Types of Family Structures

By Michelle Blessing
Mental Health Professional

Family structure has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. The "Leave it
to Beaver" family is no longer the standard, and several variations on family
have been created. There are six specific types of family structures identified by
society today.

Family Structures

The following types of families exist today, with some families naturally falling
into multiple categories. For example, a single parent family who lives in a
larger, extended family. While these types of families are distinct in definition, in practice the lines are less
clear.

Nuclear Family
The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure. This family type consists of two parents and
children. 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. According to U.S. Census data,
almost 70 percent of children live in a nuclear family unit.

Single Parent Family

The single parent family consists of one parent raising one or more children on his own. Often, a single
parent family is a mother with her children, although there are single fathers as well. The single parent
family is the biggest change society has seen in terms of the changes in family structures. One in four
children is born to a single mother. Single parent families are generally close and find ways to work
together to solve problems, such as dividing up household chores. When only one parent is at home, it
may be a struggle to find childcare, as there is only one parent working. This limits income and
opportunities in many cases, although many single parent families have help from relatives and friends.

Extended Family
The extended family structure consists of two or more adults who are related, either by blood or marriage,
living in the same home. This family includes many relatives living together and working toward common
goals, such as raising the children and keeping up with the household duties. Many extended families
include cousins, aunts or uncles and grandparents living together. 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.

Childless Family
While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not
to have children. The childless family is sometimes the "forgotten family," as it does not meet the
traditional standards set by society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife living and working
together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact with
their nieces and nephews as a substitute for having their own children.

Stepfamily
Over half of all marriages end in divorce, and many of these individuals choose to get remarried. This
creates the stepfamily, which involves two separate families merging into one new unit. It consists of a
new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Stepfamilies are about
as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment periods
and discipline issues. Stepfamilies need to learn to work together and also work with their exes to ensure
these family units run smoothly.

Grandparent Family
Many grandparents today are raising their grandchildren for a variety of reasons.One in fourteen
children is raised by his grandparents, and the parents are not present in the child's life. This could be due
to parents' death, addiction, abondonment or being unfit parents. Many grandparents need to go back to
work or find additional sources of income to help raise their grandchildren.

Variety of Structures

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what is the best type of family structure. As long as a
family is filled with love and support for one another, it tends to be successful and thrive. Families need to
do what is best for each other and themselves, and that can be achieved in almost any unit.

Meaning of Family

By Michelle Blessing
Mental Health Professional

'Family' is a single word, with many different meanings. People have

many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means
to them. Families differ in terms of economic, cultural, social, and many
other facets, but what every family has in common is that the people
who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling
them his family.

Definition of Family

The dictionary defines family in several ways. One definition is "a fundamental social group in society
typically consisting of one or two parents and their children." While this definition is a good starting point,
there are several modern family structures that are excluded by this definition, such as childless couples
or other variations on the family unit. Another definition is "Two or more people who share goals and
values, have long-term commitments to one another and reside usually in the same dwelling." This
definition encompasses the vast majority of modern family units; for the purposes of this article, the
second definition will be used.

Who Makes a Family?

The traditional family consists of a father, mother and children. This is the family shown on television as
the standard family. However, the 21st century showcases a variety of family units, some very different
from the standard of the 1950s. Today, children are also often raised in single parent homes, by
grandparents or by homosexual parents. Some families opt to have no children, or cannot have children
due to some medical or emotional barrier. The idea that parents and children make a family is a basic
definition; however, in order to accurately acknowledge other family structures, a broader definition is
 necessary. In addition to a more universal family definition, there are also plenty of people who consider a
group of friends to be family, and adults who consider pets as defining members of the family unit.

Friends as Family
Many people consider friends to be as close or even closer than extended (or immediate) family. People
who have lost close family members may create a family unit of friends with similar interests and goals to
become replacements or enhancements to a lacking family structure. This type of family unit, while
untraditional, can be just as close, if not closer, than a traditional structure. Friends are chosen by an
individual; at times, these people may be more special or important than the family a person was born
with. In addition, some people who have supportive families also have an extensive network of friends who
they consider to be a second family or as additions to their blood or legal relatives.

Pets as Family
Pets can also become members of a family unit. Pets add an element of responsibility to a family,
particularly for children. For couples who cannot, or choose not to, have children, pets can be a
replacement and be loved as dearly as children. Pets, such as dogs and cats, are cared for as additional
family members by many people and are mourned as such as well when they pass away.

Redefining Family

Rather than simply defining family by a dictionary definition, each individual should look to define a family
by his own standards, enriching the dictionary's definition. You can have several families in your lifetime,
even several families at once if you choose. Regardless of how you choose to define your family unit,
whether it is traditional or unique, your definition is of the family unit that works for you. As the saying
goes, "Family is what you make it." Whether made of blood relatives, friends, or pets, or a combination of
these, your family can offer you the support you need to thrive.

Definition of Family

Family can be defined in many different ways.

By Melissa Mayntz

Family may seem like a simple concept, but there is no simple definition
of family. In its most basic terms, a family is a group of individuals who
share a legal or genetic bond, but for many people, family means much
more, and even the simple idea of genetic bonds can be more
complicated than it seems.

Basic Family Definition

In the most basic definition, a group of people who share a legal bond or a blood bond is a family.

Legal Bonds: Families are legally bound through marriages, adoptions, and guardianships,
including the rights, duties, and obligations of those legal contracts. Legal bonds can be changed,
expanded, or dissolved to change the composition of a family.
 Blood Bonds: Individuals who are directly related through a common ancestor are part of a family.
This includes both close and distant relatives such as siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, and cousins. Researching a family tree or genealogical records can reveal familial blood
bonds.

Despite the apparent simplicity of this definition of family, the idea of family goes far beyond just legal or
blood relationships for many people.

Types of Families

There are many different types of families, each of which is equally viable as a supportive, caring unit.

Nuclear Family: Also called a conjugal family, this is the parents and their children living in the
same residence or sharing the closest bonds.

Extended Family: This type of family includes all relatives in close proximity, such as
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In a family household that is extended, these relatives typically
live together and all share daily household duties. This type of family is also called a joint family or
multigenerational family depending on which members are included.

Complex Family: This type of extended family has three or more adults plus their children. This
type of family may be formed through divorce and remarriage, or it may be formed through polygamy in
societies where that practice is acceptable. Some families may be complex even without formal legal
bonds between the adults.

Step Family: This is a family where the adults have divorced and remarried, bringing children from
other unions together to form a new nuclear family. The children may come from several different parents
or be on one or both sides of the new union.

Traditional Family: This is a family unit defined in the classic sense as the father working outside
the home to support the members financially, while the mother remains at home and tends to domestic
duties and child-rearing. This strict definition of family is less and less common in modern society.

Adopted Family: This type of family shares legal bonds but not genetic ones. Two parents may
adopt a child to whom they share no blood relationship, or one parent may adopt the child of the other
parent. Adopted families can also be defined in an emotional or spiritual sense where no formal legal
bonds are present.

Foster Family: A foster family includes one or more adult parent who serves as a temporary
guardian for one or more children to whom they may or may not be biologically related. In time, more
formal arrangements may be made and foster children can be legally adopted.

Many families can be classified as more than one specific type, and every family has its unique
characteristics that make it special and comforting to its members.

Defining Your Family

 While the direct legal and genetic relationships you share with others can help you create your definition
of family, there is more to family relationships than these basic concepts. A true family provides its
members with emotional and spiritual kinship through:

Shared values, beliefs, and traditions

Common experiences and activities

Unconditional, non-judgmental support

In many ways, different individuals relate to groups of people who provide them with emotional and
spiritual connection as family, even if they share no legal or genetic bonds. For example, a church "family"
has spiritual connections and shared values, even though its members are not formally related. Similarly, a
work family has common experiences and share activities in long-term relationships without formal bonds.
College fraternities and sororities often share familial bonds through experiences and consider one another
brothers and sisters without formal relationships. With social networking technology, many people are
even creating online or virtual families of individuals who share their beliefs, hobbies, and values even if
they have never met in person.

The definition of family is constantly evolving, and every person can define family in a different way to
encompass the relationships she shares with people in her life. Over time one's family will change as one's
life changes and the importance of family values and rituals deepen. Every member who is truly family will
help make it richer.

Brazilian Family Values

By Donna Sundblad

The traditional Brazilian family was comprised of a husband, wife and children,
and traditional values supported this family structure. However, the makeup of
the family has changed somewhat in recent times. Single parent households are
on the increase and it is quite common to find families with two working spouses.
Even with these changes, family values run deep.

Traditional Brazilian Family Values

Traditionally, family is the foundation of social structure in Brazil. In the past, Brazilian families tended to
be large and when a couple married, the individuality of that couple as a new household was recognized
and respected. However newly-married couples were also expected to maintain close family ties with their
parents, aunts, uncles and other extended family members. These relationships traditionally included
godparents and godchildren, too. Family gatherings were, in good times, opportunities for socializing, but
these relationships also provided a network to turn to in times of trouble or need. These close-knit family
ties are still encouraged in Brazil, but how much interaction occurs between family members today is
influenced by social and economic factors, just as it is in America and many other parts of the world.

Close family ties also carry over into the business world as well. Nepotism is actually encouraged and
looked at as a way to hire employees you know and trust. However, it is such "positions of trust" that also
open the door for corruption in the Brazilian government.
 Changing Times

Over the last 30 years, family values in Brazil have undergone significant tests along with changes in the
structure of the family. Originally, Brazil's social structure was primarily patriarchal in nature. Women were
relegated to domestic duties and often lacked formal education. However, women were also the glue that
helped hold the family together.

Today many Brazilian households have two working spouses, and the number of single-parent households
has increased. Family is still valued highly, but divorce and marital separation are much more common.
Many women are now the head of their household and the dynamics of the family often include children
from more than one marriage or other union. While such changes in the social makeup of family are
accepted, the importance of family has remained unchanged.

Some of these changes are attributed to a changing political climate. In an effort to build a sense of
citizenship and democracy, political changes influenced women to desire more freedom and to enjoy a
new level of independence. A problem women face that directly relates to the foundational family values
instilled in them their whole lives is that of balancing work and home responsibilities. While women enjoy
working and bringing home a paycheck, many of them are overwhelmed and stressed because they still
feel responsible for household duties, caring for the children and other traditional mother-role tasks on the
home front. It is not unusual to hire a nanny or housekeeper to help alleviate this stress.

Today's Family Values

With the societal changes that have touched Brazilian culture, the family structure has somewhat
changed, but the values that encourage close family ties remain. Even today it is not unusual to have
three generations living in the same house. Other important family values in Brazil that have withstood
cultural changes include:

When children marry, they often live near the parents.

Children are considered part of the family and are included in most adult activities.

Children are expected to contribute as part of the family unit.

Grandparents and the elderly are seldom put in a nursing home; instead they most often live with
their children.

Family relationships still play a key role in social and business interactions.
The Value of Family

While modern family makeup may differ from the traditional Brazilian family structure, in some instances,
Brazilian family values have survived the changes. Family is valued in Brazil and close-knit relationships
still provide a network of support. The main challenge to this closeness today deals with children who
graduate from college and live elsewhere and family members who relocate for work and no longer live
near their extended families.

Mexican Family Culture

 By Michele Meleen

M.S.Ed.

Every culture has a unique set of values, traditions, and norms. The
general culture of Mexican families has a strong foundation in unity.
As with any culture, family life is as much individualistic as it is
communal.

Family Roles

Mexico has traditionally been home to a patriarchal family structure, according to the CDC. There were
clearly defined roles for mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters in Mexican families. Marianismo is the term
for the distinct role of women in Mexican family culture while machismo is the term for the traditional role
of men. Women typically portrayed a submissive and dependent role in the marriage relationship.

Mothers and Fathers

A mother was the heart of the family: the one who cooked, cleaned and cared for the children on a full-
time basis. Similar responsibilities were also expected of daughters as it was their job to learn how to be a
woman from their mother.

Fathers generally took charge of family decisions, and their authority was rarely challenged by either the
mother or children. Machismo, defined as the type of behavior corresponding to traditional ideas about
men being very strong and aggressive. Boys in Mexican families also expressed machismo in their
relationships with other men, where constantly asserting masculinity was expected. These roles are similar
to what were the traditional version of American family values before the 1960s and 1970s.

Close-Knit Generations

Typically, generations of families live in the same neighborhood or in the same house which reflects the
dedication to supporting family members and displaying loyalty no matter what. Familismo, as reported by
the CDC, is the value of family over individual needs. Although family is the number one priority amongst
many Mexican families, there is also a strong sense of national pride.

Although these roles seem to have clear definition, traditional Mexican families often involve the entire
family, which is typically five or more people, in the decision-making process.

Modern Mexican Families

This traditional home life is evolving in many parts of Mexico, especially in northern
cities. Everyculture.com suggests that while some Mexican families still have a traditional home life, many
others have home lives that look very similar to modern American daily life.

Religious Practices

The CDC reports that roughly 89% of Mexicans say they are Catholic, with another 6% saying they are
Protestant. Consequently, the church plays a large part in providing spiritual and social support. According
to Ethnomed.org, the Virgin of Guadelupe is considered the patron saint of Mexico.
Religious festivities in Mexico are a staple of family life. There are thousands of towns named after saints,
such as San Juan, and each hosts an annual celebration of its particular patron saint.

Ethnomed.org also notes that the ancient Aztec religion held a strong belief in balance and supernatural
powers. Some of that influence is seen today in remedies used for curing some ailments.

Rites of Passage

Young, Mexican females are honored on their 15th birthday with a quinceaneracelebration. The party is full
of emotion as the girl's father ceremoniouslyexchanges her flat, childish style shoes for a demure pair of
modestly high-heeled shoes to denote her passage into womanhood. The event is full of sentiment as the
young woman dances with her father and the guests look on.

Another touching Mexican cultural tradition is the matrimonial golden coin ceremony. The groom bestows
his betrothed with 13 golden coins as a gesture of his trust in her to treasure and care for him and his
possessions. Her acceptance of the coins signifies her devotion to love, respect and nurture him.

Government and Politics

In 2000 Mexico began the slow transition from an authoritarian one-party state to an inclusive democracy.
Many communities still have minimal trust in the government and seeing law enforcement officials as
corrupt is common. Thisshared negativity builds even stronger commitments to family and neighborhood
cooperation and support.

Evolution of Family Culture

In Mexico, like many other countries, the culture continues to evolve as people from other countries
become part of the population and new ways of thinking evolve. GlobalSecurity.org suggests these
influences have resulted in attitudinal changes in family relationships, especially between husbands and
wives, where the roles are becoming less defined and more flexible.

The Ogranisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that Mexicans today claim a
higher-than-average life satisfaction rating with women ranking a higher level of satisfaction than men.
However, this progression is mainly in the northern parts of the country and traditional spousal
relationships remain popular in southern and rural regions. As with any nationality, individual families have
their own culture, but remnants of the traditional family culture and the importance of family values in
Mexico still remain in many regions.

Mexican Family Culture

Family ties are strong in Mexican culture and have been for centuries. With modern times, come changes,
but Mexican families will always be rooted in tradition.