Northrise University

30029 Kitwe - Ndola Dual Carriage Highway. P.O Box 240271, Ndola, Zambia.

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Student ID: 1905368

Student Name: Mercy Munalula

Course Code: CTP401

Course Title: Marriage, Family and Relationships

Instructor Name: Rev. Laban Shamuteya

Essay/Assignment Title: Types of Families that are there today

Due Date: 31th August, 2022.

Declaration:
I acknowledge that submitting this document binds me to the following:
To the best of my knowledge, I assert that no part of this assignment has been copied from the work of anyone else, be it another stude
or any other author or from any source except where due credit is given in the text below, or has been written for me by someone else
except where the relevant instructors and authorities have explicitly permitted such collaboration .

SIGNATURE: Mercy. M

Instructor’s Comments:

GRADE [ ]
Types of Families that are there Today 2

This assignment is going to discuss the types of families that are there today, what a

standard normal family is and how it affects the wellbeing of the society. The remainder of this

paper is structured as follows; In the first section, the paper will introduce a family. The next

section will discuss a standard normal family, followed by the third section which will discuss

the modern family. Then the fourth section will discuss the effects of a standard normal family

on the wellbeing of the society, and finally the conclusion in the last section. 

Definition of a Family

Family is a feeling, a bond shared by a group of individuals that binds them together for

life. Persons use the term "family" to convey connection in a variety of ways, but it is described

as "a close domestic group made up of people linked to one another by bonds of blood, sexual

mating, or legal relationships" (Kingsbury, 2009). A family is made up of individuals who have

built an atmosphere that fosters mutual respect, a set of values, and a desire to share experience

and knowledge. A family unit is defined by sociologists as "two parents in a committed

relationship living together with their children" (Kingsbury, 2009). This is a rather limited

definition of the many different types of families that exist in the world today. This paper will

look at several family structures from across the world and compare the sociologist's perspective

on family to the Standard American Family and other family structures.

Standard Normal Family

Dorothy Smith coined the term "Standard Normal Family" (SNF) in 1993 as the primary

picture of a family in North America. This family structure is made up of a heterosexual legally

married couple and their children who live in the same household (Standard American North
Types of Families that are there Today 3

Family, 2016). In this household, the husband is seen as the breadwinner, working outside the

home to support the family financially. The woman is seen as the homemaker, whose major

responsibility is to stay at home and care for the children and household. This family is very

different from the many other types of family arrangements that exist.

Normal Standard Family and Modern Families

The Standard Normal Family was once assumed to be the normal family structure,

although this is no longer the case. A modern-day family, such as SNF, consists of a

heterosexual married couple and their children. The woman is still in charge of childcare and

housework, albeit to a lesser extent. In contrast to SNF, modern ladies work full-time outside the

home and earn the same or more than their husbands. Furthermore, while couples do not

equitably split childcare and domestic responsibilities, their participation in at-home tasks has

increased (Howe, 2018). As the complexity and diversity that characterize family are

investigated, family structures such as SNF and the modern family will change over time.

Effects of the Standard Normal Family on the Society. As earlier stated in the

introduction, a family is a crucial structure that helps an individual or child grow into a

contributing member of society. Although each parent in a family has a role in a child's

upbringing, in many circumstances, the mother is the one who commences the socialization

process. A family instills culture, customs, conventions, social roles, and values in a child in

addition to providing a sense of belonging or identity (Merton, 1957). Listening, language

learning, and respect for authority are all processes that begin in the home. It is also the

responsibility of the family to provide a safe living environment for the children.
Types of Families that are there Today 4

Conclusion

Even while diverse families have varied cultural origins, beliefs, and lifestyles, they all

have one thing in common: strength. Of sure, some families are weaker in specific areas than

others, but when looking at the standard normal family and other family origins, one common

characteristic emerges: strength. The standard normal family may seem and behave differently

than other families throughout the world, but that is the beauty of culture: the ability to be

different while yet being welcomed and valued for who you are.
Types of Families that are there Today 5

References

Geiger, A., & Livingston, G. (2020, August 21). 8 facts about love and marriage in America.

Retrieved May 09, 2021, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/13/8- facts-about-

love-and-marriage/.

Howe, T. R. (2018). The changing American family. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.),

Marriages and Families in the 21^(st) Century (2^(nd) Ed.). Retrieved from

http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in-the- 21st-

century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php.

Howe, T. R. (2018). How we study the family: Theories and research methods. In Grand Canyon

University (Ed.), Marriages and Families in the 21^(st) Century (2^(nd) Ed.). Retrieved from

http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/sage/2017/marriages-and-families-in- the-21st-

century_a-bioecological-approach_2e.php.

Kingsbury, N., & Scanzoni, J. (2009). Structural-functionalism. In Sourcebook of family theories

and methods (pp. 195-221). Springer, Boston, MA.

Nelson, M.K. (2006). Single Mothers “Do” Family. Journal of Marriage & Family, 68(4), 781-

795. Retrieved from https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1741- 3737.2006.00292.x.