Women’s subjective views of family functions and roles

Introduction. Highlights the relevance of the research topic in connection with the macrosocial transformation of traditional family roles and functions. Theoretical analysis focuses on comprehending the content of the family’s educational, household, emotional, spiritual, and other functions. The empirical analysis serves to reveal the psychological meaning of data obtained from a sample of 196 women aged 22 to 53 (average age – 34 years; 47% of whom are married, and 51% have children). The data were collected using a psychological questionnaire aimed at identifying women’s perceptions of family roles and functions, and processed using content analysis. The study revealed that women typically prioritize the emotional function of the family and the roles of mother and wife. In addition, they emphasize the spiritual role of the father and the household function of the husband. The role of the child in the family is predominantly perceived as a source of deeply experienced emotions. A small separate group of perceptions was identified regarding the potential abnormally destructive influence of the family on its members’ behavior. For women with experience in forming their own (nuclear) families, the household functions of the spouses and the educational role of the mother are more significant than for women without marital or parental experience. This group also tends to have a more optimistic view of the future of the family as a social institution in a historical context. Conclusion. Summarizes the findings of the empirical study and outlines prospects for further research.