SOC101 Assignment: Analyzing Canadian Families and Global Media Trends

This assignment solution addresses key sociological concepts, beginning with an analysis of Margrit Eichler's five dimensions of family diversity: procreative, socialization, residential, economic, and emotional. It then examines which dimension has the greatest impact on family relationships, with the socialization dimension being identified as critical due to its influence on parental bonds and family stability. The solution contrasts Eichler's perspective on the family, which emphasizes the impact of social, legal, and economic policies, with those of George Murdock, who defines family based on social group characteristics, and Rose Laub Coser, who focuses on the family as a unit formed by marriage and associated obligations. The second part of the assignment explores the four stages of media development—emergence, entrepreneurial, mass medium, and convergence—and explains the concept of the "Global Village" as a result of increased interconnectedness. It discusses how technology and media devices facilitate emotional connections within digital communities, leading to the formation of tribalism among diverse backgrounds. Finally, it considers the impact of the "Global Village" on diversity and whether Canadian national culture is shaped or threatened by television imperialism.

(1) Identify and describe the five dimensions Eichler proposed and explain how each can be
used to analyze the diversity of Canadian families.
1. Procreative dimension: This dimension can be used to analyze the number of Canadian
couples with children and if they have children, determine whether they are from the present
marriage or the previous one.
2. Socialization dimension: This dimension can be used to examine the Canadian parents who
are involved in childrearing. Diversity analyzers can apply it to determine if one, both, or neither
of the parents is involved in childcare.
3. Residential Dimension: This dimension can be used to identify the Canadian families that
live under the same roof. Diversity analyzers can use it to establish the number of families living
in separate houses and the reasons behind it.
4. Economic Dimension: This dimension can be used to identify the Canadian family members
who are financially responsible for the rest of the family.
5. Emotional Dimension: This dimension can be used by family diversity analyzers to
member’s involvement that can be mutual or one-sided, mutually positive or negative.
(2) Which of Eichler’s dimensions do you think has the greatest impact on family
relationships? Explain.
Socialization dimension has the greatest impact on family relationships. Parents who share
responsibilities in sharing their children develop a strong bond and love that enable their
marriage to remain strong. Irresponsibility as (Placeholder1)notes, as the main cause of family
breakdowns and divorce.

(3) How does Eichler's views of the family differ from that of Murdock and Coser? What
was their definition?
Eichler aims to comprehend ways in which social, legal, and economic policies affect Canadian
families. She views marriage as the smallest unit in the community that is affected state policies
such as income tax regulations, family laws, and social welfare legislations among others.
George Murdock’s views a family as a social group that includes adults of both sexes and at least
two of the members have a socially certified sexual engagement, and one or more kids. Rose
Laub Coser, on the other hand, views marriage as a group that is united by legal, religious,
economic obligations as well as social rights and moral obligations. Murdock defined the family
as a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction.
Coser defined family as a nuclear group that finds its origin in marriage that consists of wife,
husband, and children. Margrit Eichler defines family as a social unit that is affected by social,
legal, and economic policies.
2) Throughout history, civilizations of diverse origins have used media. Mass media,
however, have not always existed; that is, they have not always been available to large
numbers of people.
(1) Identify and describe the four stages of media, each of which marks a revolutionary
turning point.
1. Emergence/novelty stage: Technicians and inventors attempt to resolve a certain
problem or challenge.
2. Entrepreneurial stage: Investors and inventors identify an applicable and marketable
usage of the new device

3. Mass medium stage: Businesses determine the best way to market the new gadget as a
consumer commodity or product
4. Convergence stage: At this stage, old media are re-designed in different types of new
media.
(2)Based on the four stages, explain what is meant by the “Global Village”.
Global Village refers to the sensation of the world becoming more and more interconnected due
to as the growth and development of media high-tech products all over the world.
(3) How, in your opinion has the global village emerged and explain how the global village
led to the production of tribalism among people from diverse backgrounds.
People are nowadays using technology, particularly media devices, to fit into a digital
community where they are not physically interconnected, but emotionally interconnected. Every
social media platform functions is acting as a digital home for people, enabling them to express
themselves through the Global Village.
3)(1) Is the “Global Village” good for diversity? (2) Based on what we have read
throughout this course, identify and explain the four presented reasons and discuss
whether or not Canada and our national culture is being shaped and/or threatened by
television imperialism, including the stories' television shares.