P & T In Extended Families Flashcards
What are the 7 key sociologists used in relation to extended families?
Charles
Willmott
Rosser
Harris
Chamberlain
Finch
Brannen
What did Charles find in relation to extended families?
Found that the classical three generation extended family all living under one roof is now “all but extinct”
The only significant exceptions she found were among the city’s Bangladeshi community
What does willmott argue in relation to extended families?
Argues that in the main where extended family structures continue to exist they are “dispersed extended families”
This is where relatives are geographically separated but maintain contact through visits and phone calls etc
Willmotts research reflected the findings of Rosser and Harris
What is an extended family?
Any group of kin (people related by blood, marriage or adoption) extended beyond the nuclear family
The family may be extended vertically (eg/ grandparents) or horizontally (eg/ aunts, cousins) or both
The classic extended family lived together or in very close proximity
Willmotts research reflected the findings of Rosser and Harris, what did they find?
They found that whilst the nuclear family had become the focus of family life, the extended family continued to have a role
They argues high levels of individual, social and geographical mobility abs dispersal did not prevent the maintenance of high levels of contact between extended kin
Acknowledging that the nature, function and role of the extended family had been modified they favoured the term “modified extended family - this describes a coalition of nuclear families in a state of partial dependence
This partial dependence differentiates this type of family structure from both the classical extended and the nuclear family
What are the key trends for extended families?
1996 - extended families made up 167,000 of all households
2012 - this figure had increased to 281,000
Despite this increase they represent a very small proportion of all households in 2012
What did Chamberlains study show in relation to extended families?
His study of Caribbean families in Britain found that despite being geography dispersed, they continue to provide support
She describes them as “multiple nuclear families” with close and frequent contact
Overall evidence suggests that an extended family structure continues to play an important role for many people today providing both practical and emotional support
However this is different from the classic extended family whose members worked and lived together and were bound by mutual obligations
What does Finch argue in relation to extended families?
Argues that the nature of all family relationships are largely determined by gender, ethnicity, economics, generation and region
What is a beanpole family?
The beanpole family is a particular type of extended family described by BRANNEN as long and thin - not a lot of members
It is extended vertically through three or more generations but not horizontally
May partly be the result of two demographic changes:
- increased life expectancy which means more surviving grandparents and great grandparents
- smaller family sizes meaning people have fewer siblings and thus have horizontal ties
What does evidence suggest about extended families overall?
The extended family continues to play an important role for people today, providing both practical (eg/ childcare) and emotional (love/care) support when called upon
However this is very different from the classic extended family whose members lived together and were bound by strong mutual obligations
Some sense of obligation does remain at least to some kin and as a last resort in times of crisis for many (more by choice)
(What was dominant then is different now)
