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HDFS 418 Final: The Maldonado Family
Emily Muller
Penn State York
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The purpose of this course was to develop a better understanding of the composition of
families, the role of families and their structures and to explore the theories which are relevant to
family functioning. These concepts and theories will be applied using the case study in S&H (p.
377-379) about the Maldonado family. The family moved to the United States from Mexico five
years ago in order to provide better opportunities for their four children. Since moving, the
family has had to make some changes in order to keep functioning, however, there are now some
problems within the family. First the theories, as they apply to this situation will be discussed
followed by some key concepts associated with family structure and family functioning.
Family Theories
There are a vast variety of family theories that have been developed throughout the study
of families. A brief explanation of each of the theories discussed throughout the course of the
semester as they can be applied to the Maldonado family and their current situation are discussed
below.
Family Systems Theory
This theory postulates that the family as a whole is more important than the sum of all its
parts (S&H, chp. 5). The Maldonado family may be exhibiting this theory in that they are
struggling to individually succeed. This can be especially evident in Maria, the mother. She is
trying to manage her family and hold down a job. She feels like she is not performing her
motherly duties well but she is contributing to the financial stability of the family. This
demonstrates her insufficiencies as an individual are not as important as the success of the family
as a whole.
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Structural Functionalism Theory
One of the main ideas of this theory is that the goal of a family is to socialize children
(S&H, chp. 2). The Maldonado family is likewise trying to socialize their children. However,
this is seemingly difficult because the family has conflicting socialization norms. The typical
socialization that families taught their children in Mexico is not the same is in the United States.
Therefore, there are discrepancies in how to socialize the children and whether it is being done
properly. This is accentuated by the grandmothers playing a significant role in the children’s
lives because their ideal of socialization may not be the parents nor the children’s own ideas
about what socialization should include.
Human Ecological Theory
The main idea of this theory is that humans require interaction and interdependence with
other humans and the environment (S&H, chp. 6). This can be applied to the Maldonado family
because the environment impacts their family life. Juan and Maria, the parents, are forced to
work long hours at their jobs in order to financially support the family. This limits the amount of
time they can spend with their children and involved in their lives. This demonstrates how the
environment highly influences the family.
Symbolic Interactionism Theory
This theory suggests that each person gives unique meanings to symbols which are
learned through interaction and influenced by society (S&H, chp. 1). The Maldonado family
could be said to be having a crisis of symbols. For example, to each member of the family the
decreased amount of time they spend together as a family could signify something different. For
the grandparents it could represent the dissolution of the family. For the parents it could
represent the sacrifice they are giving in order for their children to have a better future. For the
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children, it could represent the new life and new culture they are now a part of since coming to
the United States. Each person views the same event differently. The differences in the way the
same event is viewed can cause discord among family members if not resolved or addressed.
Conflict Theory
The main purpose of this theory is to understand the reasons behind conflict. The theory
states the main reason for conflict is the power for control of the family’s resources (S&H, chp.
7). Conflict does not always have to be negative because it can foster acceptance of differences.
However, in the case of the Maldonado family the struggle for power could be a significant
contributor to the rockiness of the family. For example, Juan believes that he should hold all the
authority in the family and be fully financially responsible. His inability to completely provide
for his family, and allow his wife not to work is personally seen as a disgrace. The struggle for
power also may be exhibited in the language barrier. Juan and Maria rely on their two older sons
to translate for them, leaving them in a very vulnerable and dependent state. They lack the power
to communicate with many English speaking people without a translator. This causes troubles,
for example, when the family must attend a conference with their youngest daughter’s teacher.
Family Development Theory
This theory outlines the different stages families go through as well as the tasks designed
to be completed at each stage and includes a focus on the transition periods from one stage to the
next (S&H, chp. 3). This family could be said to be partially in the school age and partially in the
teenage stages. The main task in school age is to fit into the community and encourage
educational achievement (S&H, p. 76). This task could be especially difficult for the Maldonado
family because they are not entirely sure how to fit into the community they are now apart of.
This can be seen in that their two young daughters are having difficulty becoming part of their
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new community. Their oldest daughter, Katrina, is very quiet and withdrawn. On the other hand
their youngest daughter, Rosina, is acting out in school. The other stage is the teenage stage. The
main task during this stage is to balance freedom with responsibility for the teens (S&H, p. 76).
This is also a problem for the two older sons in the Maldonado family because they want more
freedom and their parents are hesitant to give it to them, especially because they seem to be
getting into more trouble with friends they do not know. The family will need to come up with
ways to solve the problems associated with completing the tasks at each stage.
Social Exchange Theory
This theory operates under the idea that humans are always trying to balance rewards and
costs, or investments and profits (S&H, chp. 8). The Maldonado family’s purpose for coming to
the United States and decision whether to remain or leave is a clear example of social exchange
theory. The family is trying to decide if the rewards of staying in the United States – better
opportunities for their children – outweigh the costs of staying in the United States – long hours
apart, little financial stability, and the stress of being in a new culture. Their choice will depend
on whether the costs outweigh the benefits or vice versa. Whichever outweighs the other will
most likely be the decision the family chooses.
Family Stress Theory
Family Stress Theory suggests that the resources a family possesses can help to define
situations and avoid a crisis (S&H, chp. 4). Also, once a crisis is reached, this theory shows how
the angle of recovery influences how families reorganize after a crisis (S&H, chp. 4). This theory
can be applied to the Maldonado family in that they experienced a crisis when they moved to the
United States because they were disorganized and had to find ways to reorganize in order to
continue functioning. This reorganization is influenced by the resources available to the family.
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One positive way the family reorganized was by utilizing the grandmothers in order to help with
childcare. One negative reorganization method was Maria and Juan having to work opposite shift
and having little time to spend together. Both of these reorganization strategies contribute to the
overall level of reorganization the family experienced after moving to the United States.
Feminist Family Theory
This theory focuses on the need to have equality in our society by encouraging equal
opportunities for both men and women (S&H, chp. 9). Therefore, this theory often analyzes
women’s perspectives because women play such an essential part of families. This theory can
specifically be applied to the struggles Maria faces when trying to balance her work, school, and
family. Also, her experience is shaped by the presence of the elders in her home. The pressure
they put on her to be the kind of mother they were in Mexico adds to her struggle. In general, this
theory goes to explain the highly intricate and important role Maria plays in her family because
she is the daughter, daughter-in-law, wife, and mother.
Family Composition and Structure
The family is composed of unique individuals who contribute to each family’s unique
structure. Although every family is unique, all families must perform certain tasks and resolve
conflicts in order to maintain sufficient functioning.
Identity
One of the first order tasks of a family is the development of identity (A&S, chp. 1). Each
member must develop their own unique identity. The development of identity has a variety of
influences as discussed below. The main question is “Who am I?” For the members of the
Maldonado family their identities changed when they moved to the United States. Therefore,
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they have to reconstruct their identities. For the children this could be especially difficult because
they have to debate who it is they want to be and who their parents want them to be.
Roles.
Each individual has certain roles and expectations that are given to them by other
members of the family. Role expectations are an important part of how individuals
perceive one another and accomplish family tasks (A&S, p. 174). In the case of
Maldonado family, the expectations each person has of one another highly influences
whether the family feels satisfied. For example, the grandmothers believe that Juan
should be at home in the evenings to be a father to his children but Juan believes that the
extra money he earns working at night is very valuable to the financial stability of his
family. Also there can be problems with role conflict, strain, and overload (A&S, p.207).
An example of this would be that Maria is struggling with trying to fulfill both the role of
daughter, wife, mother, and financial provider.
Cultural Influences.
Much of whom individuals develop into is highly influenced by their culture. In
the case of the Maldonado family who emigrated from Mexico, culture plays an
important part of their identity development. Based on the cultural tendencies outlined in
A&S, chp 12, Mexican families often encourage obedience in older children and
interdependence among family members. This interdependence could help to explain the
difficulties the family is experiencing with their teen boys struggling to obtain
independence from their parents. Ethnicity also provides a shared identity among all of
those who belong to it (A&S, chp. 5). Simply by being born into an ethnicity, part of your
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identity is defined. For those who join a new culture, such as the Maldonado family, they
must choose between acculturation and assimilation. These conflicting ideas the children
are receiving about their identities could prove to be difficult to navigate. Rules are also
another important part of identity development within a family (A&S, chp. 12). Identity
and culture influence the rules the family believe to be important. For example, the need
for interdependence may cause the family to enforce rules about relying on one another
for needs. This could be problematic for the family because the children may have
developed their own identities which focus on independence, rather than
interdependence, despite their parents and their cultural influences.
Boundaries
Another first order task of families is the establishment of boundaries (A&S, chp. 1).
These boundaries help to establish who belongs in the family and who doesn’t and where each
person begins and ends. Internal boundaries are established for the individuals to be
differentiated from one another (A&S, chp. 2). This could be difficult for members of the
Maldonado family because of their cultural beliefs about interdependence. This can be seen in
the older boys who are trying to establish themselves apart from their parents. External
boundaries are what define the family in relation to outsiders (A&S, chp. 2). They define who is
in the family and who is not in the family. It also helps to manage relationships with outsiders
(A&S, chp. 2). This can be applied to the Maldonado family because their family boundaries are
not clearly defined because they have not established a way to manage outsiders. They are still
embracing the new culture and have not mastered a way to deal with those who belong to it. This
can be seen in the difficulty both the parents and Marco have when dealing with Rosina’s
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teacher. A further establishment of more clear external boundaries could help the family to
manage the relationships it has with outsiders.
Unresolved Issues
Families can develop unresolved issues if they are not dealt with. Outlined in A&S, chp
4, there are a variety of manifestations of unresolved conflict. For example, the creation of
conflict in order to keep others at a distance can be used. One theoretical possibility of this would
be that Rosina is creating conflict at school because of the unresolved conflict she experiences
within her family. Also, families can use a projection process where one object or person
becomes the object of focus for the conflict. This projection helps the family, temporarily, by
keeping the other conflicts under control. For example, the family may view the children as a
projection for the overall family conflicts.
Conflict Management
All families experience conflict at some time and in some shape. The success of family
functioning is not determined by the absence or reduction of conflict but rather a healthy
resolution. There are a variety of tools that can be used for conflict management. A big portion
of cognitive coping is the perception of the problem (A&S, chp. 2). The perception of the
problem being fixable can help the family to approach it in such a way. For the Maldonado
family, the perception that this situation is temporary and by focusing on the long-term goals of
providing opportunities for their children can help them to deal with the conflicts they currently
face. Also, coping resources help to minimize the family’s vulnerability (A&S, chp. 2). The
Maldonado family is limited on their resources since moving to a new country. However, they do
still have the ability to rely on their family members for support which could help them to
manage conflict.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the theories and structure of families learned throughout this semester have
been applied to the Maldonado family. Family structure and tasks are very influential in the
overall success of family functioning. Also, a variety of theories can be used in order to explain
the family. Overall, the Maldonado family’s experiences help to demonstrate the complexity
families exhibit and how there are always multiple dimensions to the structures they maintain
and the conflicts they experience.
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References
Anderson, S., & Sabatelli, R. (2011). Family Interaction (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Smith, S., & Hamon, R. (2012). Exploring Family Theories (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford
University Press.