Family Life Key Terms

Cohabitation

A couple living together without being married/in civil partnership.

Compassion

Sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.

Contraception

Precautions taken to prevent pregnancy and to protect against contracting or transmitting STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

Divorce

The legal ending of a marriage.

Extended family

Family unit comprising parents and their children

Family planning

Planning when to have a family and how big a family to have by use of birth control practices

and/or contraception.

Gender discrimination

Acting on prejudices against someone because of their gender.

Gender equality

Belief that all genders have equal status and value

Gender prejudice

Negative thoughts

identity. Commonly associated with beliefs about the differing status of men and women.

Heterosexuality

Being physically/sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex.

Nuclear family

Family unit made up of two parents and their child(ren).

Polygamy

The practice of having multiple spouses (wives and/or husbands).

Procreation

Having a child; seen as a duty in many religions.

Remarriage

Marriage for the second time

Same-sex relationship

Being in a physical/sexual relationship with someone of the same sex

Vows

Promises made during a marriage ceremony.