Family
Why are Families Diversifying?
1. Shift from Modernity to Postmodernity
2. Changes in Law
3. Changes in Attitudes
4. Secularisation
5. Demographic Trends
Types of Families
Nuclear Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Nuclear families are the “traditional Married-couple families remain the most
family” and what was considered normal common type of family in 2022 (12.7
for many years. Nuclear families consist million), accounting for 65% of all families.
of a married opposite-sex couple with Since 2012, the number of married-couple
children. families has increased from 12.3 million,
however this family type has been
declining as a proportion of all families over
time (67% in 2012).
Opposite-Sex Cohabiting Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Cohabitation means that a couple lives "Opposite-sex cohabiting couple" was the
together but are not married. And fastest growing family type over the last 10
opposite-sex refers to a man and years. In 2022, these made up 18% of all
woman. This used to be seen as families (3.6 million opposite-sex
shameful and a sin, but it is now cohabiting couple families), an increase
becoming normal in society. from 16% of all families (2.9 million) in
2012. This increase of almost 700,000
families accounted for almost three-
quarters of the total growth in the number
of families in the UK over the ten-year
period.
, Same-Sex Cohabiting Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Like opposite-sex cohabiting families, Same-sex cohabiting couple families
these families are not married but live account for 0.6% and civil-partner couple
together. However, unlike opposite-sex, families (both same sex and opposite sex)
these families are the same-sex meaning account for a further 0.6% of all families in
that they consist of two males or two 2022.
females in a relationship.
Lone Parent Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Lone parent families consist of either a There were 2.9 million lone-parent families
single mother or father caring for their in 2022, accounting for 15% of all families.
children. This can result from many This is not significantly different to 2012,
situations, such as: divorce or a breakup when there were 3.0 million lone-parent
in a cohabiting relationship. These lone families, equivalent to 17% of all families.
parents, especially mothers, were While the majority of lone-parent families
judged for this lifestyle, it is however are lone-mother families (2.5 million, 84%),
becoming more normal in today’s in 2022, 16% (457,000) were lone-father
society. families. Lone-mother families are more
likely to include one or more dependent
children (66%) than lone-father families
(48%).
No Children Families
Definition Evidence/Statistics
These families can either be married or Families with no children made up the
cohabiting couples that do not have largest proportion (43%) of families (8.3
children living with them. This could million) in 2022. Families with one or more
result from never having children or dependent children made up 42% of
having children independently living on families (8.2 million), while families with
their own. non-dependent children only made up
15%. Families with no children will include
those who have not had children as well as
those whose children live elsewhere.
One Person Household
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Why are Families Diversifying?
1. Shift from Modernity to Postmodernity
2. Changes in Law
3. Changes in Attitudes
4. Secularisation
5. Demographic Trends
Types of Families
Nuclear Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Nuclear families are the “traditional Married-couple families remain the most
family” and what was considered normal common type of family in 2022 (12.7
for many years. Nuclear families consist million), accounting for 65% of all families.
of a married opposite-sex couple with Since 2012, the number of married-couple
children. families has increased from 12.3 million,
however this family type has been
declining as a proportion of all families over
time (67% in 2012).
Opposite-Sex Cohabiting Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Cohabitation means that a couple lives "Opposite-sex cohabiting couple" was the
together but are not married. And fastest growing family type over the last 10
opposite-sex refers to a man and years. In 2022, these made up 18% of all
woman. This used to be seen as families (3.6 million opposite-sex
shameful and a sin, but it is now cohabiting couple families), an increase
becoming normal in society. from 16% of all families (2.9 million) in
2012. This increase of almost 700,000
families accounted for almost three-
quarters of the total growth in the number
of families in the UK over the ten-year
period.
, Same-Sex Cohabiting Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Like opposite-sex cohabiting families, Same-sex cohabiting couple families
these families are not married but live account for 0.6% and civil-partner couple
together. However, unlike opposite-sex, families (both same sex and opposite sex)
these families are the same-sex meaning account for a further 0.6% of all families in
that they consist of two males or two 2022.
females in a relationship.
Lone Parent Family
Definition Evidence/Statistics
Lone parent families consist of either a There were 2.9 million lone-parent families
single mother or father caring for their in 2022, accounting for 15% of all families.
children. This can result from many This is not significantly different to 2012,
situations, such as: divorce or a breakup when there were 3.0 million lone-parent
in a cohabiting relationship. These lone families, equivalent to 17% of all families.
parents, especially mothers, were While the majority of lone-parent families
judged for this lifestyle, it is however are lone-mother families (2.5 million, 84%),
becoming more normal in today’s in 2022, 16% (457,000) were lone-father
society. families. Lone-mother families are more
likely to include one or more dependent
children (66%) than lone-father families
(48%).
No Children Families
Definition Evidence/Statistics
These families can either be married or Families with no children made up the
cohabiting couples that do not have largest proportion (43%) of families (8.3
children living with them. This could million) in 2022. Families with one or more
result from never having children or dependent children made up 42% of
having children independently living on families (8.2 million), while families with
their own. non-dependent children only made up
15%. Families with no children will include
those who have not had children as well as
those whose children live elsewhere.
One Person Household
Definition Evidence/Statistics
