Topic: Impact of Societal

Institutions on Caribbean
People: The Family
Group Members:
Breanna Wright
Janel Hinds
Marisha Simmons
Akeriah Hinds
 Contents of this Presentation

1. Definition of the word “family”.

2. Types/ Forms of family in the Caribbean
3. Historical factors that influence the structure of the family
4. Functions of the family
5. Trends affecting the family
 Definition Of A Family
Families are a social institution that exists in all societies and cultures. It
represents the various ideas and beliefs that people in a given community have
about raising children and socializing them into the norms of that society.
The distinct experience of Caribbean society, combined with a plethora of
cultural, economic, political, and religious influences that have come to carry
on the region over time, has resulted in a variety of family structures, none of
which can be described as standard.
Caribbean Families
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
1. The Nuclear Family
The nuclear family, also known as a traditional family, or the serial packet
family consists of two adults, a mother and father and their unmarried offspring.
This form was introduced to the region by the white Christian colonizers and
followed the nuclear European family structure
It was considered norm or the ideal family form. Additionally, the nuclear
family supported the idea prevalent among the colonial authorities of the
supremacy of the male within the household.
Nowadays it has become more mainstream globally. This form is also mostly
found among the upper and middle classes.
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
2.The Extended Family
The extended family consists of members beyond the mother, father and their
children. There may be several married siblings and their children together with
grandparents and other relatives.
Generally, this family form is predominant among East Indians particularly
Hindus and Muslims, it is patriarchal in authority and is often patrilocal.
Strong kinship ties exist and arranged marriages and practice of endogamy are
customary. There are two types of extended families the vertically extended
( consanguine) and the horizontally extended ( joint).
The vertically extended family maybe one, two or even three generational
families. Whereas horizontally extended families are those that are extended as
a result of the siblings introducing their spouses into the households and it is
further extended to include their children as well.
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
3.The single-parent family
This family occurs when one parent, either the mother or the father lives and
takes responsibility for raising the children. In the Caribbean, the number of
single parent households headed by the mother has far outnumbered those
headed by the father.
In the early 1980s, figures showed that 44% of all households in Barbados were
headed by a woman while the figure for the first half of the 1990s in Antigua
and Barbuda stood at 42%.
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
4.The Visiting family
This family type involves the mother and children living separately from the
father, often in her parent’s home and the father visiting them there. The parents
still maintain a sexual and often emotional relationship.
This originated in slavery where Planters forbade couples from forming family
units. As a result, the woman took the responsibility for herself and her
children.
A research carried out in the mid 20th century showed that such relationships
were to be found mainly among lower-income Afro-Caribbean families and the
women entered the relationship for economic support.
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
5.Common - Law Union
Common law marriage or de facto, involves a couple committing to each other
in a lasting relationship without any form of registration of the marriage.
The term common law marriage officially has a strict legal definition and due to
their colonial past, territories have statutes concerning common law marriages.
 Types/ Forms Of Family In The Caribbean
6.The Reconstituted/Blended Family
This family is formed to the union of people who were previously married to
others. In some instances, each partner comes into the new marriage with
children from their former marriage
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
There is a clear relationship, according to some, between the plantation system,
especially in the era of slavery, and the current structure of Caribbean
households. This economic arrangement had a significant impact on how
Caribbean society and attitudes evolved. There have been changes in Caribbean
society over time, especially with the arrival of industrialization and the modern
era. These changes have been mostly caused by migration and education. The
prevalence of family kinds has been impacted by them.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
1. Colonisation and the Establishment of the Plantation System
The white planters brought their families to the Caribbean and introduced
and promoted the Western European idea of the nuclear family.It became a part
of us , the Caribbean people society under the colonial rule, because of the
superiority of the whites and the economic power during this period. During
this time the nuclear family considered to be “ideal” family structure, Even
surviving to this day.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
2. Slavery
During slavery, planters did not allow their slaves to bond and marriage
among slaves was banned. The practice of polygamy, brought from West
Africa, influenced patterns of sexual activity among slaves, with men
often fathering children by different women. Slave owners also often
fathered children by female slaves. Slaves could be bought and sold at
any time, which also mitigated against the formation of traditional family
ties. However, they were allowed to procreate without forming a family
unit. These factors all resulted in the formation of matrifocal households,
*and were later to manifest themselves in visiting-type unions and
common-law unions.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
3. Indentureship
East Indians established the joint household, a strong patriarchal family
structure that prioritizes early marriage, as the model for the extended family.
Among East Indians, the extended family continued to hold a dominating role
both during and after indentureship. In societies with significant East Indian
populations, like Guyana and Trinidad, this family structure was well-
established. These days, rural areas are dominated by this family structure. Due
to socioeconomic mobility, many Indo-Trinidadians have opted for nuclear
families rather than extended families.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
4. Emancipation and Migration
After the abolition of slavery, the freed blacks, especially in the smaller
territories did not have access to land and economic resources that were there
for their survival. From this, some migrated to where land was more available.
Later on, the arrival of industrialization created an avenue, mostly for male Afro
Caribbean, as well ass Indo- Caribbean and Chinese-Caribbean, to migrate to
mostly North America and Britain in search of work to support their families.
The already-matrifocal characteristic of the Caribbean family was maintained
by this enormous migration. Furthermore, as a result of the efforts made by the
families of former slaves to become prosperous small-scale farmers, children
were forced to labour or take on childrearing duties for their younger siblings at
a relatively young age. Therefore, it is reasonable to argue that the financial
struggles that followed slavery had a significant impact on the composition of
many Caribbean houses belonging to the lower class.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
5. Independence
Changes in family relations were also brought about by independence: as more
Caribbean nations gained their independence, additional prospects for social
mobility arose. For people who want to improve their socioeconomic
circumstances, education has become essential to achieving upward social
mobility. The primary causes of the rise in nuclear families are social mobility
and acceptance of middle-class and upper-class values. For instance, in Trinidad
and Tobago, the middle and upper classes practise the ideal form of family,
which is the nuclear family.
Historical Factors That Influence The Structure
Of The Family
6. Modernisation
Influences from modernization have affected the institution of the family.
Governments throughout the Caribbean now recognise common-law
relationships as a result of modernization. Laws have been enacted to
acknowledge spouses and kids in this partnership. Nowadays, children have the
legal right to inherit family assets and other possessions. According to
sociologist T.S. Simey, common law unions in the Caribbean represent "faithful
concubinage." More equal marriages and the ascent of more women to higher
educational and important positions have also resulted in changes to gendered
roles within the family structure.
 Functions Of The Family
-The reproduction or procreation function - through procreation, the family serves to
provide new members for society, and, at a fundamental level, it ensures the
continuation of the human species in order for societies to survive. It also provides a
framework for and means of regulating sexual activity and gratification within society.

- The emotional support function - the family provides its members with love, comfort
and help in times of emotional distress. This is important to the mental, intellectual and
social well-being of its members. Children need adequate love, care, affection
and attention to develop healthy stable personalities.

• -The economic function – the family provides its members with

• certain basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing, and practical
• support in the shape of finance where possible.
 Functions Of The Family
-The socialisation function - the family functions, through socialisation, to teach
the young the norms and values of their culture and society. The family
provides the earliest set of concepts, values, knowledge and skills. No society is
possible without adequate socialisation of its young. In Caribbean society, the
family is the major unit in which socialisation happens. Parents, siblings and
extended relatives all help to socialise children from the time they are born.
 Trends Affecting The Family
1. Migration
The Caribbean region has traditionally had a high level of migration. The
majority of the Caribbean diaspora lives in the United States or Europe.
According to research, such mass migration has far-reaching repercussions for
families.
• Children and families are uprooted from their home villages and relocated
abroad (typically in major cities like New York or London).
• Parents abandon their children in the Caribbean to seek employment in the
United States or Europe. Even when these 'barrel children' are cared for by
extended families, they may nevertheless feel abandoned, lonely, or unloved.
 Trends Affecting The Family
2. Changing Family Structures
Traditionally, Caribbean families have been characterized by strong kinship ties,
extended family networks, and communal living arrangements. However,
modernization, urbanization, and globalization have led to shifts in family
structures. While extended families and multigenerational households are still
prevalent, there is a growing trend towards nuclear families, single-parent
households, and cohabiting couples, particularly in urban areas
 Trends Affecting The Family

Other societal changes resulting from women's increased participation in the workforce
include:
a. Family Size: Women who pursue careers tend to delay childbirth, leading to smaller
family sizes. Their focus on career advancement often means fewer children.

b. Authority Dynamics: With both spouses working, decision-making within the

household becomes more equal, this leads to the traditional concept of a sole
breadwinner to diminish.

c. Gender Role Resentment: Some men may resist women entering traditionally male-
dominated jobs, leading to hostility or abuse. This resistance can stem from a desire to
assert dominance within the household.
 Trends Affecting The Family
d. Evolving Household Responsibilities: Men are taking on more household duties
as women contribute financially, though they still typically do less housework.
Childcare responsibilities may be shared more equally.

e. Decrease in Family Time: Families spend less time together due to career
demands, leisure activities, and work-related commitments. This decline in quality
family time is a result of various obligations outside the home.
The End.

Thank You!