extended family

what is an extended family

a household that has three generations under one roof

why do people live in extended families

• has financial benefits

• creates a support network

• family values

• the number remains high in asian families for these reasons- support network post-migration

what did Parsons say (functionalist)

• the extended family was replaced by the nuclear family during the industrial revolution

• more people began moving to larger towns and work demands grew as well as capitalism

• structural differentiation- process of social change

what are the 4 types of extended family

• classic

• asian

• modern

• dispersed (Chamberlin)- remains in close contact and may live nearly but not together

• he found multiple ‘nuclear’ families amongst caribbean families where siblings/aunts all had dedicated childcare roles

what is the beanpole family

• long family structures with many generations alive at once, but narrow as each generation has few children

• Brannen- a long and thin family tree ‘narrow family experience’

how does obligation have an effect

• Mason and Finch- 90% people had given or revived financial help to a family member and about half provided care for a sick relative

• Cheal- women are much more likely to be expected to provide care (hierarchy of care)