Unit 1-Family Roles and Identities

USC 8.2 Analyze how personal prejudices/biases, and habits of mind shape assumptions about family identities, structures, roles, and responsibilities.

Family Structures

Families come in different shapes and sizes. Many different factors can affect a family structure or in other words the organization of family.


Nuclear

A nuclear family is a family in which a male and female commit to each other and have biological children. The origin of the word nuclear comes from the latin

word ‘ nux’ meaning ‘the core of something’.


Mixed

A mixed family structure is also referred to as a step family. This is when two separate families blend together to form a new family. Parents may have children from previous relationships and may go on to have more children together.


Single Parent

A single parent family is when a sole parent raises a child. There are different circumstances which lead to single parent families. Such as, being divorced, widowed, or an unmarried person choosing to have a baby on their own.


Adoptive

An adoptive family is a family who legally become the guardians of that child. There are two kinds of adoption, closed and open. A closed adoption is when the biological child no longer sees the biological parent. An open adoption is when the biological parent is allowed access to the child.

Foster
A foster family is a family who takes care of a child temporarily. Children may be removed from their parent for a variety of reasons including abuse, neglect or unsuitable living conditions. It is the overall goal for children to be reunited with biological parents.

Childless
A foster family is a family who takes care of a child temporarily. Children may be removed from their parent for a variety of reasons including abuse, neglect or unsuitable living conditions. It is the overall goal for children to be reunited with biological parents.

Same Sex
A same sex family is a family which is formed with two parents who are the same gender. On July 20th, 2005 Canada became one of the first countries to

legalize gay marriage. These couples can have children through adoption, sperm donors and surrogacy.

Extended
Your extended family includes grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Sometimes even close friends are considered your extended family.


Create a PowerPoint presentation that includes a minimum of 10-15 slides.


You need to showcase each person in your immediate family, you may choose to include extended family that lives with you or who is involved in your day to day life.

What makes your family special or unique?
What is at the core of your family?

What does your family like to do together?

Include activities or a favorite vacation you have been on.

Why do you think it is important to celebrate the diversity of our families at school?


Traditional Family Structures

Canada has historically been a patriarchal society. Meaning that men were typically in charge of families and the government.


Fathers were typically in charge of households. They were the authority figure that set the expectations and limits for the wife and children. They were often the sole breadwinners for the family.


Mothers were expected to be the nurturing figures of the family. Mothers offered emotional support

and physical affection to their children. They were expected to take care of the home and children.


Children were expected to respect their parents and to adhere to their wishes. The adage ‘children

should be seen and not heard goes back to medieval times, first published as a proverb. The overall meaning is that children should not be able to voice their opinions.


Siblings were expected to participate in the rearing of younger siblings. This was especially true in the traditionally larger families that existed as infant mortality increased.