Form 4 – Term 1

What is a family?
 DEFINITION OF FAMILY
A group of individuals
who are intimately
related, by blood,
marriage, adoption or
some other factor,
living under the same
roof, supporting and
maintaining each other
socially, economically
and emotionally.
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• The family is the basis on which large
communities and societies are formed. It
influences the behaviour and personality of its
members and society.

• The concept of the family is universal.

However, the form and functions of the family
may differ in primitive, or modern, agrarian
and industrialized societies.

• In Caribbean society, existing family patterns

have been influenced by our foreparents.
 FAMILY
STRUCTURE
 Family Structure in the Caribbean
• Family structure is
influenced by the types of
marriage which are
permitted.
• A family might consist of a pinterest
CONJUGAL PAIR (husband
and wife)
• A CONSANGUINE FAMILY is
made up of blood relatives

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 CONSANGUINE FAMILIES
• If traced through males it is patrilineal e.g. the
Ibo of Nigeria

• If traced through the female line it is

matrilineal e.g. the Asante of Ghana
The main difference between conjugal and
consanguine families is that the consanguine
family maintains its continuity through many
generations, while a new conjugal family is
formed with every marriage. The conjugal pair
changes to a consanguine family when
children are born.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES
• Common family surname (not always)
• Same residence
• Traditions
• Same religious beliefs and practices
• Resemblance (in most cases)
 THE FAMILY TREE
A family tree is a genealogical chart that shows
ancestry, relationships and descent of all the
members of a family.
 Do ACTIVITY:
Modules page 12 # 1-6
SS for CSEC page 2, case Study
in your note-books

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WAYS FAMILIES
BEGIN
Brainstorm…

HOW DO FAMILIES
BEGIN?
 ORIGINS OF THE FAMILY
(HOW FAMILIES BEGIN)

1. Courtship
2. Arranged marriage
3. Shot-gun marriage
4. Marriage of convenience
5. Family tradition
6. Elopement
TYPES OF
UNIONS
 FAMILY UNIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN
• Various Caribbean family types
developed as a result of our historical
past (colonialism, African slavery and
East Indian indentureship)

1. The Legal Union (Legal Marriage)

2. The Common-law Union
3. The Visiting Union (Friending)
 THE LEGAL UNION
1. Formal marriage (religious and/or legal
ceremony) where marriage contract is signed
in the presence of a Christian
Pastor/Priest/Reverend, Hindu Pundit,
Muslim Imam, or Justice of the Peace.

2. Parties must be 18 years or older.

 THE COMMON-LAW UNION
1. Living together without being legally married
2. Lacks binding strength in times of stress
3. Children may be considered “illegitimate”
and both women and children may have no
legal claim to any inheritance (T&T law allows
claims to be made)
 THE VISITING UNION (slide 1 of 2)
In this relationship there is no permanent father
figure. The man visits the woman at intervals.
The loose ties in this type of union often break
and a woman may find herself going through
this stage more than once in her lifetime. It is
not unusual to find that another child is
produced with each new union. This pattern is
called serial monogamy.
 THE VISITING UNION (Slide 2 of 2)
1. Woman lives without a permanent spouse.
2. Father almost permanently absent (visits
from time to time) so mother wields the
authority in the household.
3. Children are considered illegitimate.
FUNCTIONS OF
THE FAMILY
 FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
1. Biological or Reproductive Function -
Procreation
2. Socialization function
3. Cultural Transmission
4. Educational function
5. Emotional/Psychological (Affection)
6. Economic (Financial) function
 BIOLOGICAL /REPRODUCTION/PROCREATION

The production of offspring.

The family:-
– Legitimizes the mating relationship and satisfies the
couple’s sexual needs
– Procreates or reproduces the species (thereby enabling
the continuation of the human race)
• The process by which we are
taught and by which we learn the SOCIALIZATION
acceptable patterns of behaviour
and the culture of our society.
– Punctuality, discipline, respect,
industry, roles, skills
• The family is an agent of
socialization. Others include: the
school, the community, the
church, the workplace and the
mass media.
• Socialization is a lifelong process
through which a person is trained
to become a useful member of
society.
 CULTURAL

• Culture is passed on from generation to

generation.
• It includes, traditions, beliefs, tools, customs,
habits, ideas etc (all the things we have, do
and say as members of a society)
• The family provides
the basis for much of
the education a child
receives. Even before
entering school a
child may be taught EDUCATIONAL
the alphabet, colours,
numbers etc.

• After the child starts

school, parents may
supervise the child’s
homework, give
encouragement and
offer assistance when
necessary.
 EMOTIONAL / PSYCHOLOGICAL
• Human beings are social animals, and we need to
feel that there is someone to comfort us and
cheer us on when we are hurt or sad, or to share
our joy when we are happy.
• Children in particular need proper care, attention
and affection if they are to develop healthy stable
personalities.
• The family provides the
love, care and attention
so necessary for us all.
 ECONOMIC / FINANCIAL

Some family members

provide income to
obtain the basic
necessities such as
food, clothing and
shelter for themselves
and other family
members who are
unable to provide for
themselves.
 CARIBBEAN
FAMILY TYPES
 CARIBBEAN FAMILY TYPES
1. Nuclear family
2. Extended family
3. Single-parent family
4. Reorganized / reconstituted family
5. Sibling household
 • A family consisting of a
father, a mother and
their unmarried children,
living together in one
household.
• Parents may be married
or unmarried (“common-
law” marriage/
consensual union or
common-law union).
NUCLEAR • Very common in the
FAMILY (1 of 4) Caribbean and in
modern, industrial
societies.
Nuclear Family: Advantages (2 of 4)
1. Autonomy: The parents are completely in control of
how their children are to be raised. There are no
extended family members to interfere.
2. Very close-knit relationship: The smaller family size
allows for closer interaction and individualized
attention towards partners and children, creating
lifelong bonds.
3. The child has both male and female role models who
can demonstrate a loving, caring and supportive
relationship for their children.
Nuclear family: Advantages (3 of 4)
4. Many nuclear families enjoy greater financial
stability: Many nuclear families have sufficient
economic stability to provide children with luxuries and
opportunities in life. Children may be able to attend
dance, gymnastics, music or other types of classes,
especially if both partners work outside the home.
Children who are provided with these types of
opportunities are more likely do better academically
and socially, as well as develop confidence and time
management skills.
 NUCLEAR FAMILY: Disadvantages
(4 of 4)
1. The nuclear family unit can isolate people from other relatives
and relationships. This can break down the extended family unit,
which can be beneficial in hard times. If there is a problem
between husband and wife, they may find little consolation or
comfort within the family itself. This may lead to a family break-
up. There is no extended support system:
– to assist in the resolution of conflicts.
– To assist with baby-sitting and childcare. The parents may have
to hire a baby-sitter to watch the children since there are no
extended family members available to help out.
2. Both parents may need to work to make ends meet. Children, left
with baby-sitters, may feel neglected by working parents.
3. A sense of individualism and insularity can develop.
 EXTENDED FAMILY / JOINT FAMILY
(multi-generation household) (1 of 4)
• Three or more generations of a family living together under
the same roof or in a family compound having close and
continuous contact with one another.
• May consist of several married siblings, their spouses and
offspring, together with grandparents and other relatives.
• Tends to form around the
woman, whether or not she has curitiba
a partner. The grandchildren in
the home are usually the
daughter’s children since the
son’s children may be with their
maternal grandmother.
 EXTENDED FAMILY / JOINT FAMILY
(multi-generation household) (2 of 4)
• The parents of the children may be absent from the
household through migration, or the formation of
new households with a different partner. This type of
family may also contain nieces, nephews, godchildren
and grandnieces and grandnephews.

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 EXTENDED FAMILY / JOINT FAMILY -
ADVANTAGES (3 of 4)
1. Continuity: The individual member is provided with a
secure environment. The death or absence of a
parent causes a rearrangement of duties rather than
family breakdown.

2. Care of the elderly: lovetoknow

The old, disabled and
sick are regarded as a
family responsibility.

3. The cultural traditions

are handed down more
easily through direct
contact with older members of the family.
 EXTENDED FAMILY / JOINT FAMILY:
DISADVANTAGES (4 of 4)

• Conflict may arise between members of the

extended family.

• Lack of privacy
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 SINGLE PARENT FAMILY (1 of 3)
• Consists of one parent living with and being
responsible for the upbringing of the children

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 SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY (2 of 3)
May result from:
1. Death of one of the parents
2. Separation of the partners
through conflict, desertion
or abandonment, migration,
legal separation
3. Divorce
4. Migration makinglemonade.com

5. Deliberate choice
– Some mothers do not want to (or cannot) marry the father
of their child and thus bring it up themselves
– Some women want children and believe they can rear
them on their own as effectively as two parents
– Occasionally single women (rarely men) adopt children
 SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY (3 of 3)
Whilst there are some single-parent families that are stable
and function effectively in that the children are well-adjusted,
but the following problems can sometimes arise:
1. Possible absence of love and affection
2. Neglect / inadequate supervision/ latch-key children
3. Children may be over-indulged or over-protected
4. Financial hardship (one income family)
5. Children may develop
anxiety and stress because of 1z.weebly

the financial and emotional

burden placed on one parent
6. Health, education and recreation
may suffer
REORGANISED / BLENDED/ STEP-FAMILY
(1 of 4)
• A family in which at least one of the adults is a
step-parent.
REORGANISED / BLENDED/ (2 of 4)
RECONSTITUTED
OR STEP-FAMILY
• Formed when one or
both of the spouses
may have had an earlier
relationship that ended
through death of a partner, divorce or separation.
• One spouse or both spouses may bring children from
former relationships into the new family.
• In such a family, children may have many half-sisters
and half-brothers.
 REORGANISED/RECONSTITUTED/ (3 of 4)
BLENDED OR STEP-FAMILY
ADVANTAGES

1. Greater financial stability

2. Ensures two parents
3. Step-siblings (eliminates loneliness)
 REORGANISED/RECONSTITUTED/BLENDED OR
STEP-FAMILY: DISADVANTAGES (4 of 4)

1. Children from different backgrounds may have

varying views of appropriate behaviour within the
family.
2. Cooperative relations between divorced individuals
are sometimes strained when one or both remarries
– this may affect the children.
3. The biological parent living elsewhere can have a
powerful influence over the child or children.
4. Favouritism might be an issue.
5. Conflict due to non-acceptance of step-parent
 SIBLING HOUSEHOLD (1 of 3)
• This is a household where both parents are
absent from the home. Older brothers/sisters
take care of the younger ones and the siblings
live together with no parents
• Some of the siblings may be adults. However,
there is an increasing
incidence of the siblings
being under the age of 18.
• Characterized by financial
deprivation.
 SIBLING HOUSEHOLD: Advantages
(2 of 3)
1. Without older siblings taking responsibility for
them younger ones may be sent to an orphanage
or group home
2. Children will receive personalised care, love and
attention which might not be possible in a group
home
3. Children benefit from remaining in a familiar
environment with family members.
SIBLING HOUSEHOLD: Disadvantages
(3 of 3)
1. Financial deprivation – older sibling(s) income
may be inadequate to meet the needs of the
family
2. Discipline problems because (a) younger siblings
may not respect the older one(s) and older
siblings may be inexperienced in how best to
discipline the younger children
3. Inadequate supervision as siblings may have to
work multiple jobs. This may lead to
Juvenile delinquency
4. Depression/emotional problems
(children miss parents)
CLASSIFYING
FAMILY
STRUCTURES
CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Family structures can be classified by:
1. Number of partners in marriage
2. Choice of partners in marriage
3. Residence after marriage
4. Recording of descent of married couple
5. Authority/dominance in the family/household
Number of partners in marriage
CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Number of partners in marriage
Monogamy Marriage where there is only one wife or
husband (one spouse)
Polygamy Marriage systems where there can be
more than one wife or husband
Polygyny Marriage system in which husbands may
have more than one wife
Polyandry Marriage system in which wives may have
more than one husband
(exists in societies with dire poverty and
where female infanticide is practiced)
 Marriage
systems where
there can be
Polygamy more than one
wife or husband

Polygyny Polyandry
The crime of
marrying a
person while
Bigamy still legally
married to
someone else
Authority and dominance in the
family/household
 CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Authority and dominance in the family/household
Matriarchal Social system (or family pattern) in which
power and authority rests with females.
A female is the head of the household or
tribe.
Patriarchal Social system (or family pattern) in which
power and authority rests with males. A
male is the head of the household or
tribe.
Equalitarian There is equal sharing of authority
between mother and father.
CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Authority and dominance in the family/household
Matrifocal Social system (or family pattern) in which
the responsibility for family matters rests
with the mother.
Patrifocal Social system (or family pattern) in which
the responsibility for family matters rests
with the father.
CHOICE OF PARTNERS IN MARRIAGE
 CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Choice of partners in marriage

Endogamy Social system in which the marriage

partner must be chosen from the same
sect, group or tribe, etc. (e.g. a religious
community, gender).
Exogamy Social system in which the marriage
partner can be chosen from outside the
individual’s tribe, group etc. in
accordance with custom.
CHOICE OF PARTNERS IN MARRIAGE
 CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Residence after marriage
Patrilocal Couple resides with the husband’s
parents
Matrilocal Couple resides with the wife’s parents

Neolocal Couple reside by themselves

(own home)
 CLASSIFYING FAMILY STRUCTURES
Recording of descent of married couple

Matrilineal A social system where inheritance,

property and status are passed down
through the female line.
Patrilineal A social system where inheritance,
property and status are passed down
through the male line.
Bilineal The privileges and duties of descent
follow both lines
 Vocabulary
• Feminism: the movement that seeks equality in
opportunity for women and equal social, economic,
and political rights
• Infidelity: unfaithfulness, especially to a husband or
wife
• Kinship: blood relationships within a family
• Procreation: when a couple who are in a sexual
partnership produce offspring
• Values: principles or basic ideas about what is
important, what is good, bad, right, wrong,
acceptable or unacceptable
• Sanctions: punishments for rule breaking