Family diversity (2)

• Family types in contemporary society


  • Reconstituted family
  • Same-sex couples
  • Living apart, together
  • Grandparenting
  • Singledom
  • Flatmates/housemates
  • Empty nest family
  • Boomerang family
• Reconstituted family


  Two nuclear families that have split up and then merged (or blended) to form a new family (i.e. with step-parents and step-brothers or sisters)
• Same-sex family forms


  Same-sex couples, same-sex parents
• Living apart, together


  A couple who choose not to cohabitate (or are not currently cohabitating)
• Living apart, together accounts for approximately 10% of UK adults
• Grandparenting


  Grandparents bringing up children
• Singledom


  People living on their own
• Flatmates/housemates


  Multiple occupancy household without kinship relations (e.g. student accommodation)
• Empty nest family


  A couple whose children have left home
• Boomerang family


  A couple whose children left home but came back again