5. Extended Family Today

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

1. How Widespread is Extended Family?
2. ‘Beanpole’ Family
3. Obligations to Relatives

Question 2

1. How Widespread is Extended Family?

Answer 2

• Parsons: Nuclear family is dominant in a modern industrial society
• Charles: Study of Swansea found that three generation family living together is ‘all but extinct’ (only significant exception was among Bangladeshis)
• Willmott: continues to exist as a ‘dispersed extended family’ (geographically distant but in constant touch)
• Bell: both WC and MC families relied on each other for support.
• MC: more financial help from father to son
• WC: more frequent contact (lived closer), and more domestic help from mother to daughter.

Question 3

2. ‘Beanpole’ Family

Answer 3

• Bell’s findings suggest importance of so-called ‘beanpole’ family
• Brannen: beanpole family is an extended family which can be ‘long and thin’
• It is extended vertically: through 3 generations or more.
• Doesn’t extend horizontally: through uncles / aunties
• Charles: found a sharp decline in both support and contact between siblings

• Beanpole Families may be result of 2 demographic changes

1. Increased life expectancy: more grandparents and great grandparents
2. Smaller family sizes: people have fewer siblings (less ties)

Question 4

3. Obligations to Relatives

Answer 4

• Some feel a sense obligation help wider extended kin.
• Finch and Mason: over 90% of people had given financial help to a sick relative

• Cheal: when it comes to household tasks, there is are rules that decide who has greatest obligation to assist.
-Where personal care for an elderly women is needed, a daughter or daughter in law is preferred if husband is not available. (However, daughters are rarely chosen for money provision)

• Overall, it is evident that the extended family continues through emotional and practical support. However, it is different to Parson’s classic extended.