1. According to functionalist theory, what was the definition of the "instrumental leader" and what was the definition of an "expressive leader." What family roles were connected to each of these leader definitions?
As stated by Cherlin, the functionalist theory focuses on examining the uses and the functions of the primary ways that a society is organized. By doing this, functionalist theorists are able to study the ways in which the organizations of societies vary in relation to a society’s culture and customs. According to the functionalist theory, the definition of the “instrumental leader” is an individual within a group who leads a group discussion focusing on the possible ways that members of a group will be able to successfully accomplish the task that has been assigned to them. The “expressive leader”, also known as the socioemotional leader, is the person in a group who maintains the warmth and liveliness of the group. Moreover, they also attend to the emotions of the group members. In accordance with psychologist, Robert Bales, it is important for small groups to divide leadership roles between two people in a group due to the fact that this will generally lead to better performance and collaboration of the group. In the 1950s, the “instrumental leader” role would have been assigned to the husband living in a middle-class family, mainly because the husband was the one who provided financial support and maintenance to his family. On the other hand, the wife was given the task of “expressive leader” considering she was responsible for providing warmth, comfort, and other types of emotional support to children and her husband.
2. What main demographic change during the 1960s and 1970s led theorists to be critical of the functionalist perspective?
The main demographic change during the 1960s and 1970s that led theorists to become critical of the functionalist perspective occurred when married women began to enter the workforce. As a result of women’s integration into the workforce, the breadwinner-homemaker family described in the 1950s was no longer dominant or entirely appropriate. Due to the fact that since the 1950s gender roles have changed immensely, the roles once given to husbands and wives are no longer as accurate as they were years ago. In today’s society, there are families in which the wife provides the financial support to her family and the husband stays at home with the children, providing all forms of emotional support and affection.
3. In contrast to functionalist theorists, in your own words, what is the main theme of conflict theory?
In my own words, I believe that the main theme of the conflict theory is competition and doing one’s best to override another individual. As I have learned about the functionalist theory, the functionalist theory emphasizes the necessity of collaboration and support within a family. In the functionalist theory, research is based on family members working together and fairly contributing to and fulfilling family tasks and responsibilities, which are believed to benefit all family members. To further explain, the existence of an “instrumental leader” and an “expressive leader” in order to constitute balance and ultimate performance in a family is an idea expressed in the functionalist theory. The conflict theory, however, focuses on inequality rather than equality. For an individual to make their own life tasks and responsibilities easier and more beneficial for themselves, the individual strives to dominate and hold power over other individuals in society so that in turn, they can come out on top. The idea of collaboration is nonexistent in the conflict theory and instead, competition is the theme most evident.
4. Social exchange theory is based on ideas from what discipline (not sociology). What do exchange theorists say about husbands bargaining power versus that of wives?
Social exchange theory is based on ideas from the discipline of economics. This theory also focuses greatly on efficiency. As I read about this theory, I started to think about my own family situation. My father works five days a week (sometimes more) for a very prestigious company. He has a college degree in business and has always been able to maintain a steady, desirable income. As a result, my mother never had to work until she and my father separated about four years ago. Using my parents as an example, I could say that my mother was dependent on my father for many years, due to the fact that she has always had fewer alternative sources of income. In regards to husbands bargaining power versus that of wives, exchange theorists claim that husbands are in a more powerful bargaining position when they are the sole earners of their family, considering that the wife is left with fewer alternative sources of income. Using that belief, I could say that my mother has always valued my father’s goods and services and has been dependent on him. According to exchange theorists, my father has always had power over my mother. However, when my mother began working, she became less dependent on my father (the husband) and my father’s power over my mother (the wife) decreased.
5. Feminist theory is based on what main idea?
The main idea that the feminist theory is based on is gender. For purposes of this theory, gender is defined as the social and cultural traits that society uses to differentiate between men and women. A major focus of the feminist theory is on men’s dominance over women. The feminist theory stresses the concept of power in relationships and also places great emphasis on culture instead of biology. Moreover, feminist theorists believe that the distinctions between men and women are socially constructed to sustain men’s power and dominance over women. In addition, feminist theorists disagree with the suggestion that breadwinner-homemaker households give equal benefits to both men and women. Instead, they feel that the idea of breadwinner-homemaker families only reiterates their argument that society pushes to maintain men’s dominance and power over women.
6. After reading about the various methods or ways that we collect data to study the family, tell us:
A) A research question about family/relationship satisfaction: Is there an equal distribution of roles and responsibilities among your family members and how does that distribution impact the relationships that exist within your family?
B) Do you want to study the family at the micro or macro level? I want to study the family at the micro level considering that this level is a more personal level. I would be interested in examining the levels of stress and tension among family members that derive as a result of unequal distributions of tasks and responsibilities within a family. I would be curious to find how those levels of tension are influencing the relationships between family members, too.
C) What method will you use to collect data? To collect data, I will use the method of participant observation, also referred to as field observation or field research. I think that this method would benefit my study the best because I would be able to use complete participation and observation, considering that I would have the opportunity to directly observe the behaviors and actions of each participant in my study. The methods of intensive interviewing and focus groups that are involved in participant observation would provide me with detailed information that I could appropriately use to successfully answer my research question.
D) How many people will be in your study?
There will preferably be about five people in my study, although four people will work as well. The reason for this is because I believe that I would obtain very diverse answers from two parents and three children, or even two children. Specifically, I think that it would be very interesting to explore the extent to which roles and responsibilities differ among an oldest child, a middle child, and a youngest child. To elaborate on that, in my family I have always had more responsibilities and higher expectations from my parents mainly because I am the oldest child in my family. To support that, I have many friends who are the oldest children in their families and feel the same way. For me, being the oldest child and having more roles and responsibilities in my family increases my stress levels and my desire for perfection in all that I do. At times, I feel that this affects the relationships that exist with my parents and me and also between my sister and me. It influences my relationship with my sister because at times, I feel jealous of my sister, which usually causes fights and arguments between the two of us. It impacts the relationship that I have with my parents also because I feel like I always need to impress my parents, even though I know deep down that they are proud of me for whatever I accomplish. I believe that the more diversity that I can gain from the responses of my participants, the more facts and details I will have to best answer my research question.
E) Devise 3 questions you will ask them to answer your research question.
1. Do you feel that you are expected to fulfill more tasks and chores in your household than the other members in your family?
2. How do you feel when you don’t live up to one of your role expectations? If you forget about one of your responsibilities, how do your family members react?
3. If given the opportunity, would you alter the distribution of roles and responsibilities among your family members? How and why would you do that?
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