Family Types

• family diversity

  the differences between families, eg. structure, roles, and organisations
• Organisational Diversity

  how the family is structured in terms of its members and power structures
• Generational Diversity

  the shared historical experiences that a group has which will shape their family structure and organisation, eg. the introduction of the contraceptive pill
• Social Class Diversity

  • inequalities in lifestyle possibilities have increased since the 1980s
  • wealth and income have an obvious impact, eg. the type of housing
• Secularisation

  • the decline in the power of the church has lessened its influence on the family
  • changes in church teachings have also had an impact, eg. use of contraception and same sex relationships
• Globalisation/Immigration

  • As technology has advanced, the number of dispersed extended families have increased - a family which is close emotionally but not geographically
  • immigration has seen new types of family arise in the UK
• nuclear family

  • parents and kids, living in one house
  • dad goes to work
  • mother stays home to care for the family
  • traditionally stay married for life
• extended families

  • grandparents, aunties, uncles
  • normalised by the media as a supportive family unit
  • three or more generations and can differ in cultures
  • provide an parenting support, financial aid, and socialisation of norms and values
• reconstituted family

  • adults living with children from their partner’s previous marriage
  • badly represented in the media, eg. Cinderella’s evil stepsisters
• multi-cultural families

  • little coverage in the media
  • potential adoption
  • interracial couples
• matrifocal family

  • the lone parent is the mother
  • courts prefer mothers in child custody cases, following divorces
  • Murray - criticises lone parent families suggesting the lack of male role model can cause deviant behaviour and socialise children with deviant values, leading to the creation of an underclass
• student households

  decrease due to rise in housing costs
• LAT

  • 1 couple, 2 different households
  • mostly young adults
  • no expectations of marriage
  • prioritise quality in a relationship

  pros - less pressure, more free time, more quality connections

  cons - jealousy
• empty nest families

  • children have moved out
  • grief/loss/loneliness felt by parents
  • leads to stronger marriage for parents
  • less stressful for parents once children are no longer dependent on them
• reason for living alone

  • the cult of the individual, focus on own needs
  • the communications revolution, individuals can achieve the pleasure of social life
  • the ageing population, divorced/widowed
  • LAT
• pros of extended families

  • provide financial support
  • provide childcare
  • provide inheritance
• dual burden 


  work full time + housework and childcare