The family and family sociology in Japan

The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the history and current status of family sociology in Japan. A brief history of the Japanese family, which was institutionalized by the Meiji government in the latter half of the nineteenth century, will be offered. The institutional family is referred to as ie in Japanese. Before the end of the Second World War, Japanese scholars were unable to discuss the ie institution freely as a sociological issue. Objective analysis of the family as a social group began in earnest after the war, when the ie institution was abolished as part of the process of amending the civil law. In the postwar period, a time of great economic activity, the family developed from the traditional patrilineal stem-family system into the conjugal or nuclear family system. Today, however, influenced by the feminist movement and other changes in the goals and expectations of the younger generation, family sociology is beginning to concern itself with the family not simply as a group, but as a lifestyle in which the aspirations of the various family members can be effectively realized.     

The binuclear family

A new family form,the binuclear family, is emerging with the rise in divorce rates. To aid in its institutionalization and in lifting from it the stigma of social deviance, some new terminology was coined and a study of the dynamics of continuing postdivorce parenting relationships conducted. Reported here are findings on the reorganization of familial homes with court-awarded joint custody. It was found that most of the former spouses in the sample continued to relate after divorce, forming two separate households joined together by a coparental bond.     

The family as project

Based on data gathered in settings where the family side of personal troubles is a regular concern, it is argued that the family enters into social relations as a collective representation. Adaptmg Durkheim's usage to everyday life, the family is analyzed as a ‘public’ project of those whose domestic affairs are challenged for consideration of family order. Three features of the family project are considered: (1) the awareness of the social form, (2) family conduct in the large, (3) family usage. As an object of experience, the family presents itself in a category separate and distinct from its members, while at the same time being a practical, discursive construct built out of, as well as reflecting concrete domestic affairs.     

The family in Tanzania

"The article starts by defining the terms and basic characteristics of the family institution. Then it moves to explain and analyze the changing roles and relationships in the Tanzania context. The article stresses...the impact of the foreign cultures and ideologies. Specifically, the role of family in [the] socialization process has been minimized due to the introduction of formal education. With regard to the demographic variables, it is noted that while death rates might be reduced due to the general improvement of health facilities, birth rates will increase....Polygamy...is [likely] to decrease due to socio-economic reasons like the level of education among the women and the economic difficulties in running large families." A trend toward smaller families is noted. The study is based on the author's recent research in Tanzania.     

The cooperative “family”

Health staus is of primary importance in determining the lifestyle of older persons, in contrast to other periods of life, in which socio-economic status is of major significance. Research is presented on an alternative living arrangement in Florida for the slightly dependent elderly, in which older persons share living facilities and other aspects of a common lifestyle. This comprises one set of realistic alternatives which can be workable, economical, energy-conserving, and fulfilling in terms of the quality of life.     

The wisdom of family therapists

This qualitative research study explored the ways in which family therapists (MSWs) perceive the family treatment process. A purposive sample of eight practicing clinical social workers were selected for face to face interviews which explored the workers' perceptions of the family treatment process. Findings revealed that although certain consistent themes appear to exist among family therapists, family therapy practice may well be much more idiosyncratic than commonly believed.     

The ideology of small family

Data are obtained and analyzed from 4232 rural families of handloom weavers in Karnataka state, India. 60.20% families are small families with 6 or fewer family members, of whom 25% have 3 members. 96.78% of small families have only one occupation. 30.50% of large families and 12.42% of medium sized families have more than one occupation. About 74% of families have income under the poverty line (under Rs 3500/year). 83% of small families are under the poverty line. The dependency ratio of small families is 1:2. 33% of all dependents are found among small families which are below the poverty line. 82% of dependents in small families are in small families under the poverty line. Almost 50% of dependents belong to small families. Small families are found to have slightly lower levels of education, although average level of education is very similar regardless of family size. The findings are used as evidence that small families do not necessarily augment the economy and that economic, educational, and cultural thresholds may be necessary before small family size affects economic development and improves the general well-being of family members. The social system that the small family is operating in is considered an important factor affecting the quality of life of the family.     

The simulated family as an aid to learning family group treatment.

Role-playing by students as "family members" and "therapist" in a simulated family situation provides a stimulating learning experience for the participants and the student audience.     

The supreme court,family policy,and alternative family lifestyles: The clash of interests

This article reviews the basis for the judicial system's involvement in the development of national family policy. Major Supreme Court decisions in establishing the rights of the nuclear family, the extended family, foster families, communal families, homosexual couples, and unwed fathers are discussed. The Supreme Court is seen as having established the parameters of a nationally definedfamily, and the implications of the court's actions for the development of national family policy are considered.     

The spiritual genogram in family therapy

Spiritual and religious issues often surface during marital and family therapy. In this article, I describe a spiritual genogram that is a multigenerational map of family members' religious and spiritual affiliations, events, and conflicts. Used as a tool in family therapy, the spiritual genogram enables clients to make sense of their families' religious/spiritual heritage and to explore the ways in which their experiences impact present couple or family issues.