Chapter 14

Family Life

Today

Chapter Objectives Analyze the trends contributing to the

changing family. Compare functions of the family in various

cultures. Explain the relationship between family

roles and responsibilities.

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Chapter Objectives List characteristics of strong families. Describe common family structures. Describe the six stages of the family life

cycle.

Key Concepts Families must be flexible as they adapt to

changing societal, demographic, and economic trends.

Families perform many basic functions that are similar from culture to culture.

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Key Concepts Family roles are defined by responsibilities.

How people fulfill their responsibilities determines to a large extent how well they perform their roles.

Your family life cycle may consist of six stages that start with marriage (the beginning stage) and end with the aging stage.

Terms to Know procreation given role chosen role functional family dysfunctional

family nuclear family

single-parent family

stepfamily extended family foster parenting legal guardian family life cycle

The Changing Family Families and their needs have changed

over the centuries. The ability to adapt to changing needs is

an important characteristic of families. How did the Industrial Revolution impact

families?

How Families Adapt to Change

Families face changes and challenges throughout the years: societal demographic economic

Issues that families faced in the early 1900s are different than the problems modern families face.

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How Families Adapt to Change

Flexibility and resilience can help a family adapt to changes.

Technology may take place of family interactions and bonding.

Families must find or create other opportunities for interaction and discussion.

Are technological advances positive or negative for family interaction? Why?

Family Functions in Various Cultures

Provide for physical needs (food, clothing, shelter, furnishings, and health care)

Emotional needs Nurturance Education Procreation (reproduction) Protection Recreation

Roles and Responsibilities of Family Members

Given role: A role that you acquired when you became a part of the family.

Chosen role: A role that you assume when you marry.

Name an example of a given role and a chosen role.

Functional and Dysfunctional

Families Functional family: One in which all family

members fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Dysfunctional family: One in which one or more family members do not fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Characteristics of Strong Families

Family members communicate and listen to each other respectfully.

They support each other. They value each member and his or her

contribution.

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Characteristics of Strong Families

They trust each other. They have a sense of humor. They have a sense of shared and

individual responsibility. They help children understand right and

wrong. They believe in upholding family traditions.

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Characteristics of Strong Families

They realize the importance of healthy interaction among members.

They share a belief in the importance ofa religious or philosophical foundation.

They believe in contributing to their communities.

Family Structures There are many different types of family

structures in society: nuclear family single-parent family stepfamily extended family childless family adoptive family foster family

The Nuclear Family The nuclear family is made up of a

married couple and their biological children.

Most duties (financial support, childrearing, and household maintenance) are shared between both parents.

The Single-Parent Family A single-parent family

occurs as the result of desertion, divorce, death, or having children outside of marriage.

A single parent is the sole head of the household and compensates for the missing parent.

Did You Know… In the U.S., nearly 1 in 4 children

(ages 0-17) is growing up in a single-parent home.

Of these children, about 86 percent live with their mother about 14 percent live with their father

Source: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

Parents Single as a Result of Desertion, Divorce, or

Death May begin single

parenthood with feelings of personal loss and uncertainty.

Family members need to offer each other special emotional support.

Support for the Single Parent

Friends and family members may provide emotional support and serve as role models for the children.

Emotional support and services may also be available from businesses, governments, and religious and community organizations.

The Stepfamily In a stepfamily, either or both spouses

have been married before and have one or more children from the previous marriage.

Each family member must be dedicated to making the new family system work.

The Extended Family Several generations

of a family live together in the extended family.

Name examples of situations in which an extended family might be temporarily formed.

The Childless Family The childless family includes a married

couple without children. The reasons couples choose not to have

children vary. Childless families may have more financial

resources because they do not have the expenses that go along with raising children.

The Adoptive Family Adoptive parenting is a fulfilling way to

realize the joys of parenthood. Children of all ages can be adopted. Adoptive families face their own set of

challenges.

The Foster Family Foster parenting provides children with

substitute families while their parents are unable to care for them.

Family members face several challenges, but may become very close.

Legal Guardians A legal guardian is a person who has

been appointed by the courts to take care of a child if his or her parents are no longer able to provide the child with sufficient care.

A legal guardian takes on all of the legal and financial responsibilities for the child.

A legal guardian will often be a grandparent or other relative or a friend of the family.

The Family Life Cycle The family life cycle consists of six

stages: beginning stage childbearing stage parenting stage launching stage mid-years stage aging stage

Not all families will experience all stages.

Beginning Stage Starts when the couple is married. The main goal of this stage is adjustment

to married life. Spouses learn to support each other in

their work as well as in marriage.

Childbearing Stage Begins with expectant parenthood, when

the focus is on the coming birth. The couple’s focus shifts to the baby

when it is born. The couple must balance spousal,

parenting, and wage-earning roles.

Parenting Stage The main goal is

reorganizing the family to fit the expanding world of school-age children.

Children receive increased freedom and responsibility as they mature.

Launching Stage As members leave the

house, the major goal is family reorganization.

Parents learn to relate to their children as adults.

The couple refocuses on their marriage.

Mid-Years Stage

Begins when the last child has left home and continues until retirement.

Parents often become grandparents. The couple plans for retirement.

Aging Stage For most people, the

aging stage begins at retirement.

The spouses break away from work and focus on hobbies and interests.

Grandparent roles expand as grandchildren mature.