Funeral Service Sociology Study Guide

location of funeral rite & prep of the deceased involvement & role of family and friends increased responsiblility placed on funeral director: (knowledge of social sciences, counseling ability, proper practices to avoid risk, applying cultural and social factors to funeral practices) Types of funeral rites: traditional non-traditional adaptive humanistic immediate disposition

Changes in American Funeral Rites- Significant changes in the 20th century as a result of change

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) Workplace: -evaluate self and others based on work ethic -work ethic measured in hours worked -believe teamwork is critical to success -relationship building is very important and loyalty is expected from co-workers Marketplace: -believe technology brings as many problems as solutions -want products/services to be customized/individual -believe rules should be followed unless contrary to what they want, then they can be broken -want products and services that will indicate success to their peers -tend to be loyal/cautious customers

Generational Differences

Generation X (born 1965-1979) Workplace -Self-reliant -want open communication regardless of position or tenure -respect production over tenure -value control over their time Marketplace: -embrace technology -individualistic -media savvy -research products and services prior to purchase -skeptical and not swayed by trends

Generational Differences

Generation Y (1980-2002) aka Millennials Workplace: -Seek open communication, positive feedback and affirmation -Find it easy to work with someone of the mature generation -search for a job that provides personal fulfillment Marketplace: -don't want to be hurried -loyal customers -want to be like peers but with a unique twist -values companies that possess an altruistic attitude -want value in service

Generational Differences

Matures (born 1909-1945) Workplace: -loyal to employer, superior interpersonal skills -believe promotion and raises should come from job tenure -value timelyness and productivity Marketplace: -faith in nations institutions, companies, and govt. -demand quality and place it before speed/effeciency -loyal customers -rule followers -believe standard options are fine, no customization

Generational Differences & Values

Influence of the electronic age -announcement of death through digital media Arrangement conference -video conference as an option -electronic merchandise selection -Funeral practitioner- family communication by electronic means Visitation and funeral ceremony -online streaming of funeral ceremony -electronic guest book -electronic video tributes, donations, and floral tributes Considerations of electronic age -provides more options for participation in ritual and memorialization -may reduce the human contact element of grieving and memorialization -ablility of funeral practictioner to adapt to electronic age

Significant Changes in Funeral Practices in 20th century part 2

Subculture (including: geographic, religious, ethnic, language, and age) Cultural universal ethnocentrism cultural relativism religion ceremony ritual symbol

Sociology in FS also covers:

Funeral, Memorial Service, Funeral rite, Social function, Culture (including: customs, norms, mores, taboos, folkways, laws & rules) and Enculturation aka socialization (including: direct and indirect learning)

Sociology in Funeral service covers:

Economics social stratification and class geographic factors and neo-localism religion government education level ethnicity divorce abuse demographics same-sex partnerships cohabitants living single population influence on disposition: (including: introduction of modern concepts in cemeteries; an increase in: cremation, donation, entombment, direct disposition, alkaline hydrolysis)

contemporary factors affected fs

Family governance systems: Patriarchal Matriarchal Egalitarian Family Structure in society: extended (joint) family nuclear family modified ext. family single parent family blended family civil union family

effect of family structure of funeral rites

industrialization: Family must use outside sources to meet their needs loss of craftmanship urbanization: anonymity influence of immigration influence of modes of transportation (airplanes and automobiles) bureaucratization extended life expectancy (longevity) death in institutions: declined in visible death extended care facilities

effect of family structure on funeral rites part 2

The funeral rite as a social function the funeral rite as a cultural universal: (announcement of the death, care of the deceased, a method of disposition, ceremony or ritual, memorialization)

the purpose of sociology in fs