The extended family today

• Brannen et al

  • beanpole family is becoming most dominant form of family
  • people are living longer and parents are involved in their children's lives
  • smaller families meaning fewer siblings to rely upon for support and with geographical mobility they may not be accessible
• the existence of the extended family

  • the extended family among ethnic minorities raises the question of how widespread they have become
  • as Parsons said the extended family is become the dominant family type in pre-industrial society but in modern society it has been replaced by the nuclear family
• Charles 2008

  • did a study of Swansea and found that the classic 3 generation family all living together under one roof is now 'all but extinct'
  • only exception she found was in the Bangladeshi community
  • while the extended family may have declined it has not entirely disappeared
  • Wilmott 1988 argues that it continues to exist as a 'dispersed extended family' where relatively are geographically separated but maintain frequent contact through visits and phone calls is maintained
• Chamberlain study 1999

  • conducted on Caribbean families in Britain and found that despite being geographically dispersed they continue to provide support
  • describes them as 'multiple nuclear families' with close and frequent contact between siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins who often make a big contribution to childrearing
• the beanpole family

  • a particular type of extended family, which is extended vertically (up and down) through three or more generations e.g. grandparents, parents etc , but not extended horizontally (sideways) e.g. aunts, cousins etc
• beanpole families be the result of..

  • increased life expectancy - more surviving grandparents and great-grandparents
  • smaller family sizes - fewer siblings -> less horizontal ties
• obligations to relatives

  • yet despite the rise in beanpole families many people still feel a sense of obligation to help their wider extended kin
  • Finch and Mason 1993 found that over 90% of people had given or received financial help, and about half had cared for a sick relative, suggesting a sense of obligation to help extended kin
• Cheal 2002

  • notes where personal care for an elderly person is needed a daughter or daughter in law is preferred if husband is unavailable
  • sons are rarely chosen as caregivers for an elderly person
  • daughters are rarely chosen as appropriate people to provide money
• principle of reciprocity

  people feeling that help received should be returned to avoid any feelings of indebtedness