Experience of family in the Jamaican context and impact of family structures and patterns on community development
WHAT IS A FAMILY?
A Family is: “a kinship unit, essentially of primary kin of the household head, but it allows for extension, either patrilineal or matrilineal.” (UNESCO, 1992) There are times when they do not share the same residence but the family still exists as a Unit
WHAT IS A HOUSEHOLD?
A household is: “a commensal (share the same food or eat together) and residential unit, and may consist of not only primary relatives but distant and non-distant family” (UNESCO, 1992)
FAMILY
Family has different meanings for different persons: • families may be comprised of several generations (grandmother, mother etc.) • include various households • might change as a result of divorce, remarriage and children moving away from home
TYPES OF FAMILY
• Nuclear Family a married man & woman and their biological children.
TYPES OF FAMILY
• Extended family Grandparents, aunts and uncles play a critical role in the rearing of the children. These relatives might not necessarily share the same residence with the child/children. They might assist the parents in the upbringing of the children or rear the children in the absence of their parents.
TYPES OF FAMILY
• Adoptive family This is where one or more children have been adopted. Children that were given up at birth, abandoned or their biological parents were unable to care for them. They then find a permanent home with an adoptive family.
TYPES OF FAMILY
• Step Family The increasing divorce and remarriage rates allow for the uniting of two families (step families).
TYPES OF FAMILY
• Single parent family This can be either a father or a mother who is singly responsible for raising a child. A single parent cares for one or more children without the help from the other biological parent. Historically, single-parent families was as a result of