Problems of Definition

Elbernezer Andrew
 Learning Outcomes
3

Introduction
4

Single –Parent Households

6

agenda Sibling Families

9

The Nayar in Kerala

10
Same sex Marriages
11

Forms of Marriage and the Family

12
 Learning outcomes
• To identify the problems of definition
• Examine the problems of definition
• To list and define the forms of marriage and
the family

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Introduction
 Introduction
• Murdock’s claim regarding the universal ‘nuclear type has
been widely criticized. The definition of the family as
advanced by Murdock has been challenged , not only by
theorists but also by the mere existence of the diverse family
forms today.
• Although Murdock assumes the nuclear family type to be the
norm, many exceptions have been identified.

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 Single Parent Households
• In many industrialized societies such as the United States and
Europe, there is an increasing proportion of the single –parent
families.
• In the Caribbean, there is a significant proportion of single
parent household. There is predominance of matrifocal
households.
• The type of family has raised questions about the universality
of the nuclear family .

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 Single-parent Households
• The traditional family( as defined by Murdock) may be under
threat of dissolution.
• Single-Parent families may originate through divorce,
separation, desertion, abandonment or from the death of a
spouse.
• In some instances , they are due to the tendency of among
some women today to be career oriented and choose to parent
a child outside of marriage.

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 QUESTIONS

How do you see the Single Parent family

being Problematic to the Universality of the
Nuclear Family?

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 Sibling Families
• It is found in the Caribbean – a unit where an older brother or
sister is the head of the household .
• There are no parent in this family type
• Reasons for this family type – the absence of parents may include
migration of parents to a foreign country , death , imprisonment,
or desertion by parents

• How does this family pose a problem to the Murdock’s

definition of the family?

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The Nayar in Kerala
• This family type is found, south India. It is matrilineal situation
existed, where the women entered several short-termed
relationships with different men.
• The mother and her relatives carried out family responsibilities,
and husbands/ fathers contributed little to the maintenance and
upbringing of children.
• Long- term sexual relationship did not exist, and the male and
female did not constitute an economic unit.
• This family type is no longer in existence.
 Same-sex marriages
• With the legalization of same-sex marriages in some societies , such as
some states in the United States, some European countries, South
Africa and more recent Argentina a new family type has emerged.
• This family type may also include children, who may be from
previous marriages , adopted or conceived through surrogate mothers
by artificial insemination.

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Forms of Marriage and the Family
• Monogamy- one husband and one wife
• Serial monogamy- a series of monogamous marriages. Found
in Europe. USA where are high rates of divorce and
remarriage
• Arranged marriage- marriage arranged by parents
• Polygamy- marriage to more than one partner at the same
time; includes polygyny and polyandry
• Polygyny- one husband and two or more wives
• Polyandry- one wife and two or more husbands
 Forms of marriage/Residence
• Patrilocal- married couple lives with or nuclear the husband’s
family
• Matrilocal – married couple lives with or near the wife’s
family
• Neo- local- married couple set up home apart from either the
husband or the wife’s family

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 Forms of marriage/ Authority
• Patriarchal- Authority held by males
• Matriarchal –Authority held by females
• Symmetrical- Authority shared between male and female
partners.

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 Types of family in the Caribbean
• Nuclear Family
• Cohabitational family: it is like the nuclear family, but the mother and
father is not married but under a common law arrangement.
• Concubinage according to Judith Blake ( 1961) refers to a situation where
a man shares a relationship with a woman , although not married to her.
• Extended family
• Sibling family
• Matrifocal: consists of a mother and her child/ children , with no resident
male.

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thank you
mirjam nilsson
mirjam@contoso.com
www.contoso.com