Types of Family Structures

Family Structure in Modern Society

• Family structures vary greatly across countries and cultures, ranging from large extended families to single-parent households with one child.

Changes in Family Structure in Western Countries

• In the past, extended families living together in one home were common in North America and Western countries, but this is now rare.
• Grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins no longer live together in one home.
• Children are encouraged to be independent, and many young adults live alone or with roommates while attending university.

Independence and Career Choices

• Young adults choose their own careers and spouses, with no arranged marriages.
• Many young couples choose to live apart from their parents, and some even move to different cities.

Care for the Elderly

• In Western society, the independence of the elderly is emphasized, and when they become too old to live independently, they often move into special care facilities or nursing homes.
• This aspect of Western society may be seen as strange by people from other cultures, who are used to caring for their elderly parents in their own homes.

Changes in Family Structure due to Divorce and Remarriage

• The increase in divorce and remarriage has led to a rise in blended families, with stepparents, stepbrothers and sisters, and half-brothers and sisters.
• The number of single-parent homes is also increasing rapidly.