Definitions
Types of families
Alternative to traditional families
Family diversity
Functions ( beneficial & critical view)
Characteristics of lone-parent family
Reasons for increase in lone parent families
Features of families in contemporary society
Reasons for increase in divorce rate
Reasons for increase in cohabitation
Reasons for increase in birth outside marriage
Definitions
Family: A group of people consisting of adults and their children, who live with each other.
The adults are generally married.
Household: One or more people living in the same dwelling.
Kin: All the members of your family, including those related by blood, marriage or cohabitation.
Types of Families
* Extended: Three or more generations living together or in close contact.
* Nuclear: Two generations consisting of parents and children living together.
* Lone parent: Only one parent living with their children.
* Reconstituted: A family which has at least one step parent.
Also we can find alternatives for traditional family structure:
* Gay marriages * Children who are adopted * Homeless * Kibbutz
Family Diversity
Main factors influencing the diversity of forms are:
* Social status * Ethnicity or culture * Sexual orientation * Location
Functions
Function: (Many ways to say it the way I prefer) * Service task that an institution carries. * Or * An activity carried out by an institution. * Or * A job or an activity carried out for a wider social structure.
Family functions in traditional society: * Socialization. * Economic provision. * Development of identity.
Beneficial view: State that the family is very important because it guarantees:
* Socialization: Teaches an individual hoe to abide by norms, beliefs and values of society. Families are agents of social control.
* Emotional stability: The individual