Library Home: Family Systems Resources: Social Concept of Family

Types of Family Structures

"As laws and norms change, so do family structures. For example, the 2020 U.S. Census will be the first to give respondents the chance to indicate that they are part of a same-sex couple, either married or unmarried." (lovetoknow.com)
Family "A socially recognized group of two or more individuals joined by kinship (adoption, blood, fictive kin, or marriage)." (https://sociologydictionary.org/)
Fictive Kin "A kinship based on social agreements such as friendship instead of adoption, blood (consanguinity), or marriage (affinity) that creates a relationship 'like family.' " (sociologydictionary.org/)

Childless Family - two partners living together as more than room-mates.
Extended Family - one or more adults and any related or unrelated dependents
Nuclear Family - two parents and child(ren)
Single Parent Family - single person with kids
Step Family - a type of extended family created when parent(s) re-marry

* FREE OER TEXTBOOK: Contemporary Families: An Equity Lens
Chapter 10 Marriage and Family (socialsci.libretexts.org)
Chapter 12: Family (socialsci.libretexts.org/)
12.1A: The Nature of a Family
12.1B: The Functions of a Family
12.1C:Family Structures
12.1D: Kinship Patterns
Chapter 14. Marriage and Family (opentextbc.ca)
Chapter Module 8: Marriage and Family - Defining Family (lumenlearning.com)
Chapter 14.2 Variations in Family Life (openstax.org)

What is a "Social Construct"? Something artificially constructed by a society or social group...

"A concept or perception of something based on the collective views developed and maintained within a society or social group ..." (lexico.com)
"...a social phenomenon or convention originating within and cultivated by society or a particular social group, as opposed to existing inherently or naturally."
"An idea that has been created and accepted by the people in a society Class distinctions are a social construct." (merriam-webster.com)
"What Is a Social Construct? (yourdictionary.com)
"Social constructs reflect shared ideas or perceptions that exist only because people in a group or society accept that they do. Learn more about what social constructs really are and explore a selection of social construct examples."

Definitions that are socially constructed include:

adulthood & childhood
art
beauty
ethics, laws, or "right & wrong"
expectations, roles, & stereotypes
gender behaviors & roles
government roles & responsibilities
disability or illness
family
fashion
methods of measuring or describing
money or value exchange
marriage & other contracts
maps, ownership, & property (who owns what)
religion
time