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Anthropology - Family (Part 04) - Daily Class Notes

The document discusses Meyer Fortes' concept of the domestic group and its differences from family. It outlines the key features of a domestic group as sharing living space, resources and labor. It also describes the three phases of a domestic group's lifecycle according to Fortes as expansion, dispersal and replacement.

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28 views

Anthropology - Family (Part 04) - Daily Class Notes

The document discusses Meyer Fortes' concept of the domestic group and its differences from family. It outlines the key features of a domestic group as sharing living space, resources and labor. It also describes the three phases of a domestic group's lifecycle according to Fortes as expansion, dispersal and replacement.

Uploaded by

viraj90275
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Anthropology

Family (Part-4)
2

Family (Part-4)

Scope of the lecture (summary)

Domestic Group:
 A unit of individuals sharing dwelling and food.
 Serves as the foundation of social interactions.

Significant Features:
 Common dwelling & food supply.
 Shared living and production space.
 Encompasses various individuals and families.

Difference with Family:


 Family can be part of the domestic group.
 Domestic group extends beyond family, includes non-kin members.
Stages:
 Expansion: Marriage, childbirth till menopause.
 Dispersal: Children marry, parents age.
 Replacement: Ageing parents' role till their death.
Domestic group and Family:

Figure: Diagrammatic representation of Domestic group.


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Figure: Diagrammatic representation of Family.


Domestic group:
According to Meyer Fortes Domestic group is a householding or a housekeeping unit, organised to provide material
and cultural resources needed to maintain and bring up its members.
There are three significant features that explain domestic groups.

Figures: Features of domestic group


1. Pooling of resources: Domestic groups combine their resources, such as finances and possessions, to meet
the group's needs. An example is roommates sharing rent and utilities in a shared apartment.
2. Division of labour: In domestic groups, tasks are divided based on skills and abilities. A family might have
one member responsible for cooking, another for cleaning, and another for managing finances.
3. Using a part of labour in production activities: Within a household, individuals contribute their labour to
productive activities. An example is parents working jobs outside the home while also maintaining a vegetable
garden with their children to supplement their food supply.
There is pooling of resources also with respect to psychological, biological and environmental dimensions.
Additional information-
The major features of the domestic group within a family structure-
1. Shared Living Space - Members of the domestic group reside together in the same physical location,
typically a household or a residence.
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2. Interdependence - The members rely on each other for daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare,
fostering a sense of collaboration and mutual support.
3. Emotional Bonds - Living together nurtures emotional connections among the members, leading to a sense
of belonging, love, and care.
4. Joint Decision-Making - Household decisions, ranging from financial matters to family activities, are often
made collectively by the members of the domestic group.
5. Responsibilities and Roles - Each member often has designated roles and responsibilities within the
domestic group, contributing to the functioning and harmony of the household.
6. Socialisation - The domestic group serves as a primary environment for socialization, where family values,
traditions, and cultural norms are passed down to younger generations.
7. Support System - The group provides a built-in support system during times of need, offering emotional,
financial, and practical assistance to its members.
8. Conflict Resolution - Disagreements and conflicts are also a part of family life. The domestic group plays a
role in resolving disputes and maintaining peaceful coexistence.
9. Economic Sharing - Members may pool resources and share finances to manage household expenses and
achieve common goals.
10. Long-Term Connections - The domestic group often represents a lifelong network of relationships that
extend beyond immediate family, encompassing generations of individuals.
Difference between Domestic group and Family :

ASPECT DOMESTIC GROUP FAMILY

Composition Various individuals sharing dwelling & food Kinship-based connections, reproductive ties.

Members Nuclear families, non-kin members. Kin-linked generations

Scope Can include multiple nuclear families Typically limited to kin-related individuals

Emphasis Shared living & production space Emotional and relational bonds

Functional Provides resources, material & cultural Reproductive nucleus


Role support

Meyer Fortes' Differentiation:


 Meyer Fortes highlighted the differentiation between domestic groups and families.
 Family is the core for kinship and reproduction.
 Domestic group acts as a functional framework, providing resources for family members.
 Separates the roles of reproduction and resource provisioning within the domestic context.
 Conception of Domestic Group/ Functional activities: Meyer Fortes' perspective on the family as a
functional group revolves around its roles in :
 Food production and consumption.
 Social reproduction.
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Pertaining to Food production and consumption:


 Fortes suggests that the family, as a subset of the larger domestic group, is not solely a collection of emotional
and kinship connections.
 Instead, it serves a practical purpose in terms of food production and consumption.
 Within the domestic group, the family is responsible for organising and managing resources required for
sustenance.
 In this way, the family acts as a functional unit that contributes to the overall well-being of its members by
ensuring access to food resources.
Pertaining to social reproduction-
 Fortes also highlights the family's role in social reproduction, which goes beyond the physical act of giving
birth to children.
 He emphasises that the family, within the domestic group, is responsible for the upbringing and nurturing of
children.
 This aspect involves transmitting not only genetic material but also cultural values, norms, and traditions to
the younger generation. nurturing)

Meyer Fortes' concept outlines three phases within a domestic group's lifecycle:

Figure: Phases within a domestic group's lifecycle (Meyer Fortes)


1. Phase of Expansion: This initial stage involves the formation of the domestic group through marriage and the
birth of children. Couple A, representing the parents, experiences the reproductive phase until the woman
reaches menopause. During this time, the family expands as new members are added through marriage and
childbirth.
2. Phase of Dispersal: As time progresses, the focus shifts to the dispersal of the family unit. The children of
Couple A get married, establishing their own domestic groups. Meanwhile, Couple A, now aging, moves into
a different life stage. This phase involves parents adapting to their grown children's marriages and facing the
challenges of aging.
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3. Phase of Replacement: In the final phase, Couple A advances into old age, representing a phase of
replacement within the domestic group. This stage continues until the eventual passing of Couple A. As they
age, they play the role of senior members, contributing their experience and wisdom to the family unit. This
phase reflects the natural progression of life cycles within the domestic group.
This framework illustrates the dynamic evolution of a domestic group over time, encompassing stages of
expansion, dispersal, and replacement, each marked by distinct roles and transitions.
Criticism:
Meyer Fortes faced criticism primarily for his approach of explaining the family as a functional group within the
context of a domestic group.
 Critics argued that this viewpoint did not necessitate the creation of a new term, as the family's functional roles
could be adequately understood within existing frameworks.
Relationship between Family, household and Domestic Group:

Figure: Venn diagram depicting Family, household and Domestic Group.



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