Comment on: "An Extended Family Model from Islamic Culture"

Lois Ibsen al Faruqi (see SA 28:4/80K9566) has recommended that US society adopt the extended family pattern of Islamic societies. This argument disregards the status of this family form as more an ideal than a reality in those societies, & also disregards the impact of other social variables on family structure. In addition, al Faruqi makes opinion statements contrary to empirical research results, provides an oversimplified model that treats family structure as the sole cause of social problems, & advocates a role in social planning for social scientists while disregarding the findings of empirical research, involvement with which is central to the role of social scientist. In Reply to the Comment of Dr. Ellen M. Thomas Gee, Lois Ibsen al Faruqi (Temple U, Philadelphia, Pa) notes sociological findings supporting the positions criticized by Gee, & stresses the need for integration of social scientific work with personal life & ideology. W. H. Stoddard.