WHAT IS FAMILY ?

FAMILYThe word ‘Family’ has been taken over from Latin word ‘Famulus’ which means servants. Is the basic or the most fundamental unit in any society.

There is not a set definition for the term “family.”We often use the term “family” to describe things and relationships beyond that which we stereotypically define as family. Consider the following:

1) Ancestors

2) Children

3) Feeling

4) Ownership

5) Shared knowledge and practices

6) Moral High Ground

“Family is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children”

-Merrill

“Family is a more or less durable association of husband and wife with or without child or of a man or women alone with children”

-M.F. Nimkoff

“Family is more or less durable association of husband and wife and children”

- Ogburn

“Family is a system of relationship existing between parents and children”

- Clare

THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Art. 149. The family, being the foundation of the nation, is a basic social institution which public policy cherishes and protects. Consequently, family relations are governed by law and no custom, practice or agreement destructive of the family shall be recognized or given effect.

“Two or more people who are living together and who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption”

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILY

1) Universality2) Emotional basis3) Limited size4) Formative influence5) Nuclear position in the

social structure6) Responsibility of the

members7) Social regulation

TYPES OF FAMILIES

Nuclear familyExtended familyComplex familyStep familyTraditional familyAdopted familyFoster family

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 FAMILYThis type of family includes all relatives in close proximity, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. This type of family is also called a joint family or multigenerational family depending on which members are included.

COMPLEX FAMILYThis type of extended family has three or more adults plus their children.

STEP FAMILYThis is a family where the adults have divorced and remarried, bringing children from other unions together to form a new nuclear family.

TRADITIONAL FAMILYThis 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.

ADOPTED FAMILYThis type of family shares legal bonds but not genetic ones.

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.

CLASSIFICATION OF FAMILY

Families can be classified according to the various categories:

a) On the basis of lineage

b) On the basis of authority

c) On the pattern of residence

d) On the amount of mates

ON THE BASIS OF LINEAGE

Patrilineal Family

This type of family occurs when property and title inheritance passes down through the father’s side.Matrilineal Family

This is where the property and title inheritance passes through the mother’s side.

ON THE BASIS OF AUTHORITY

Patriarchal Family

In this type of family, the father is considered the head.

Matriarchal FamilyIn this type of family, authority

is held by the mother

ON THE PATTERN OF RESIDENCE

 Patrilocal

When a married couple lives with or near the husband’s family.

Matrilocal

When a couple lives with or near the mother’s family.

Neo-Local

When a married couple sets up a home separate from either side of their families.

ON THE AMOUNT OF MATES

 Monogamous Family

In this instance, a husband only has one wife. This is the western idea of a typical marriage. Polygamous Family

In this case, the husband has more than one wife at the same time. Polyandrous Family

This family consists of a wife with more than one husband.