Family

Family types in the Caribbean

What is a family?
The Family is a fundamental social group in society
typically consisting of individuals related either by
blood, marriage and/or adoption.

According to the sociologist G.P. Murdock, The

family is a social group characterized by common
residence, economic cooperation and reproduction.
It includes adults f both sexes, at least two of whom
maintain a socially approved sexual relationship,
and one or more children, owned or adopted, of the
sexual cohabitating adult.
Functions of the family
Regulation of sexual activity
Reproduction
Socialization Function
Economic production
Regulation of sexual
Activity
The family provides members with opportunities to
develop regular face to face communication and
intimate relationships. All societies have norms and
values regarding marital relationships and patterns of
sexual behavior.
Most traditional cultures support heterosexual unions,
and sexual relations within the framework of marriage.
They also have some form of ceremony to formalize
marital relationships. Family and societal norms
therefore controls sexuality and provide emotional and
psychological stability for adults.
Reproduction
The family provides a stable framework for
procreation, thereby providing new members of
society with the expectation of care and
compassion associated with parenting. This
function ensures the continuity of society
through the replacement of passing generations.
Socialization Function
Being the first institution for primary socialization, the
family prepares the child for his/her role on society by
equipping the child with all the knowledge and skills
necessary for functioning as a useful member of society.
In modern societies, some institutions, E.g. school, are
also responsible for socializing young children. Many
norms and values which are important to the childs
development are conveyed by day care centers,
nurseries, etc. Today, they are performing many of the
functions that were previously performed by the family
in traditional societies
Economic Function
The family provides for the
economic needs of its members,
especially the younger members,
the elderly, the ill and the
incapacitated. These members
are usually unable to care for
themselves. Societal norms will
also define the economic roles of
adult members.
Types of family
Nuclear Family
Extended Family
Reconstituted Family
Single Parent Household
Joint Family
Nuclear Family
Brought to the Caribbean by the
Europeans
The nuclear family is seen as the typical
family form and includes both parents and
their child or children.
Also referred to as the conjugal family
or the traditional family.
They are often regarded as the most basic
unit of social organization.
Nuclear Family contd
In previous times, nuclear families were
larger than those of today. Factors which
have brought about the change in nuclear
family size are:
i. The changing role of women
ii. Urbanization
iii. Economic conditions within the family
and/or society
Extended Family
In relation to the nuclear family, the
extended family includes additional
generations and relations, who in many
instances provides financial and emotional
support to help to raise children. It could
also be a convenient arrangement to
support an ill or the elderly.
Indians and Africans brought this family
type to the Caribbean
Reconstituted Family
A reconstituted family (also known as a
blended family) is the sociological term for the
joining of two adults via marriage, cohabitation
or civil partnership, who have children from
previous relationships.
In many cases, each partner comes into the new
marriage or union with children from their
former marriage.
Reconstituted Family
Contd
In this family type, challenges may present itself.
For example, the allocation of roles and
responsibilities within the family.
There will be a need for defining the role of the
new daddy and new mommy, while at the same
time giving consideration to the childs/childrens
other parent.
There may also be clashes of personalities as
children may now be living with other children
with whom they only had brief encounters prior to
their parents marriage
Single Parent Household

Single-parent families may have derived through

divorce, separation, or from the death of a spouse.
In some instances, they are due to the tendency
among some women today who may be career-
oriented or may choose to parent a child outside of
marriage.

Statisticsstate that females that are young adults

have a higher percentage rate of being single-
parent than the older females of todays society.
Single Parent Household
contd
In some single-parent families the
caregiver normally faces various
challenges in caring for his/her
child/children. Challenges such as;
difficulties providing basic needs
especially food, financial problems etc.
Joint Family
This family type originated out of the Indian culture
and not many are now found in the Caribbean.

Its asystem under which even extended members of

a family like ones parents, children, the childrens
spouses and their offspring, etc. live together. The
elder-most, usually the male member is the head in
the joint Indian family system who makes all
important decisions and rules, whereas other family
members abide by it dutifully with full respect.