Chapter 14 Family Life Today
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Strong families believe in the contribution they can make to their
communities. Such families work together for a good balance between
emphasis on individual rights and acceptance of responsibilities to
the community.
Family Structures
As society changes, new family structures emerge. Today there are
many different family structures. There is no one best structure as long
as the family is performing its functions and members are fulfi lling
their roles. In this section, you will learn more about the various family
structures in today’s society.
The Nuclear Family
The nuclear family is made up of a married couple and their
biological children. Most duties, including household maintenance,
parenting, and fi nancial support, are shared between the parents. One
or both parents may work outside the home. If one parent does not
work, he or she will usually care for the home and the children. Social
activities often center around the family.
The Single-Parent Family
A single-parent family occurs as the result of desertion, divorce,
death, or having children outside of marriage. The single-parent family
structure has grown steadily in the United States.
The single-parent family is presented with many challenges. Most
single parents did not plan to be single parents. They have had to face
an unexpected stress—the desertion, divorce, or death of a spouse or
an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The fi rst stress may have created other
problems that continue to affect the family. A single parent faces the
strain of being the sole head of the household. Like all parents, single
parents must provide supervision, care, and fi nancial security for
their families. Time, energy, and money may be in short supply. Single
parents have the additional burden of compensating for the missing
parent. In some instances, an absent parent may create tensions.
Parents Who Are Single as a Result of Desertion, Divorce, or Death
People who have been deserted by their spouses or have divorced
may begin single parenthood on a foundation of uncertainty. Such
parents have the challenge of reshaping their own lives and the lives
of their children under difficult circumstances. Time, effort, and the
cooperation of all family members are needed to reestablish a secure
family unit.