is the nuclear family universal

• murdock (functionalist)


  studied 250 societies and argued basic family unit across the world is the nuclear family
• is the nuclear family universal - the Nayar


  women in tribe can have sexual relationships with up to 12 men

  biological father remains uncertain

  mother's brother responsible for mother and child

  no link between cohabitation / marriage and biological parents rearing child

  CONTRADICTS MURDOCK
• is the nuclear family universal - Communes


  west europe, britain + usa in 1960's

  often collective living rather than individual family units

  children seen as responsibility of group rather than only biological parents

  CONTRADICTS MURDOCK
• is the nuclear family universal - Kibbutz


  community aims to meet all needs of child

  children move through different households until adulthood

  child rearing kept separate from marriage

  child kept away from biological parents and raised by metapelets

  child only sees biological parents for a small time each day

  CONTRADICTS MURDOCK
• is the nuclear family universal - lone parent families

  traditionally women headed

  number increasing year by year

  2023 = 3.2 million lone parent, 85% women headed

  1999 = 2.5 million

  CONTRADICTS MURDOCK
• is the nuclear family universal - gay and lesbian families

  increase in gay couple adopting / surrogacy pregnancies

  1 in 4 children adopted by LGBTQ families

  2004 civil partnership act giving gay / lesbian couples same rights as married heterosexual couples

  increasing

  CONTRADICTS
• is the nuclear family universal - foster care and children's homes


  children looked after by local authorities and brought up by foster parents

  parents and child may not have lifelong relationship

  CONTRADICTS MURDOCK