Lesson_1__types_of_couples

What is a nuclear family?

A pair of adults, usually married, with their socially recognized children.

Define a lone-parent family.

A mother or father taking care of a child on their own without a partner.

What characterizes a step family?

One of the parents has had a child from a past relationship who is not biologically related to their spouse.

What is a chosen family?

Non-biological kinship bonds that could include friends or pets, characterized by mutual love and support.

Describe a cereal pack family.

A stereotypical family consisting of two parents and two children, reflecting a functionalist concept of an ideal family.

What defines an extended family?

A family that includes beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents and other relatives living in the same household.

Define a beanpole family.

A multi-generational family that is long and thin with few aunts, uncles, or cousins.

What roles do Parsons assign to males and females in a family setting?

The male is the instrumental role, serving as the breadwinner; the female is the expressive role, focusing on socializing children and meeting emotional needs.

What criticism do feminists have regarding Parsons’ model of family roles?

Feminists argue that the division of labor is not natural and primarily benefits men.

Who are Young and Willmott, and what is their view on family roles?

They suggest that men are now taking a greater share of domestic tasks and wives are increasingly becoming wage earners, leading to more equality in family life.

What is meant by a ‘symmetrical family’?

A family where the roles of husband and wife are more similar, with both participating in work, housework, and childcare.

List the four interlinked changes that resulted in the rise of the nuclear family.

1. Changes in women’s positions, 2. Geographical mobility, 3. New technical and labor-saving devices, 4. Higher standards of living.

What is the feminist view of housework within families?

Women and men remain unequal, with women still doing most of the housework, reflecting a patriarchal society.

How do women occupy a role in the family according to feminist views?

Women occupy a subordinate and dependent role in both the family and wider society.