1.

1 FAMILY CONCEPT
 It is a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption constituting a
single household interacting and inter-communicating with each other.

 It consists of man and woman (father and mother), son and daughter, brother and
sister.

 There are different kinds of families including nuclear and extended families, which
may be monogamous, polygamous or one-parent.

 Each family member has roles and responsibilities creating a common culture.

1.1.1 Traditional family

 It is a family structure that consists of a man, woman, and one or more of their
biological or adopted children.
 Another term used to refer to a traditional family is a nuclear family

1.1.2 Theory of family systems

 The family systems theory states that a family functions as a system wherein each
member plays a specific role and must follow certain rules.

 Based on the roles within the system, people are expected to interact with and
respond to one another in a certain way.

1.1.3 Types of family systems

1. Nuclear family
2. Matrifocal family
3. Extended family
4. Blended family
  From the perspective of children, the family instils a sense of orientation: The
family functions to locate children socially, and plays a major role in their
socialization.

 From the point of view of the parents, the family's primary purpose is
procreation: The family functions to produce and socialize children.

1.1.4 Roles within a family.

 There are five roles that are regarded as essential for a healthy family. Providing
resources, such as money, food, clothing, and shelter, for all family members is
one of the most basic, yet important, roles within a family

1.1.5 Five universal functions of the Family

 Socialization of children.
 Maintenance and physical care.
 Love and nurturance.
 Production of goods and services.
 Social control of children.

 Many people assume that the traditional role of a man within a family is that
of primary breadwinner, while a woman's job is to care for the children.

 However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that most families consisted of a wage-
earning male, a stay-at-home mother, and children who attended school. In
earlier generations, men and women both took active roles in commerce and
child-rearing.

 The duty of provider is fundamental to a man’s role. The Bible says that “if any
provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
  While the context is specifically instructing men to provide for the widows in
their family, a man’s wife and children are also members of his household that
he is morally obligated to look after and provide for.

 The duty of helpmeet is fundamental to a woman’s role. At man’s creation, God

said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him” (Genesis 2:18).

 In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul elaborates on the role of a helpmeet,
saying they should be “keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands”
(Titus 2:5).

 The reason so many career women and homemaking fathers struggle with
depression is that they are living lifestyles contrary to the ones God designed
them to live.

1.2 Summary

In this Unit, you have learnt the basic terms, concepts and principles pertaining to
indigenous family systems.

You have also discussed and learnt family theory and the different types of family
structures.

Lastly, you have also managed to explain to the learner the functions of the family and
the role each member plays in fulfilling family obligations.