Aqa As Sociology: Families And Households Definitions

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FAMILY

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A social institution consisting of a group of people who are related by kinship ties: relations of blood, marriage/civil partnership or adoption. Cohabiting couples are also often regarded as a family unit.

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HOUSEHOLD

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One person living alone, or a group of people who live at the same address and share living arrangements.

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MONOGAMY

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One husband and one wife.

(Found in Europe, the USA, and most Christian cultures)

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SERIAL MONOGAMY

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A series of monogamous marriages.

(Found in Europe and the USA, where there are high rates of divorce and remarriage)

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ARRANGED MARRIAGE

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Marriages arranged by parents to match their children with partners of a similar background and status.

(Found in the Indian subcontinent and Muslim, Sikh and Hindu minority ethnic groups in Britain)

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CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

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A legal form of marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Civil partnership gives legel recognition to the relationships of same sex couples , giving civil partners equal treatment to married couples in a wide range of legal matters.

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POLYGAMY

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Marriage to more than one partner at the same time.

(Includes polygyny and polyandry)

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POLYGYNY

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One husband and two or more wives.

(Found in Islamic countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia)

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POLYANDRY

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One wife and two or more husbands.

(Found in Tibet, amongst the Todas of Southern India, and among the Marquesan Islanders)

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NUCLEAR FAMILY

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Two generations: parents and children living in the same household.

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EXTENDED FAMILY

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All kin including and beyond the nuclear family.

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CLASSIC EXTENDED

FAMILY

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An extended family sharing the same household or living near each other.

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MODIFIED EXTENDED

FAMILY

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An extended family living far apart, but keeping in touch by phone, letters, email, networking websites like Facebook and frequent visits.

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BEANPOLE FAMILY

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A multi-generation extended family , which is long and thin, with few aunts, uncles and cousins, reflecting fewer children being born in each generation, but people living longer.

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PATRIARCHAL FAMILY

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A family in which the authority is held by males.

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MATRIARCHAL FAMILY

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A family in which the authority is held by females.

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SYMMETRICAL FAMILY

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Authority of household tasks are shared between male and female partners.

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RECONSTITUTED/STEP/

BLENDED FAMILY

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One or both partners previously married, wih children of previous relationships.

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LONE PARENT FAMILY

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Lone parent with dependent children, most commonly after divorce or separation (though may arise from death of a partner or unwillingness to marry or cohabit)

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GAY AND LESBIAN FAMILY

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Same-sex couple living together with children.

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SINGLE PERSON

HOUSEHOLD

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An individual living alone.