IGCSE Sociology Unit 4 - The Family
4.1.1 Different Types of Family
The Nuclear and Extended Family
Nuclear Family made up of an adult man and an adult woman who are married, or in a
relationship, and living together with dependent children.
Extended a nuclear family living with other relatives such as grandparents or
Family great-grandparents or aunts, uncles and cousins.
Nuclear Family
During the 20th century, the Nuclear Family was seen as the normal kind of
family in the USA, the UK and other modern industrial societies. It was also
seen as the most common kind of family and the best.
Since the 1970s onwards, other kinds of families are more noticeable.
Functionalist George Murdock argues that the nuclear family of a mother,
father and dependent children was the basic family unit worldwide.
Extended Family
It was thought that extended families were common in the past and are now in decline as they do not suit
the modern industrial societies.
VERTICALLY Extended Family
refers to families with more than two generations in a
household; (commonly 3 generations)
HORIZONTALLY Extended Family
refers to families with relatives such as aunts, uncles, etc.
(2 generations → same generation of the parents and children)
, IGCSE Sociology Unit 4 - The Family
Single-parent Family
In the past, these families were a result of the death of one of the other
parents, forming a temporary solution while they found a new partner.
However, since the mid-20th century, the number of single-parent families are
on the rise in modern industrialized societies, but many of them are results of
divorce or separation.
There are several reasons why so:
● Divorce is becoming more common, leaving a single parent.
● Women have greater financial independence. They can support their family without a man.
● Some women generally want to raise their children alone.
Reconstituted or Step-family
When a person marries for the second time after the death of a partner, separation or divorce, a new family
is formed which is called reconstituted or stepfamily.
There are many variations of this kind of family:
★ MARRIED (before) vs Never MARRIED or
★ HAVE KIDS vs NO KIDS or
★ CHILDREN LIVING WITH NEW FAMILY or OLD FAMILY
These new families will create new relationships, such as step-grandparents, step-siblings, step-parents.
As this family is still fairly new, the norms and values are not clear enough.
e.g. a stepmother might not know how to parent their step-children in the way the child’s previous parents.
Equally, the children may be unsure what authority this new person has in their life.
Same Sex Family
Same sex family is when two adult of the same sex, a male or female gay couple,
raising their own children or adpoted children.
Increasing number in same sex family in modern industrial societies has allowed
adpotion for children and increasing rights and responsibilities, similar as a
nuclear family.
In the UK, a same sex couple performs a ceremony, creating a CIVIL
PARTNERSHIP, where it gives formal recongnition and legal rights as same rights.
Some countries, however, still do not recognize such relationships, where the couples may still cohabit.
4.1.1 Different Types of Family
The Nuclear and Extended Family
Nuclear Family made up of an adult man and an adult woman who are married, or in a
relationship, and living together with dependent children.
Extended a nuclear family living with other relatives such as grandparents or
Family great-grandparents or aunts, uncles and cousins.
Nuclear Family
During the 20th century, the Nuclear Family was seen as the normal kind of
family in the USA, the UK and other modern industrial societies. It was also
seen as the most common kind of family and the best.
Since the 1970s onwards, other kinds of families are more noticeable.
Functionalist George Murdock argues that the nuclear family of a mother,
father and dependent children was the basic family unit worldwide.
Extended Family
It was thought that extended families were common in the past and are now in decline as they do not suit
the modern industrial societies.
VERTICALLY Extended Family
refers to families with more than two generations in a
household; (commonly 3 generations)
HORIZONTALLY Extended Family
refers to families with relatives such as aunts, uncles, etc.
(2 generations → same generation of the parents and children)
, IGCSE Sociology Unit 4 - The Family
Single-parent Family
In the past, these families were a result of the death of one of the other
parents, forming a temporary solution while they found a new partner.
However, since the mid-20th century, the number of single-parent families are
on the rise in modern industrialized societies, but many of them are results of
divorce or separation.
There are several reasons why so:
● Divorce is becoming more common, leaving a single parent.
● Women have greater financial independence. They can support their family without a man.
● Some women generally want to raise their children alone.
Reconstituted or Step-family
When a person marries for the second time after the death of a partner, separation or divorce, a new family
is formed which is called reconstituted or stepfamily.
There are many variations of this kind of family:
★ MARRIED (before) vs Never MARRIED or
★ HAVE KIDS vs NO KIDS or
★ CHILDREN LIVING WITH NEW FAMILY or OLD FAMILY
These new families will create new relationships, such as step-grandparents, step-siblings, step-parents.
As this family is still fairly new, the norms and values are not clear enough.
e.g. a stepmother might not know how to parent their step-children in the way the child’s previous parents.
Equally, the children may be unsure what authority this new person has in their life.
Same Sex Family
Same sex family is when two adult of the same sex, a male or female gay couple,
raising their own children or adpoted children.
Increasing number in same sex family in modern industrial societies has allowed
adpotion for children and increasing rights and responsibilities, similar as a
nuclear family.
In the UK, a same sex couple performs a ceremony, creating a CIVIL
PARTNERSHIP, where it gives formal recongnition and legal rights as same rights.
Some countries, however, still do not recognize such relationships, where the couples may still cohabit.
