MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

SECONDARY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

SEPTEMBER 2020
Week 1 Lesson 2

Subject: Social Studies

Grade: Ten (10)

Topic: Individual, Family and Society

Sub – Topic: Roles, relationships and responsibilities of adult and sibling members of the
Caribbean family

Objectives: Students will:

Identify the roles of adult members of Caribbean families in traditional vs

Contemporary society.

Identify the roles of children in traditional vs Contemporary society families.

Concept: A role, sometimes called a social role, is a collection of behaviours, attitudes,

responsibilities and expectations related to a position that a person fills in society.
An individual’s role, therefore, varies depending on his/her status/social position.

Content: Traditional Society

The role of family members is different in Caribbean families.

 The grand parents’ principal role was to assist the young parents in the
upbringing of the child and care for the child in the absence of the parents.
 The father's principal role was economic provider and protector of the
family. They were are also involved in the discipline of the children,
especially the males, and often have a distant relationship with their
daughters.
 The mother's principal role was to take care of the children and be the
primary nurturer in the family. They were also the primary caretakers of the
home.

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 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME
SEPTEMBER 2020
 Children were required to be obedient, respectful, and submissive to their
parents. Girls were expected to help with domestic chores around the house,
whereas boys were expected to do activities outside the house, such as
taking care of the yard and running errands.

Contemporary Society

In todays, society some families still abide by the traditional roles and
responsibilities. However, as a result of several factors the roles in many families
have changed to reveal the following.

 The grand parents’ assist the parents in the upbringing of the child and care
for the child in the absence of the parents as well as serve as an economic
provider for the family.
 The father's roles and responsibilities have evolved to see him as an
economic provider, protector of the family as well as taking care of the
children and playing a greater role in their nurturing.
 The mother's roles and responsibilities includes taking care of the children
and be the primary nurturer in the family. Her roles have also evolved to
include serving as an economic provider and protector of the family.
 Children are still required to perform the traditional roles and
responsibilities. However, the gender assigned specific tasks are not as
enforced.

Activity: Write an essay entitled: “My Role in the Family”.

Home work: Define the term “generation gap”.

Identify three causes of the generation gap and explain each.

What do you think can be done to bridge the generation gap between parents and
children?

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 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME
SEPTEMBER 2020
Reference:

Ramsawak, R. and Umraw, R. (2001). Modules in Social Studies, Trinidad and Tobago,
Caribbean Educational Publishers Ltd.

Sandy, M. et al. (2000). CXC Social Studies Essentials with SBA Study Guide and Exercises,
Kingston: Jamaica, Carlong Publishers Caribbean Ltd.

https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-
transcripts-and-maps/caribbean-families

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2985G3Os3U

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