The Family

Question 1

Extended family

Answer 1

Multiple generations of adults living with their spouses and children
In tribal and band societies extended families were common
Recent immigrants to Canada, especially those from South Asia and the Middle East, are more likely to live in extended families

Question 2

nuclear family

Answer 2

An adult male and female their offspring living together
Nuclear families have existed throughout history, but the Anglo-American concept of the nuclear family is the one we are the most familiar with – mother, father, and children living under one roof

Question 3

Idealized Nuclear family (US conservative definition)

Answer 3

Married heterosexual couple with children
Usually two children – a son and a daughter
Lives in the suburbs or in a rural setting
Middle class
White
Christian, preferably Protestant
Father working, mother stays at home and looks after children and does housework

Question 4

Single Parent Family

Answer 4

Usually a female parent
Parent is usually working in the paid labour force and also does domestic chores
Many single parent families live at or below the poverty line
In Canada and the US, single parent families tend to be members of visible minorities (Black, Hispanic, or Aboriginal)

Question 5

Common Law Couples

Answer 5

Typically heterosexual couples who don’t like the legally binding status of marriage
May or may not have children
Children may be from an existing relationship or a previous relationship
Some common law couples may decide to get married later on

Question 6

Same Sex Couples

Answer 6

In some jurisdictions, same sex couples are not allowed to marry for religious reasons
Same sex marriage is also opposed by people who believe that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice and parents set an example for their children to follow
If same sex couples cannot have children of their own, they may decide to adopt, have children through surrogate parents, or if both partners are female one may rely on sperm donors

Question 7

Adopted and Foster children

Answer 7

Adopted children usually come from parents who are too young or unfit to raise them
Couples who can’t have children of their own may choose to adopt
Foster children usually come from poor families and some of them may receive support from sponsoring parents in other countries

Question 8

Types of Families in Canada

Answer 8

Nuclear families – 44%
Unmarried couples (including common law and same sex couples) – 15.5%
Single parent families – 15.9%

Question 9

Benefits for Families

Answer 9

Family allowance (federal income transfer implemented after the Second World War)
Child tax credit
Education tax credits for children attending post-secondary institutions
Social assistance (administered by the provinces)
Low income housing developments subsidized by various levels of government

Question 10

Absolute and Relative Poverty

Answer 10

Families live in a state of absolute poverty when the household income does not cover all the basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing
A family lives in a state of relative poverty when it does not have the things that middle class families typically enjoy, such as a car, a TV, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a stereo set, a washer and dryer, new toys for the kids, musical instruments, etc.

Question 11

consumption units

Answer 11

Corporations and advertisers treat families and household as ‘consumption units’.
People don’t want things simply because they are advertised. If they see that their friends and neighbours have the latest toys, gadgets, and fashionable clothing, they will want it too.
The ‘down’ side to excess consumption is the rising level of household debt. The amount of consumer debt in Canada is about the same as the amount of debt owed by all levels of government (about half a trillion dollars)

Question 12

Types of Family Income

Answer 12

Single income earner household: one parent in the paid labour force
Dual income earner household: both parents working
Multiple income earner household: both parents working and older children with some form of paid employment (usually part time)

Question 13

Boomerang children

Answer 13

children who return home after economic hardship (losing a job, retraining when skills become obsolete, etc.)

Question 14

Boomerang children

Answer 14

children who return home after economic hardship (losing a job, retraining when skills become obsolete, etc.)