Classification of Family

The families can be classified according to various criteria:

a) On the Basis of Lineage:
1) Patrilineal Family: When properly inheritance and reckoning descent along the male line (father).
2) Matrilineal Family: When it is along the female (mother) line.
b) On the Basis of Headship:
1) Patriarchal Family: In this case father is head of the family.
2) Matriarchal Family: In this case mother is head of the family.
c) On the Basis of Transfer of Bride Groom:
1) Patrilocal Family: There are the families where wife transfer to the husbands house after marriage.
2) Matrilocal Family: Where husband transfer to the wife’s house after marriage.Matrilineal families are matrilocal families.
d) On the Basis of Number of Mates:
1) Monogamous Family: In this case the husband marries only one wife.
2) Polygamous Family: In this case the husband can marry more than one wife.
3) Polyandrous Family: In this case the wife can marry more than one husband.

Family Structures
The following types of families exist today, with some families naturally falling into multiple categories. For example, a single parent family who lives in a
larger, extended family. While these types of families are distinct in definition, in practice the lines are less clear.

Nuclear Family
The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure. This family type consists of two parents and children. The nuclear family was long held in
esteem by society as being the ideal in which to raise children. Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure
and generally have more opportunities due to the financial ease of two adults. According to U.S. Census data, almost 70 percent of children live in a
nuclear family unit.

Single Parent Family

The single parent family consists of one parent raising one or more children on his own. Often, a single parent family is a mother with her children,
although there are single fathers as well. The single parent family is the biggest change society has seen in terms of the changes in family structures.
One in four children is born to a single mother. Single parent families are generally close and find ways to work together to solve problems, such as
dividing up household chores. When only one parent is at home, it may be a struggle to find childcare, as there is only one parent working. This limits
income and opportunities in many cases, although many single parent families have support from relatives and friends.

Extended Family
The extended family structure consists of two or more adults who are related, either by blood or marriage, living in the same home. This family includes
many relatives living together and working toward common goals, such as raising the children and keeping up with the household duties. Many
extended families include cousins, aunts or uncles and grandparents living together. This type of family structure may form due to financial difficulties or
because older relatives are unable to care for themselves alone. Extended families are becoming increasingly common all over the world.

Childless Family
While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have children. The childless family is
sometimes the "forgotten family," as it does not meet the traditional standards set by society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife living and
working together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews as a
substitute for having their own children.

Step Family
Over half of all marriages end in divorce, and many of these individuals choose to get remarried. This creates the step or blended family which involves
two separate families merging into one new unit. It consists of a new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Step
families are about as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment periods and discipline issues. Step
families need to learn to work together and also work with their exes to ensure these family units run smoothly.

Grandparent Family
Many grandparents today are raising their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. One in fourteen children is raised by his grandparents, and the
parents are not present in the child's life. This could be due to parents' death, addiction, abandonment or being unfit parents. Many grandparents need
to go back to work or find additional sources of income to help raise their grandchildren.

Variety of Structures
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what is the best type of family structure. As long as a family is filled with love and support for one
another, it tends to be successful and thrive. Families need to do what is best for each other and themselves, and that can be achieved in almost any
unit.

Nuclear families, which include a mother, father and children living in the household, are what many consider 'typical.' However, as the social
landscape changes, so do ideas and perceptions of different family types. Every family structure has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages
Approximately 68 percent of children live in a nuclear family unit, according to 2016 U.S. Census data. In general, people view this family structure as
an ideal arrangement to raise a family. Two married parents and their children living together provides a favorable image for many reasons.

Definition of a Nuclear Family

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
Pros and Cons of Joining the Military With a Family
Strength and Stability
Children born into a marriage tend to have more stability than children born into cohabitation. Pew Research Center found that 20 percent of kids born
to married parents experience divorce, while nearly 50 percent of kids in cohabiting families experience divorce. Both of these groups of children have a
better chance to one day live with a married couple than kids born to single moms. Committed spouses or partners model a loving, caring, and
supportive relationship for their children. This translates into future success when children learn how to seek positive relationships and interact well with
others. Children see partners work together to solve problems, delegate household responsibilities, and support one another through positive and
negative issues.

Financial Stability Equals More Opportunity

Many nuclear families have enough economic stability to provide children with luxuries, opportunities, and a safe environment. Pew Research Center
notes 57 percent of households with married parents were well above the poverty line while only 21 percent of single-parent households were. Children
in nuclear families may be able to attend dance, gymnastics, music or other types of classes, especially when both partners work outside the home.
Children with these opportunities are more likely to be successful academically and socially.

Consistency Means Behavior Successes

The successful nuclear family provides children with consistency in caretaking. Children who have both stability and consistency in their lives are more
likely to exhibit positive behavior, earn good grades in school and become more involved in community and extracurricular activities. The nuclear family
may eat dinner together regularly basis, go to church, and take family vacations which strengthens relationships and builds a solid foundation for future
life goals.

Encourages Education
Proud family standing with graduate SOURCE
Children born to parents with college degrees are more likely to attend and complete college themselves. An analysis by the Council on Contemporary
Families indicates educated parents are less likely to divorce and have more resources to provide for children. Pew Research Center adds that parents
with degrees are more likely to be in the labor force, which increases family income level in educated, nuclear families. The placement of value on
education combined with a higher income level improves the academic future of children.

Health Benefits
Overall, research suggests children in families with married, biological parents have better social, emotional and physical health than other children.
One reason for this is because married parents are less likely to abuse children. Nuclear families are also more likely to use emergency rooms and
have the means to provide good healthcare for children. The emotional strain on children living in a non-violent household with two parents is
significantly less than children living with one parent or other caregivers.

Communication Skills
Communication between family members in a nuclear household features fewer obstacles and distractions. With technological advances, these families
increase communication from outside the home. According to an analysis by Pew Internet & American Life Project, nuclear families are the most likely
of all family types to use internet and cell phones. This allows parents to better monitor child internet use and participate in online activities with
children. Kids with cell phones have the means to keep in contact with parents about schedule changes and emergencies.
Disadvantages
Every type of family experiences problems and emergencies throughout life. The nuclear family format is not always a viable option for several reasons.

Extended Family Exclusion

The nuclear family unit provides a strong bonding experience for immediate family members. The smaller family size allows individualized attention
towards partners and children which creates lifelong bonds. However, one analysis published at Preserve Articles points out that the nuclear family unit
can isolate people from other relatives and relationships. This breakdown of the extended family unit, won't be beneficial in hard times. Grandparents,
aunts, uncles and cousins have a place within a family structure, but the nuclear family doesn't always foster these relationships.

Burnout
Acts International suggests family members, particularly mothers, have a tendency to burn out from attempts to meet every person's needs. The focus
on children can be overwhelming and leave little room for parents to take care of themselves. Without help from extended family, parents may need to
take off work to care for sick children. The struggle to balance the demands of work, family and friendships without outside assistance leads to stress,
depression, anxiety or other problems.

Conflict Resolution Skills

While less conflict and family stress is an advantage of the nuclear family, it also puts the family at a disadvantage. Conflict is a part of life, and conflict
resolution skills are beneficial in school, the community and the workplace. Nuclear families can develop like-minded thinking, leading to fewer
arguments within the family unit. However, it can increase the disagreements with extended family members. Extended family with differing opinions
and ideas can help families see alternate viewpoints and learn to deal with outside opinion and conflicts.

Small Support System

Frustrated father holding crying baby SOURCE
Emergency situations, such as an accident or even a time of illness, can leave small nuclear families in crisis. The Preserve Articles analysis points out
how extended family structures offer built-in help for these scenarios. In a nuclear family where both parents work and have young children, the ability
to meet all expectations and needs solely within the family unit is not always feasible. Multi-generational households offer assistance as needed.

Compounding Stereotypes
The emphasis on the nuclear family as best practice exacerbates stereotypes of single mothers, family structures based on religion, and cultural family
structures around the world. The International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family suggests nuclear families are not as historically prevalent as
originally believed. The symbolism this idea represents is an ideal for all to seek while those in other scenarios earn criticism. This normalized ideal
influences public policy and government programs, which can exclude different family types.

Self-Centered Worldview
According to the Concordia University - St. Paul, the traditional nuclear family is child-centered. This means the focus is on the immediate family,
children in particular, for all facets of life. The family unit strives to meet its own needs and places secondary emphasis on others. This viewpoint can
lead children to selfish tendencies and thinking. It can also create a narrow worldview where the greater good of society gets little consideration.

Preferred Family Structure

The nuclear family is preferred by many to raise children, although the incidence of single parent, divorced and multigenerational households are on the
rise. The choice to raise a family by the nuclear model does not guarantee success or happiness but can provide a basis for obtaining those ideals.
Awareness of the possible advantages and disadvantages allows a big-picture view of this family structure. No family is perfect, but when you work
together with family members, you ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.

History of the Nuclear Family

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term "nuclear family" was first used in 1947, but the concept of a family that consists of just parents
and children is much older. This basic unit of a family's structure has existed for millennia, but it wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s that the nuclear family
became the majority situation. At that time, industrial economic booms and rising wages made it possible for young parents to afford their own homes
without living with extended family members. At the same time, better healthcare contributed to the nuclear family, as elderly members became more
self-sufficient and independent for decades after their children were grown.

Related Articles
Pros and Cons of the Nuclear Family
Types of Family Structures
Definition of Family
Today, the era of the nuclear family is often glamorized, complete with mom in the kitchen, dad out earning the paychecks, and the kids building a tree
house or hosting a stuffed animal tea party. In reality, there is no ideal type of family, and today's definition of a nuclear family can greatly differ from
shat it was a few decades ago.

Who Is Part of a Nuclear Family

A nuclear family, also called a conjugal, elementary, or traditional family, typically consists of two married or legally-bound parents and their biological
or adopted children all living in the same residence and sharing the values, duties, and responsibilities of the family unit. There can be any number of
children in the family, and one or both parents may work outside the home.

There are pros and cons to the small, nuclear family.

Pros:

Family members develop greater self-sufficiency and independence

Family members share the strongest bonds with their immediate relatives
Less conflict of family values across different generations
Cons:

Less support emotionally or financially for individual family members

Less contact with extended family members may result in lost traditions or poor communication
Smaller families may be less resilient in emergencies due to a smaller support structure
Each family adapts according to its size and needs, and just because a family may be defined as nuclear does not mean there are no strong bonds with
extended family members. How each family encourages family values and connections varies, and there is no right or wrong family style.

Changing Definition of Nuclear Families

The nuclear family today may be in the minority considering the increasing diversity of Western societies. While the classic definition of a nuclear family
may only include two parents of opposite genders, today's definition often includes two-parent families with same sex parents raising the biological
children of one parent or the children that both have adopted. Other types of families, such as single parents, non-married parents, foster families,
blended families, and couples without children are on the rise, and the traditional nuclear family, while still strong, is increasingly in the minority.

Basic Family Definition

In the most basic definition, a group of people who share a legal bond or a blood bond is a family.

Legal Bonds: Families are legally bound through marriages, adoptions, and guardianships, including the rights, duties, and obligations of those legal
contracts. Legal bonds can be changed, expanded, or dissolved to change the composition of a family.
Blood Bonds: Individuals who are directly related through a common ancestor are part of a family. This includes both close and distant relatives such as
siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Researching a family tree or genealogical records can reveal familial
blood bonds.

Types of Families
There are many different types of families, each of which is equally viable as a supportive, caring unit.

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 Family: This type of family includes all relatives in close proximity, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In a family household
that is extended, these relatives typically live together and all share daily household duties. This type of family is also called a joint family or
multigenerational family depending on which members are included.
Complex Family: This type of extended family has three or more adults plus their children. This type of family may be formed through divorce and
remarriage, or it may be formed through polygamy in societies where that practice is acceptable. Some families may be complex even without formal
legal bonds between the adults.
Step Family: This is a family where the adults have divorced and remarried, bringing children from other unions together to form a new nuclear family.
The children may come from several different parents or be on one or both sides of the new union.
Traditional Family: This 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. This strict definition of family is less and less common in modern society.
Adopted Family: This type of family shares legal bonds but not genetic ones. Two parents may adopt a child to whom they share no blood relationship,
or one parent may adopt the child of the other parent. Adopted families can also be defined in an emotional or spiritual sense where no formal legal
bonds are present.
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. In time, more formal arrangements may be made and foster children can be legally adopted.

Many families can be classified as more than one specific type, and every family has its unique characteristics that make it special and comforting to its
members.

Defining Your Family

While the direct legal and genetic relationships you share with others can help you create your definition of family, there is more to family relationships
than these basic concepts. A true family provides its members with emotional and spiritual kinship through:

Shared values, beliefs, and traditions

Common experiences and activities
Unconditional, non-judgmental support
In many ways, different individuals relate to groups of people who provide them with emotional and spiritual connection as family, even if they share no
legal or genetic bonds. For example, a church "family" has spiritual connections and shared values, even though its members are not formally related.
Similarly, a work family has common experiences and share activities in long-term relationships without formal bonds. College fraternities and sororities
often share familial bonds through experiences and consider one another brothers and sisters without formal relationships. With social networking
technology, many people are even creating online or virtual families of individuals who share their beliefs, hobbies, and values even if they have never
met in person.

The definition of family is constantly evolving, and every person can define family in a different way to encompass the relationships she shares with
people in her life. Over time one's family will change as one's life changes and the importance of family values and rituals deepen. Every member who
is truly family will help make it richer.