ANSWER TO QUESTION: It is often said that the nuclear family is the most common type of family unit in modern industrial societies. However many different types of families exist alongside of each other.(a) What is meant by the term nuclear family? [1]A father, a mother, and at least one child) living together. [1]NOTE: A nuclear family is usually described as a heterosexual(man/woman family with child/children due to marriage.(b) Describe two other types of family unit. [2](i) One-parent family or single-parents household (1 mark), in which case due to break-up, divorce, or abandonment, one parent or guardian lives, socialized, and supports a child without a spouse or live-in partner (1 mark).(ii) extended family (1 mark) in which relatives of many generations (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins)in addition to parents and children live in a single household (1 mark).(iii) reconstituted or blended or step family (1 mark) in which at least one adult, who have had previous relationships and children live, cohabit or married another and has brought children from other relationships into one single household. In such a family, at least one parent is raising children that are not biologically or adoptive related to him/her (1 mark).Common law family (1 mark) in which an unmarried man and a woman living together in a common-law situation or cohabitation with children (1 mark).Same-sex famiy (1 mark) in which a homosexual couple living together with a child or children in a civil union arrangement or cohabitation ( 1 mark).(Any two of these)NOTE: For this question, 1 mark was allotted for identifying the type of family and another for describing the type of family named.(c) What two (2) factors may have led to the decline of the nuclear family[4](i) Divorce (1 mark): Separation of spouses after some time in marriage results in the breakdown of the nuclear family structure as one of the parents goes his/her separate ways with or without the child or children. Divorce results in single-parent or reconstructed families (1 mark).(ii) Acceptance of alternative lifestyles/relationships (1 mark). With the advent of gay rights and equality and the freedom of modern people to live according to their sexual orientation and preferences, many people who were forced to marry and bore children creating a nuclear household are freer right now to live their life according to their sexual orientation and preferences. Many men and women get into same-sex relationships with or without children (1 mark).(iii) More women acquiring higher education, participation in the labor force(1 mark). More women are educated and work out of the home. Therefore, with their busy lifestyle, marriages and child-bearing have become second place to independence and making money or has been postponed to later years (1 mark).(iv) Better contraception give couples better child-bearing planning options and or has decreased the chances of fertilization due to sexual intercourse;(There are many more reasons.)TIP: Be mindful even though the question didn’t ask for an explanation of your reasons given because the question is worth 4 marks, you are required to explain your answer).(c) State two (2) reasons why family units tend to be quite large in traditional societies? [2](i) tradition and religious influences(ii) Children was an economic asset(iii) No home for the aged or welfare for seniors(iii) grandparents were needed to socialize and baby-sit while parents go out towork in the field.(Any two of these; there are more reasons)NOTE: In this question, you were asked to state, so you just list your reasons. However, it would be good to be able to explain these points as you may be called upon on an exam to explain them.(e) To what extent is family life still important despite the decline of the nuclear family in modern industrial societies?Despite the decline in the nuclear family in modern industrial societies, family life is still important to:(i) continue the function of socialization (1 mark). Children learn basic norms, roles, and the way to behave in society from their families. Without the family to begin to teach children what will be expected of them as they mature and become full members of society, it will be more difficult for them to adjust and cope in society(1 mark).(ii) To transmit folklores, customs, and traditions (Culture) to future generations (1 mark)s. Each culture has its own clothing, music, visual art, storytelling traditions, dances, foods, and many more unique characteristics, and it is the family who first introduces and educates the child about their cultural heritage. Without the family, some of the traditional practices will be lost (1 mark).(f) What are some consequences of the decline of the nuclear family in modern industrial societies. [4](i) More economically-disadvantaged families (1 mark). As divorce and single-parent households rise, single-parent families, become more economically disadvantaged. Parents are unable to afford basic necessities (nutritious food, proper utilities, etc ) and/or certain luxuries (such as books, computers, and tutoring) to help their children succeed in school and future jobs (1 mark)..(ii) Lack of quality parenting (1 mark). Single parents have fewer rules, easier discipline actions, more inconsistency, less supervision of children, and as a result students are more prone to get into trouble with societal laws (1 mark).(There are more reasons).

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