families and households

Breadwinner

The person in the family who earns the money, usually the male

Cereal Packet Family

The “ideal” nuclear family shown in the media and advertising often characterised by a mother, father, and children in a happy home

Cohabitation

When two partners lie together in a realationship without being married

Commune

A group of people living together sharing resources and responsibilities

Conjugal roles

the domestic roles of the married partners deciding who does what in the home

Domestic division of labour

The division of tasks such as housework and childcare in the family

Double shift

When women are in full time employment and are still responsible for household tasks

Expressive role

According to parsons, is the traditional role of the women where they look after the emotional needs of the family

Extended family

A family which contains members beyond the nuclear such as aunties, uncles and grandparents

Family diversity

The range of families in society today; lone-parent, same-sex, extended

Household

one or more people who live at the same address but may not be related

Instrumental role

The males role to be the breadwinner and financial provider for the family

Lone-parent family

A family of one parent and their dependant children, usually headed by the mother

NEO-conventional family

A typical nuclear family but where both parents go to work

Nuclear family

A family of one man and one women with their dependant children

Reconstructed family

A family of one man and one woman with children from previous relationships

Secularisation

A decline in religious beliefs and activity

Stratified diffusion

How the roles adopted by the richer people filters down to the rest of society

Symmetrical family

Families which are equal on both sides where partners have equal roles