What Are The Different Types Of Families?
Overview
Ask ten people to draw a family and you will get ten different pictures: a couple and their children, three generations under one roof, a single parent and a child, a step-family blended from two earlier ones, a couple of the same sex. All of these are families, and sociology asks a sharper question than most people ever do: what actually makes a group of people a family, how many shapes can a family take, and why are some societies far more diverse than others?
This note gives you the precise vocabulary CIE expects. You will learn to separate a family from a household, name and describe the main family types and forms of marriage, and weigh the celebrated and the criticised sides of family diversity through the New Right and the Postmodernist lenses. By the end you will be able to classify any real household you meet and argue clearly about whether the nuclear family still rules.
Objectives
- Nuclear.
- Extended, e.g. modified, horizontal, vertical/beanpole.
- Reconstituted.
- Lone parent.
- Empty nest.
- Childless.
- Strengths and limitations of different family structures.
- If appropriate to the local context and not restricted by law or regulation, other family types may also be taught, such as polygamous family and same-sex family.
- Cross-cultural.
- Social class.
- Ethnicity.
- New Right views on family diversity and dysfunctional families.
- Postmodernist views on the positive aspects of family diversity.
- The extent of family diversity and the dominance of the nuclear family.
- Single person households.
- Shared households.
- Friends as family.
- Arranged.
- Empty shell.
- Love.
- Monogamy.
- Serial monogamy.
- If appropriate to the local context and not restricted by law or regulation, other types of marriage may also be taught such as polygamy and same-sex marriage.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on What Are The Different Types Of Families?. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following is a household but NOT a family? A. A married couple and their baby B. A grandmother, her daughter and grandchild living together C. Three unrelated workers sharing a flat D. A father and his two adopted children Answer: C
- A family made up of two parents and their dependent children only is called a: A. extended family B. nuclear family C. reconstituted family D. beanpole family Answer: B
- A long, thin family of several living generations but few members in each is known as a: A. horizontal extended family B. modified extended family C. beanpole family D. empty-nest family Answer: C
- A series of monogamous marriages one after another, often through divorce and remarriage, is called: A. polygamy B. serial monogamy C. an arranged marriage D. an empty-shell marriage Answer: B
- Which perspective is most likely to view family diversity as a positive sign of greater choice and freedom? A. The New Right B. Functionalism C. Postmodernism D. Marxism Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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