Applying sociology to the family.

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In Britain today they are many different types of families, and these all have different social structures. Even through there are many different variations of these groups, family structures normally come in these groups: - nuclear families, reconstituted families, extended families and a lone parent families.

The nuclear family is where “parents and children live in an independent unit separately from other relatives.”(Penny Tassoni, et al, 2002).

Advantages – family is more likely to be better economically.

                   Closer to family members

                    Parents have more time to spend with their children

Disadvantages – if parents spilt up the family will experience considerable                                                  disruption                                                        

                   They have to plan family centred activities to socialise

                  Only have a small support network

The reconstituted family is where “parents with children form previous relationships live together”. (Penny Tassoni, et al, 2002).

Advantages – good levels of support

                   Child care support

                   More role models

Disadvantages – may bring tension for some individuals

                         

The extended family is where “parents, children, grandparents, uncles and aunts live together in a supported unit” (Penny Tassoni, et al, 2002).

Advantages – a big supported network

                       

Disadvantages – limits personal independence of some family members

                   Not a great deal of personal space

The lone parent family “a single parent, mother or father, living alone with a child.” (Penny Tassoni, et al, 2002).

Advantages – state help with child care

                   One parent decides how the child is brought up rules, religion ect

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Disadvantages – can lead to financial hardship

                           Only one role model

The status of the family has changed when industrialisation moved out of the home. When children worked in the home they where seen as ‘little adults’  as parents passed on their skills to their children, parents educated their children in the way that they lived their lives and they expected that their children’s lives would be very similar to their own.  Children were part of working life and they saw what went on ...

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