Types & Reasons

• What is the definition of a family according to the study material?

  A family consists of people who live in a monogamous relationship, related by blood or marriage, and share the same residence.
• How is a household defined in the study material?

  A household consists of a person living alone or in a group of people who live communally.
• What trend has been observed in nuclear families over the last 50 years?

  The numbers of nuclear families have fallen over the last 50 years.
• What are the three trends in childbearing over the last 50 years?

  Women are having fewer children, having them later, and there are more births outside of marriage.
• What is a reconstituted family?

  A reconstituted family is a partnership where one or both adults bring children from a previous relationship.
• What percentage of families with dependent children are reconstituted families?

  Reconstituted families account for 10% of all families with dependent children.
• What is one reason for the increase in reconstituted families?

  Changing attitudes have made society more accepting of stepfamilies.
• What is a characteristic of reconstituted families regarding children?

  More children from stepfamilies are from the woman’s previous relationship than the man’s.
• Why are stepfamilies at risk of poverty?

  Stepfamilies may have more children and the stepfather may also support children from a previous relationship.
• What is a challenge faced by stepfamilies according to the study material?

  Stepfamilies experience extra tensions due to divided loyalties.
• What is the definition of same-sex relationships in the study material?

  A same-sex relationship is a partnership between gay male and lesbian female couples living together in an intimate relationship.
• What percentage of the adult population is estimated to have same-sex relationships?

  It is estimated that 7% of the adult population have same-sex relationships.
• What societal change has contributed to the increase in same-sex relationships?

  Changing attitudes and less stigma have made society more accepting of same-sex relationships.
• What legal changes have supported same-sex relationships?

  The Civil Partnership Act (2004) and the Same Sex Marriage Act (2013) provide same-sex couples with the same marital rights as heterosexual couples.
• What is the impact of secularisation on same-sex relationships?

  Secularisation has led to a declining influence of religion, reducing negative attitudes towards same-sex relationships.
• What is a one-person household?

  A one-person household consists of people who live alone, either by choice or not.
• What trend has been observed in one-person households over the last 50 years?

  The numbers of one-person households have increased significantly.
• What is a reason for the increase in one-person households?

  Changing attitudes have led to less social pressure to marry and more acceptance of single living.
• How has the position of women contributed to the increase in one-person households?

  Women are now economically independent, allowing them to choose to live alone.
• What is a characteristic of extended families?

  An extended family includes relatives in addition to the nuclear family, such as grandparents and aunts.
• What did Parsons (1955) claim about extended families?

  Parsons claimed that extended families were important in pre-industrial society but were replaced by nuclear families during industrialisation.
• What did Bell's (1968) research find about extended families?

  Bell found that extended families were common among the working class as they provided important domestic support.
• What is the concept of a 'beanpole family'?

  A beanpole family is a multi-generational family that is long vertically but thin horizontally, lacking aunts, uncles, and cousins.
• What are two reasons for the beanpole family structure?

  Increased life expectancy and smaller family sizes contribute to the beanpole family structure.
• What did Finch & Mason (1993) find about obligations in extended families?

  They found that 90% of people had given or received financial help and that more is expected of females in caregiving roles.
• What percentage of families with children are lone parent families?

  Lone parent families now account for 22% of all families with children.
• What is one reason for the increase in lone parent families?

  Changing attitudes have led to less social pressure to marry and more acceptance of lone parent families.
• Why are lone parent families mainly headed by females?

  Women are biologically suited to an expressive nurture role, and divorce courts usually give custody to females.
• What is a characteristic of black families in terms of lone parenthood?

  51% of black Caribbean or black African families are lone parent families, most of which are headed by females.
• What is one reason for the high percentage of black lone parent families?

  High rates of black male unemployment lead to desertion or marital breakdown.
• What is a characteristic of Asian families regarding size?

  Asian families, particularly Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian families, are typically larger and may be extended.
• What is one reason for the multicultural family structures?

  People choose partners from different ethnic backgrounds based on personal needs and wishes.
• How do middle-class families differ from working-class families in terms of child-centeredness?

  Middle-class families invest more time in their children and take more interest in their education.
• What is a consequence of higher divorce rates in working-class families?

  Higher divorce rates in working-class families can lead to increased poverty, low educational achievement, and crime.
• What are the types of family diversity discussed in the study material?

  • Nuclear families
  • Reconstituted families (stepfamilies)
  • Same-sex relationships
  • One-person households
  • Extended families
  • Lone parent families
  • Multicultural families
• What are the reasons for family diversity according to the study material?

  • Changing attitudes towards marriage and family structures
  • Increase in divorce and remarriage
  • Economic independence of women
  • Legal recognition of same-sex relationships
  • Societal acceptance of different family forms