Family & Society

Definition
Family a social unit connected by blood, marriage or adoption.
Household a person/people living together sharing an address & living arrangemen
ts. Note. Not all households are families
Socialisation the process where a child learns how to fit into society
Cohabitation when a couple share an intimate relationship without marriage
Civil partnerships a legal relationship which two couples of the same sex can re
gister
Standard Of living a measure of the goods, services and luxuries available to a
household or individual once basic necessities are met
Structure of Families/ Households (7)
a) Nuclear family parents & kids
b) Extended Family Three generations living together or in close contact
c) Reconstituted Family A family unit with one or both parents have been pr
eviously married and have had kids brought from that married
d) Lone parent family a single parent with a child
e) Gay & Lesbian family same sex couple with kids
f) Single person household one person on their own
g) Multiperson household a group of people living together
Function of a Family (9)
1. Socialisation children begins in family
2. Cultural values the family teaches any traditions & cultures
3. Reproduction of Children a stable place for children to be raised
4. Housing provides a roof over their heads
5. Access to services the carers register with government services e.g. GP,
Schooling, DWP benefits, Inland Revenue (NI), PCT, Electoral Roll
6. Financial Resources Parents provide for children s needs
7. Care, Security & Protection
8. Emotional Needs for love
9. Values, attitudes & beliefs teach them the values of society
Changes in Household Composition
Decline in traditional extended family. (4) Due to:
More mobility of families,
The welfare state, so less dependence on parents
Developments in technology means that communication is maintained
BUT..... May go back due to rising cost and inadequacy of care homes and both pa
rents working
Changing roles in family (4)
Women are working, because of changes in legislation
BUT ....Women are averagely less paid & do lower jobs
Some men who are unemployed have become househusbands
More of a division of household labour
Smaller family size (6)
Decline in births
Changing women in society
Development in healthcare so decline in infant mortality, so parents do not need
to over-procreate to ensure that have a lot of kids
 More contraception
Better accessibility to abortions
Society have become more child centred so time and money is spent on children so
small families & high standards of living
Increase in childless women & Older Mums
Women make more significant contributions to labour market
1 in 5 women born in 1960 s are childless
Less fertile the older you get
Average age for first child in 2005 was 27.3 three years older than 1971
Increase divorce
Since Divorce Reform Act 1969 divorce rate has increased
Divorces causes emotional stress on children
Can lead to stress & depression in adults
Increase the demand for housing
Less marriages
More step families
More divorces so more remarriages
10% of families with dependant children are step families
More cohabitation
In 2005 24% of unmarried people under 60 were cohabiting
Marriage is a big step
Increased births outside of marriage
Increase in lone parent families
More non-dependant children living with parents
Higher cost of living
Recession
Civil partnerships 2002 Adoption & Children Act means same sex couples and singl
e people can adopt
More one person households
Pension population is growing and a lot live alone
Female tend to live longer
Rise in divorce rates
Standard Of Living
Factors affecting standard of living (8)
1. Financial resources available can include disposable income from employm
ent, benefits & investments. More money higher standard of living, visa versa.
2. Number people large households need more money and may have a lower stan
dard of living but could have a high collective income
3. Number of dependants the more dependants to earner the lower standard of
living includes elderly, children, unemployed etc.
4. The profession/occupation of people the profession influences the amount
you earn and place in society. Unskilled/manual work doesn t pay!
5. The health of individuals poor health don t work and drain resources, cost
of illness (prescription etc.) & might have to give work up
6. Geographical location fewer employment opportunities in some areas and m
ore expensive for accommodation & transport in rural areas
7. Amount of debt
8. The cost of housing high rent less disposable income & house maintenance
.