explore both Feminist theory and Bio-Social theory. Feminist Theory (FT) A common assumption behind many theories is that power is unevenly distributed in society and that some peopleoften women, minorities, the very young or the very old, families with limited resourcesare oppressed or silenced.

Unit Six Introduction This week we will explore both Feminist theory and Bio-Social theory. Feminist Theory (FT) A common assumption behind many theories is that power is unevenly distributed in society and that some peopleoften women, minorities, the very young or the very old, families with limited resourcesare oppressed or silenced. A second common assumption is that social structures support and maintain those inequalities, need to live within the existing structures while trying to change them. These theories suggest that helping people to become aware of inequalities and identifying ways in which they can exercise power will reduce the oppression. Feminist theory (FT) is one of these particular theories. It is closely related to conflict theory. FT has examined how emphasis on the nuclear family affects societys expectations of women. Feminist writers have studied the nuclear familys effect on women in groundbreaking books such as The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir and The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Almost all feminists agree that gender is socially constructed. This means that gender roles are learned rather than determined by biology, and the most significant institution where we are socialized into our appropriate roles and norms of behavior is the family. Feminists have been central in criticizing gender roles associated with the traditional nuclear family, especially since the 1950s. They have argued the nuclear family has traditionally performed two key functions which oppressed women: 1. socializing girls to accept subservient roles within the family, whilst socializing boys to believe they were superior this happens through children witnessing then recreating the parental relationship. 2. socializing women into accepting the housewife role as the only possible/acceptable role for a women. Indeed it was the only way to be feminine/to be a woman. Essentially, feminists viewed the function of the family as a breeding ground where patriarchal values were learned by an individual, which in turn created a patriarchal society. Feminism today tends to be split into three distinct branches: Liberal Feminists, Marxist Feminists and Radical Feminists. They differ significantly over the extent to which they believe that the family is still patriarchal and in what the underlying causes of the existence of patriarchy might be. Bio-Social Theory (BST) At its most basic level, Bio-Social Theory (BST) refers to an approach which looks into the possibility that a mental illness or personality disorder might significantly be socially- and biologically-determined. In theory, there are biological predispositions in the person which are also determined by social factors in the environment. Recently, there has been a growing acceptance of the importance of biological factors in the study of family and social influences, as many researchers are now studying how biological and social factors act and interact. This greater acceptance of a biosocial perspective on family functioning is illustrated by the enormous number of biologically informed studies of social factors in the past decade. According to BST, any trait, characteristic, or behavior of any living thing is always the result of biological factors interacting with environmental factors. This theory offers an interesting way in which to view family dynamics and family behavior. Divorce, family conflict, child-rearing practices, love, sexuality and other family factors may all be the result of a complex interaction of genetics and environmental influences. ——————————————————————————————————————————————- 6.1 Text/Media Textbook: Exploring Family Theories Film Choices (Critique): The Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Rated PG-13) The Blind Side (Rated PG-13) Instructions 1. Read Chapters 9 & 10 in Exploring Family Theories. ————————————————————————————————————————————— Assignments 6.5 Unit Assignment: Film Critique 5 Introduction Movies affect many of us powerfully because the combined impact of images, music, dialogue, lighting, sound and special effects can elicit deep feelings and help us reflect on our lives. They can help us to better understand our own lives, the lives of those around us and even how our society and culture operate. They can shed light on political and spiritual matters too and can provide catharsis and perspective and may open our eyes to new ways of thinking, feeling and pursuing our lives. There are many ways to harness the power of movies to heal, grow and change. Movies have been used as an adjunct to psychotherapy and counseling as well as by themselves. You will learn to watch each movie consciously and reflectively and to pay attention to the story using the lens of family theory. Why Use Movies? 1. Students enjoy them. 2. They provide more in-depth information about the families and their circumstances than something like a case study. 3. They have better developed plots and characters. 4. They provide the history of the families as well as some sort of outcomes. 5. Movies are now readily available and easy to access. 6. Students can review the material more than once if they need to. Each movie has been selected based on its appropriateness and applicability to the concepts and theories we are studying. Each unit beginning with this one will offer two different movies for you to choose from for viewing and analysis. Special attention has been given to the content of each film. All movies used in the course will have a PG or PG-13 rating based on content, language, violence and sexual situations. Film are meant to be viewed as a future family scientist/educator. Instructions 1. View ONE of the following selected films: o The Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Rated PG-13) o The Blind Side (Rated PG-13) 2. Select a theory from this unit (i.e., Feminist Theory OR Bio-Social Theory) and apply its core assumptions and concepts to the film. Then answer the following questions in 3-page critique. You may bullet-point the questions and provide your answer below the bullets: o Apply 2 assumptions of the theory to something that happened in the movie. Cite examples. o Apply 2 terms/concepts of theory to something that happened in the movie. Be specific/provide examples of how it was portrayed. o Choose 1 character from the movie and provide a summary of the theory from the perspective of the character. For example, what is the basic premise of this theory and how is it shown through the story of this character or through something that happens to the character? o What are the strengths of the theory when it comes to applying it to the movie? In other words, what makes it easy to apply the theory to the movie? o What are problems or weaknesses of the theory when it comes to applying to the movie? In other words, what makes it difficult to apply the theory to the movie? 3. Submit your critique as a Word document.