Functions of Marriage

Functions of Marriage1.LegitimacyBy marriage, children of couples are assigned with their right to be born (full birth rights). It legally entitles the child and /or the mother to the husbands property upon his death; and determines who claims the responsibility for the child (paternity claims) and who controls the childs future (Kottak, 2008).

2.Economic CooperationSocieties which were strongly dependent on the agricultural system settle for preferential marriage for economic reasons. Women who could take the place of their husbands in the tribal society were assets to their tribes/communities.

3.Fulfillment of intimacy needsPeople seek to marry to fulfill their intimacy needs. Couples who live in marital bliss achieve their physical and emotional well-being that serve as a buffer against the negative effects or various lifes challenges.

4.Personal GrowthCouples find the union as a response to the need for interdependence wherein each enjoy doing things together and enjoying each others company, thereby, achieving personal fulfillment and great amount of life satisfaction.

5. Sense of commitmentRegardless of the presence of unhappiness along the way, couple who are involve in this partnership are determined to work together that keeps for its sustenance to make marriage last.6.Procreation Basically, the major factor that influences someone to marry would be to fear children and build families of their own. They are obligated nurture their children and raise them with love and affection.

The Family

In sociological term, we consider that the family is the most basic of all institutions. It is necessary for society to perpetuate, derived from natural law; it springs the conjugal love between husband and wife and id sustained by its efforts toward fulfilling the objective of promoting the physical and spiritual welfare of its members.Functions of the FamilyPropagation of the Human Species This favors the naturalistic approach in the continuance of the race. Families contribute to human survival through reproduction. Its functions to prevent the human species from extinctions.ProtectionFamilies establish emotional ties and are responsible for the care of individual members. They provide the basic needs essential to make their children happy and content in their familiar boundaries.Socialization for the childrenThe family is the basic foundation for children to learn the norms and moral values taught and inculcated to them through early education and religion, exemplified through parental role modeling.Regulations of sexual behaviorsThere are norms and social expectations that vary from culture to culture. This is the right avenue where their sexual needs are fulfilled through their partners which further meet their need for intimacy.Affection and CompanionshipThe family provides the emotional support for its members for them to feel secure and satisfied. It is from our relatives that we draw the strength to face lifes challenges, as well as the care and concern during our trying times.Social PlacementFamily provides the placement or status ascribed to the individual. It legitimizes the existence of children and their social position within the societal ladder. Children inherit the social and economic status of their parents which significantly influence their social lives.Classification of FamilyNuclear FamilyThis is a Family pattern where married couples establish an independent household. It last only as long as parents and children remain together, thus lacks autonomy. It may be widespread but not universal.Extended FamilyIt is an expanded family pattern where two or more nuclear families and other generations of both families live together in one household. The collateral household includes siblings and other spouses and children. The benefit from extended family is the assumption of responsibility from child rearing, such as the grandmother or other relatives who are living with family or nearby who provide extra love and attention to the children. (Lauer. 2007)The Role of the Family in the Philippines SettingThe Filipino ChildThe birth of the child brings unquantifiable joys and fulfillment to parents in the Filipino family. Being the product of love between couples, he has the right to have a real family and good home.The Filipino ParentThe parent are the procreators whose primary responsibility is to build a place in the community of person which contributes to the development and perfection of man, until he reaches his total advancement as an independent human person.