Topic 1: What is a Family
Created @February 13, 2023 8:01 PM
Class
Type
Materials
Reviewed
What is a family?
various forms
no one size fits all
the law draws a line when it comes to who is regarded as a family - where they
draw the line is up for debate
The Sexual Family
Sexual/conjugal relationship
married couples considered families vs. friends/student households are not
Why is family based on a sexual tie
Single Parent Households
Majority of SA children do not live in same household as biological fathers
Biological mothers death/absense → single- father households
AIDS pandemic led to an increase in single parent households
Topic 1: What is a Family 1
, Extended Families
one adult who is not a biological parent
causes: labour migrations and AIDS pandemic
grandparents/orphans
Polygynous Families
one man, multiple wives
Customary Marriages Act and Draft Muslim Marriages Bill recognises polygynous
marrigaes
SA Families Polygynous: Men working in urban areas establish another family, even
though they only have one legal or official wife.
Child-Headed Households
The Childrens Act provides:
the parent is terminally ill, died or abandoned household
the child is over 16 and no adult is available
best interests of children in the household
functions under the supervision of a designated adult
cause: labour migration
Additional Types of families:
same-sex families
unmarried families
Topic 1: What is a Family 2
Created @February 13, 2023 8:01 PM
Class
Type
Materials
Reviewed
What is a family?
various forms
no one size fits all
the law draws a line when it comes to who is regarded as a family - where they
draw the line is up for debate
The Sexual Family
Sexual/conjugal relationship
married couples considered families vs. friends/student households are not
Why is family based on a sexual tie
Single Parent Households
Majority of SA children do not live in same household as biological fathers
Biological mothers death/absense → single- father households
AIDS pandemic led to an increase in single parent households
Topic 1: What is a Family 1
, Extended Families
one adult who is not a biological parent
causes: labour migrations and AIDS pandemic
grandparents/orphans
Polygynous Families
one man, multiple wives
Customary Marriages Act and Draft Muslim Marriages Bill recognises polygynous
marrigaes
SA Families Polygynous: Men working in urban areas establish another family, even
though they only have one legal or official wife.
Child-Headed Households
The Childrens Act provides:
the parent is terminally ill, died or abandoned household
the child is over 16 and no adult is available
best interests of children in the household
functions under the supervision of a designated adult
cause: labour migration
Additional Types of families:
same-sex families
unmarried families
Topic 1: What is a Family 2
