Chapter 14 Family Life Today Chapter Objectives Analyze

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. continued

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. continued

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. Ø 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 1900 s are different than the problems modern families face. continued

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. Ø 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. Ø 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. continued

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. continued

Characteristics of Strong Families § They realize the importance of healthy interaction among members. § They share a belief in the importance of a 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 singleparent 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. Ø 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.