FAMILY
SOCIOLOGY NOTES - AS Level
DEFINITION OF FAMILY: the family is a social group characterised
by common residence, economic cooperation
and reproduction.
TYPES OF FAMILY:
1. Nuclear family: consists of a husband and wife, and their
immature offspring.
2. Extended family: an extension of the nuclear family, either
vertically (additional generations) or horizontally (more
members of the same generation as the spouses)
3. Matrifocal families: female-headed families that could be a
result of the breakdown of a traditional nuclear family, or an
alternative family structure on its own. [Supported by female-
carer core idea — female-carer is the foundation for most family
forms]
4. Gay or lesbian household: same-sex partners with children from
previous relationships, surrogacy, adoption or through
conception with a chosen sexual partner. [civil partnerships —
grant same-sex couples many of the same rights as heterosexual
married couples]
5. Isolated nuclear families: nuclear families that live separately
from any members that would constitute of extended family, and
contact with these members is considered to be a choice rather
than an obligation. TALCOTT PARSONS
6. Dispersed extended families: two or more families that do not
live together, but cooperate with each other from a distance
through frequent contact and visits. Members of these families
do not rely on each other for daily affairs. PETER WILLMOTT (IN TIMES OF
EMERGENCY EXTENDED FAMILY IS INVALUABLE), JULIA BRANNEN (INFORMAL CHILDCARE BY GRANDPARENTS)
7. OTHERS include Cereal packet family, Conventional family, and
Monolithic family, Common-law family
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SOCIOLOGY NOTES - AS Level
DEFINITION OF FAMILY: the family is a social group characterised
by common residence, economic cooperation
and reproduction.
TYPES OF FAMILY:
1. Nuclear family: consists of a husband and wife, and their
immature offspring.
2. Extended family: an extension of the nuclear family, either
vertically (additional generations) or horizontally (more
members of the same generation as the spouses)
3. Matrifocal families: female-headed families that could be a
result of the breakdown of a traditional nuclear family, or an
alternative family structure on its own. [Supported by female-
carer core idea — female-carer is the foundation for most family
forms]
4. Gay or lesbian household: same-sex partners with children from
previous relationships, surrogacy, adoption or through
conception with a chosen sexual partner. [civil partnerships —
grant same-sex couples many of the same rights as heterosexual
married couples]
5. Isolated nuclear families: nuclear families that live separately
from any members that would constitute of extended family, and
contact with these members is considered to be a choice rather
than an obligation. TALCOTT PARSONS
6. Dispersed extended families: two or more families that do not
live together, but cooperate with each other from a distance
through frequent contact and visits. Members of these families
do not rely on each other for daily affairs. PETER WILLMOTT (IN TIMES OF
EMERGENCY EXTENDED FAMILY IS INVALUABLE), JULIA BRANNEN (INFORMAL CHILDCARE BY GRANDPARENTS)
7. OTHERS include Cereal packet family, Conventional family, and
Monolithic family, Common-law family
1
