Sociological Portrait Rubric - Term Paper Example

A functional understanding of family has many perspective, based on which I can judge my current position and role. Primary function of the family is to act as a key unit for the socializing children. Family is the basic unit where socialization happens. Secondly, Family is the major source of support to all of its members. It satisfies all their tangible as well as intangible needs such as food, clothing, shelter, comfort, love and other kinds of support. Next, family provides a social identity to its members.

It has been seen that social identity acts as a major role in the upbringing of the children. Growing amount of research on social science reflects different perspective on family function. According to family system theory, a family is conceptualized as a dynamic and complex sub system of the society. The elements of this system are the members of the family. Relationship acts as a thread between the members of the family. All of this creates a structure of the family. There are prefixed pattern that emerge in the family system.

These pattern help maintain the equilibrium of the family. According to the theory, family can be viewed as a continuum. Every system has its own, including as well as excluding elements. If a family has, vague boundaries it can be considered as ‘open’ that is external environment has effect on it where as ‘close’ boundary family isolate the members from its environment (Ellwood & Jencks, 2004). Rules and messages are being used to shape the members of the family. As I am a single mother, it is sometimes difficult to maintain the external as well as internal boundaries.

I have to play the role of a mother as well as a father in the house. I am the sole decision maker of my dependants. As my children are brought up in a single parent family, I preferred to share the responsibilities with the other member of my family such as my