Types Of Families Flashcards
The cereal packet family
It consists of 2 parents who are married (opposite sex) and 2 dependent children (girl & boy). It is seen as the “perfect family.” The dad would be the breadwinner & mum is the housewife.
Example sentence: The cereal packet society is often portrayed in media as the ideal family structure.
Traditional nuclear family
Similar to CPF, however, here there may be more dependent children. The role of the dad is the breadwinner while mum is the housewife.
Additional information: CPF stands for cereal packet society.
Cohabitation
Similar to a nuclear family, however, the couple who are in a relationship are not married.
Reconstituted/step family/blended family
Many people get remarried and they may have children from previous relationships, forming a family with step-children.
The extended family
A family consisting of parents and children along with other family members like aunts, uncles.
There are 2 types of extended family: 1. Classical extended family: Consists of 3 generations who live together. 2. Modified extended family: They don’t all live in the same house, but they maintain regular contact through visits, phone calls, etc.
Beanpole family
A type of family extended vertically through 3 or more generations and isn’t extended horizontally because there are no or few aunts, uncles, cousins, so fewer children are born in each generation.
Principle of reciprocity
We pay back what we receive from others. For example, if the grandparents supported the child during school years while the parents were working, when the grandparents get older, the children help them by doing extra things like shopping.
Lone/single parent family
With dependent children, most commonly after divorce or separation. It may also arise from the death of a partner or unwillingness to marry. There are more single mums than single dads.
Patriarchal family
Authority held by the man of the family.
Matriarchal family
Authority held by the woman of the family.
Same-sex families
Two people of the same sex cohabiting or married. Adoption & surrogacy have given them the right to have children. Same-sex couples act (2013) allows same-sex couples to legally get married.
Monogamy
Being married to only one person at a time. In the UK, marriage is based on monogamy.
Serial monogamy
Occurs when a divorced person enters into a second marriage, then divorces, remarries, divorces, and so on. They are still married to just one person but marry multiple times.
Bigamy
Getting married to someone while already married to someone else.
Empty nest
Mature couples whose children have left home.
