.

Chosen Theoretical Perspectives

Ecological Theory and Application

The proponents of the ecological theory uphold that families are influenced by the environment within which they reside and operate in. Human beings depend on the environment, and a change in the environment tends to influence the behavior of the other components within the environment. The environment entails the physical environment that comprises soil, plants, and animals. Additionally, the human-constructed environment, such as roads, housing, and buildings, also forms part of the environment within which the families exist. These are crucial in enabling families to reach their destination and attain success (Nordqvist, Melin, Waldkirch & Kumeto, 2015). The family is also surrounded by various social values and laws that govern how families operate in society. The selected family resides in a centrally located area, which makes it easier for them to access the best amenities, such as schools and hospitals.

The theory challenges the idea put forward that all success depends only on the individual's effort, whereas success also comes as a result of the environment within which the family lives. Additionally, the theory highlights the idea of how communities tend to support families hence accelerating their growth.

Feminist Theory and Application

The feminist theory is couched primarily from the assumptions of the conflict theory and adds the elements of gender and sex when studying society. The focus of the theory is on the existing inequality between women and men in regard to power in society and the existing families. The theory aims to advocate for equality and fight the oppression levied on women by their counterpart males. Domestic violence should, therefore, be prohibited at all costs as it hinders family progress (Nordqvist, Melin, Waldkirch & Kumeto, 2015).

The family, under consideration, adopted the perfect way to solve their family issues even under the most tempting instances. Their success can be attributed to the equal study opportunities granted to their children and how the parents were equitably raised. The father usually gets drunk, exposing the family to conflicts. Given the scenarios, the mother always remains calm and waits for the husband to rest before embarking on any discussion. Through this, violence is curbed hence providing room for growth.

Exchange Theory and the Application

The exchange theory explains that the behavior within the society and the families, in general, is a result of a specific exchange process. The aim of the exchange process usually is to minimize the related costs and maximize the associated benefits. The theory suggests that people tend to enter into relationships when their perceived benefits outweigh the associated risks (Whiteman, McHale & Soli, 2011). People get married to some families when they view the family as having power and influence to guarantee their future.

In the family under study, the wife came from a wealthy background and was well-educated. The husband knew about the perceived benefit of marrying a well-educated wife who hails from an affluent family. They both complement each other as they both work hence the shared family burden. The only daughter to the family got married to a wealthy man hence cementing their affluent status in the society further. Many people view the family as role models and look up to imitate them in enhancing their family growth.

The Most Compelling Theory

Among the above theoretical perspectives, the feminist theory stands out when it comes to viewing families and society in general and the justification for their success and the benefits accrued to society. Inequality and violence break families hence the need to enhance equal opportunities for both males and females. Successful families are viewed from the perspective of enhancing the girl’s rights and championing for equality. Through the analysis of how the family upholds feminism, it becomes easier to understand how the family attained success. Feminism theory also looks into the existing perspective of society regarding how women should be treated since both genders are pivotal for institutional developments in society.

The theories are crucial for professionals in understanding how families came into existence and how they operate. Professionals are required to understand families to get a clear picture of how society operates and come up with policies aimed at protecting both genders. The professionals can also use successful families in society to motivate others to follow the trends. Studying families is, therefore, crucial in society as a whole as they form the institutions required for society to function.

References

Whiteman, S. D., McHale, S. M., & Soli, A. (2011). Theoretical perspectives on sibling relationships. Journal of family theory & review, 3(2), 124-139. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1756-2589.2011.00087.x

Nordqvist, M., Melin, L., Waldkirch, M., & Kumeto, G. (Eds.). (2015). Theoretical perspectives on family businesses. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=prAVCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=Theoretical+perspectives+of+the+family&ots=oYjgs810lc&sig=R1b3aKneOSEJdXa9ZY13koFb630