Different types of families within the society

The Nuclear Family

The nuclear family comprises of parents and their own or adoptive children living together under the same roof. The parents in this type of family are either married or in a common-law union or a non-legal union. A common-law or consensual union is one which the couple lives together without any legal contract. In society such as the Caribbean, laws have been enacted to provide inheritance rights for children and spouses in the common-law union. The nuclear family was long held in esteem by society as being the ideal in which to raise children. Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure and generally have more opportunities due to the financial ease of two adults.
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The Extended Family

The extended family comprises of three or more generations living under the same roof, or in a family compound, having close or continuous contact with one another. It may also be called a multi-generational household and may be headed by the parents, or the grandmother and her husband or partner. Generally, the woman is in charge of the household, whether or not she has a partner. The grandchildren in the home are usually the daughter’s children, as well as the son’s children may be with their maternal grandmother. The parents of the grandchildren may be absent from the household due to migration, or the formation of new households with a different partner. This type of family may also contain godchildren, grandnieces and nephews. Traditionally in the Caribbean and other parts of the world the extended family existed in various forms and had responsibility for the socialization of its members. This type of family structure may form due to financial difficulties or because older relatives are unable to care for themselves alone. Extended families are becoming increasingly common all over the world.

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The Single-parent Family

Single-parent families are usually headed by a woman, but men also head such families. Children in some single-parent families are successful because they were well nurtured, provided for economically and either father or mother made personal sacrifices for the well-being of the family. However, some children do not have this experience. The single-parent or one-parent or lone-parent family may result from

      Divorce

      Separation (mutual)

      Death of one partner

      Deliberate choice of one parent, e.g., mother of father not marrying the other parent, but opting to bring up the child by herself or himself

      Desertion or abandonment

      Migration of a partner

      Incarceration of a partner

      Teenage pregnancy

The Reconstituted Family

The reconstituted family or step-family is formed when some members of former families come together, which can happen when spouses get divorced in a legal marriage, or separate in a non-legal union. These spouses, after some time, start another relationship and bring children from former relationships to live with them. Some unions may produce new siblings. Step-families or reconstituted families are about as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment periods and discipline issues. Step-families need to learn to work together and also work with their exes to ensure these family units run smoothly.

The Visiting Union

In the extra-residential or visiting union, the man and woman do not live with each other, but are involved sexually and may not have children together. The arrival of children could lead to the formation of a common-law union or marriage, or it could cause no change in the structure of the relationship, remaining a visiting union. Nevertheless, there may be frequent contact between fathers and their children, but fathers may or may not be involved in deciding the children’s future.

The Sibling Household

The sibling household is one in which siblings live together with no parents. Some of these siblings may be adults. However, there is an increase in the incidence of siblings being under age of 18. This type of household seems to be a direct result of financial deprivation. Often the parents have migrated to earn a living elsewhere and leave the eldest child in charge with some other adult relative “giving an eye”.