In The Family in Question, Diana Gittins starts by noting that functional definitions of the constituents and the roles of a family in the society have dominated most sociological studies of the family. The family forms the most basic unit on which a society is built. Being a basic unit and a universal entity performs certain functions essential to ensure the survival of a society. These functions are reproduction, common residence, residence and common residence (Gittins 1). Most of these functions are assigned to members of a family based on age and gender. This brings light into the relationship between gender and age in allocating work in a society, which this essay seeks to illuminate further using Gittin’ work and personal experiences that have influenced my understanding of family.
According to Gittin (2017), age and gender form the foundations on which labor divisions in a society are based. Unlike age, gender is a permanent category, but nonetheless, none is a sufficient ground for allocating one type of work to men, or women (Gittins 6). This notwithstanding, family relationships play a key role in shaping gender roles. For instance, sibling relationships have formed the foundation of households. To illustrate, in the past, the poorest regions of western societies were characterized by the eldest children taking care of the siblings to free the mothers to engage in domestic or waged work (Gittins 6). Gittin notes that in Morocco, girls aged four and above look after the younger siblings, fetch and carry water, clean and run errands, while boys are left to spend time with their peers trapping birds or playing games (Gittins 6). This trend is common in many societies, particularly in African and Asian countries.
In the same way, many societies have organized gender roles around age. This is because as the children age, the composition and structure of the family unit changes, a well (Gittins 7). This is the same for the environment and conditions in which a family is situated (Gittins 6). Therefore, the division of work based on age and gender is not static, but it changes over time.
Growing up, I always thought that women were supposed to do household chores, as men fend for their families. This notion was shaped by the immediate observations at home, and it was reinforced by the types of toys that girls could have versus those of boys. This conditioned my mind into thinking that there were duties specific to each gender. Nevertheless, through education and exposure, I have learned that the allocation of certain roles to certain people is a merely a social construct.
The division of roles based on age and gender has dominated societies through the family for long. In most African, Asian and poor western societies, children as young as four take the roles of monitoring their younger siblings so that their parents can fulfil other domestic obligations or work. However, the allocation of work based on age and gender changes over time as children age, and families’ environments and conditions change.
Work Cited
Gittins, Diana. The family in question: What is the family? Is it Universal? Macmillan International Higher Education, 2017.
