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Problems of Definiton

This document discusses problems with defining the family and examines different family types. It begins by outlining learning objectives about identifying and examining problems with definition and defining forms of marriage and family. It then introduces criticism of Murdock's claim of a universal nuclear family type. Several non-nuclear family types are described that challenge this definition, including single-parent households, sibling families, the matrilineal Nayar family in Kerala, and same-sex marriages. The document concludes by defining various forms of marriage, residence, authority, and specific family types found in the Caribbean.

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40 views16 pages

Problems of Definiton

This document discusses problems with defining the family and examines different family types. It begins by outlining learning objectives about identifying and examining problems with definition and defining forms of marriage and family. It then introduces criticism of Murdock's claim of a universal nuclear family type. Several non-nuclear family types are described that challenge this definition, including single-parent households, sibling families, the matrilineal Nayar family in Kerala, and same-sex marriages. The document concludes by defining various forms of marriage, residence, authority, and specific family types found in the Caribbean.

Uploaded by

Kinayah Morain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problems of Definition

Elbernezer Andrew
Learning Outcomes
3

Introduction
4

Single –Parent Households


6

agenda Sibling Families


9

The Nayar in Kerala


10
Same sex Marriages
11

Forms of Marriage and the Family


12
Learning outcomes
• To identify the problems of definition
• Examine the problems of definition
• To list and define the forms of marriage and
the family

20XX presentation title 3


Introduction
Introduction
• Murdock’s claim regarding the universal ‘nuclear type has
been widely criticized. The definition of the family as
advanced by Murdock has been challenged , not only by
theorists but also by the mere existence of the diverse family
forms today.
• Although Murdock assumes the nuclear family type to be the
norm, many exceptions have been identified.

20XX presentation title 5


Single Parent Households
• In many industrialized societies such as the United States and
Europe, there is an increasing proportion of the single –parent
families.
• In the Caribbean, there is a significant proportion of single
parent household. There is predominance of matrifocal
households.
• The type of family has raised questions about the universality
of the nuclear family .

20XX presentation title 6


Single-parent Households
• The traditional family( as defined by Murdock) may be under
threat of dissolution.
• Single-Parent families may originate through divorce,
separation, desertion, abandonment or from the death of a
spouse.
• In some instances , they are due to the tendency of among
some women today to be career oriented and choose to parent
a child outside of marriage.

20XX presentation title 7


QUESTIONS

How do you see the Single Parent family


being Problematic to the Universality of the
Nuclear Family?

20XX presentation title 8


Sibling Families
• It is found in the Caribbean – a unit where an older brother or
sister is the head of the household .
• There are no parent in this family type
• Reasons for this family type – the absence of parents may include
migration of parents to a foreign country , death , imprisonment,
or desertion by parents

• How does this family pose a problem to the Murdock’s


definition of the family?

20XX presentation title 9


The Nayar in Kerala
• This family type is found, south India. It is matrilineal situation
existed, where the women entered several short-termed
relationships with different men.
• The mother and her relatives carried out family responsibilities,
and husbands/ fathers contributed little to the maintenance and
upbringing of children.
• Long- term sexual relationship did not exist, and the male and
female did not constitute an economic unit.
• This family type is no longer in existence.
Same-sex marriages
• With the legalization of same-sex marriages in some societies , such as
some states in the United States, some European countries, South
Africa and more recent Argentina a new family type has emerged.
• This family type may also include children, who may be from
previous marriages , adopted or conceived through surrogate mothers
by artificial insemination.

20XX presentation title 11


Forms of Marriage and the Family
• Monogamy- one husband and one wife
• Serial monogamy- a series of monogamous marriages. Found
in Europe. USA where are high rates of divorce and
remarriage
• Arranged marriage- marriage arranged by parents
• Polygamy- marriage to more than one partner at the same
time; includes polygyny and polyandry
• Polygyny- one husband and two or more wives
• Polyandry- one wife and two or more husbands
Forms of marriage/Residence
• Patrilocal- married couple lives with or nuclear the husband’s
family
• Matrilocal – married couple lives with or near the wife’s
family
• Neo- local- married couple set up home apart from either the
husband or the wife’s family

20XX presentation title 13


Forms of marriage/ Authority
• Patriarchal- Authority held by males
• Matriarchal –Authority held by females
• Symmetrical- Authority shared between male and female
partners.

20XX presentation title 14


Types of family in the Caribbean
• Nuclear Family
• Cohabitational family: it is like the nuclear family, but the mother and
father is not married but under a common law arrangement.
• Concubinage according to Judith Blake ( 1961) refers to a situation where
a man shares a relationship with a woman , although not married to her.
• Extended family
• Sibling family
• Matrifocal: consists of a mother and her child/ children , with no resident
male.

20XX presentation title 15


thank you
mirjam nilsson
[email protected]
www.contoso.com

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