1.1 The concept of family
1.2 Family types
1.3 Advantages and disadvantages of family types
1.4 Functions of the family
1.6 Factors that assist in preparation for parenthood
1.7 Characteristics of effective parents
1.8 Forms of marriage
1.9 The law and the family
1.10 Roles in the Caribbean family
1.11 Changing roles in the Caribbean family
1.12 Causes of changing roles
1.13 Effect of changing roles on Caribbean society
1.15 What are social issues and problems?
1.16 Abuse
1.17 Other social problems
1.18 The effects of social problems
1.19 Strategies for dealing with social problems
1.20 Caribbean society and culture
1.22 Protecting and developing Caribbean culture
1.1 The concept of family
Family: A group of people living under the same roof.
Made up of mother and father who are intimately
involved or a single parent, and their child or
children, whether by birth or adoption.
Mary
John
KEY
Peter
Ashley
male
female
married
Marcus
A family tree is a diagram used to show the
relationships among family members.
• Older people are shown at the top and
younger people at the bottom.
• Persons of the same generation are
shown on the same horizontal line.
1.2 Family types
Family Structures
•
•
•
•
Extended family
• Joint family household
Single parent families
Nuclear family
Reconstituted/Reconstructed
family
Types of Union
• Legal marriage
• Common-law/Consensual union
• Visiting relationship
1.3 Advantages and
disadvantages of family types
EXTENDED FAMILY
SINGLE PARENT
FAMILY
NUCLEAR
FAMILY
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
More members are able to contribute
financially.
If there is not enough money earned among the
adults present, the family may have financial
problems.
If adults work together they can all make With more authority figures present in a
sure children are well supervised and
household, lines of authority can become
adopting positive behaviours in the
blurred. If an authority figure is not clearly
family and in the society.
accepted, this can lead to conflict
Children have less supervision. They are May have problems with supervision of children
forced to become more independent and or elderly members. Unsupervised children may
self-reliant, preparing them for adult life. engage in behaviour which can be harmful to
them and others around them.
Smaller family to support.
The child has both male and female role
models.
One source of income may have no help
financially.
Although adults of both sexes may be present,
this does not mean they play a meaningful role
in the child’s life.
1.4 Functions of the family
Functions of the family
1.6 Factors that assist in
preparation for parenthood
Factors that assist in preparation for
parenthood
• Education
• Employment
• Housing which is adequate and
comfortable
• Emotional maturity
• A peaceful and loving relationship
1.7 Characteristics of effective
parents
Characteristics of effective parents
PROBLEM
SOLVING SKILLS
KNOWLEDGE OF
GOOD NUTRITION
SOCIALISATION
SKILLS
PARENTING
SKILLS
DISCIPLINARY
SKILLS
COMMUNICATION
SKILLS
MONEY
MANAGEMENT
SKILLS
1.8 Forms of marriage
Forms of marriage
Polygyny
Polygamy
Polyandry
Monogamy
• One man, more than
one wife
• One man or woman,
more than one spouse
• One woman, more than
one husband
• One husband, one wife
1.9 The law and the family
The law protects families in the following situations:
• Law requiring registration and nationality for children
• Legal age legislation regarding schooling, consent to sexual
relationships, employment, marriage
• Protecting against abuse and neglect
• Requiring provision for basic needs of children
• Allowing the state to take custody of the child if necessary
• Provisions for the disabled and other children with special
needs
• Protecting victims of domestic violence
• Legal separation and divorce
1.10 Roles in the Caribbean
family
Traditional roles assigned to men
• Head of the household
• Breadwinner
• Disciplinarian
• Protector
• Final decision-maker
Traditional roles assigned to women
•Counsellor
•Attending to the religious needs of the family
•Domestic duties (cooking, washing, cleaning)
•Socializing agent
•Child rearing
•Supplement family income
1.11 Changing roles in the
Caribbean family
Ways in which roles have changed:
• Both parents are not bread winners
• Decision making is more equitable
• Household duties are no longer the sole
duty of the female members
• Grandparents are less likely to be involved
1.12 Causes of changing roles
Causes of changing roles
• Increase in women’s rights
• Increased educational opportunities for women
• Increased number of women in the workplace.
• Increased industrialisation
• Increased standard of living
• The desire for a greater number of material
possessions
• Increase in leisure time activities
• Later retirement age
1.13 Effect of changing roles
on Caribbean society
POSITIVE EFFECTS
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
1. Greater level of equality
among men and women
2. Greater self esteem,
confidence and
independence among
women
3. Children more independent
and self-reliant
4. Families more outgoing and
tolerant
5. Greater help financially with
both partners working
1. Latch-key children, left
unsupervised for long
periods
2. Less time spent together
3. Greater reliance on external
help
4. The double burden
5. Identity crisis
6. Role conflict
1.15 What are social issues
and problems?
Examples of social problems
• Teenage pregnancy
• Street children
• Substance abuse
• Juvenile delinquency
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Child abuse
• Domestic violence
• Trafficking in persons
• Social issues: These are
questions which are discussed
within a society. No negative
connotation is implied.
• Social problems: A term used
to describe many conditions in
society and undesirable
behaviours. These behaviours
lead to social disorganization,
and therefore create a need
for change by deliberate social
action on the part of the
government or other groups in
the society.
1.16 Abuse
Types of abuse
• Substance abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
1.17 Other social problems
Sexually Transmitted Infections
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
GENITAL HERPES Itching or tingling of the genital
DISEASE OUTCOMES
Outbreaks are usually recurrent
region, followed by very painful sores and painful; other parts of the
that last a few days to a few weeks;
body may be affected.
may also involve headache and fever
TREATMENT
No known cure;
treatment with an
antiviral drug makes
outbreaks less severe
CHLAMYDIA
Possible yellowish vaginal discharge,
painful urination, lower abdominal
pain; spotting after sex or bleeding
between periods; may have no
symptoms at all
GONORRHEA
Possible vaginal discharge and
Same as Chlamydia
Antibiotics
burning or pain on urination; may be
no symptoms at all
Stage 1: possibly painless sore on
If untreated, may cause health
Antibiotics
infection site and swollen glands
problems involving internal organs,
Stage 2: skin rash on hands or soles of and sometimes eventually death.
feet lasting several months
Stage 3: Heart, nervous system, and
other internal organs may be affected
Internal infection with HIV may have Within 3-5 years of infection
No known cure, drug
no symptoms. Eventually various
without antiretroviral drugs,
treatment improves
infections develop.
opportunistic infections may occur. survival rate.
If left untreated, will reduce life
expectancy.
SYPHILIS
HIV/AIDS
If untreated, may cause Pelvic
Antibiotics
Inflammatory Disease (PID), or
scarred fallopian tubes, which may
result in ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
or infertility
1.18 The effects of social
problems
Effects of social problems
• Effects on the individual:
– affect health
– affect work or school
– affect relationships with others
• Effects on the family:
– cause conflict and unhappiness
– prevent family from meeting basic needs
• Effects on the society:
– make society unsettled and unstable
– expensive to government
– reduces productivity of labour force
1.19 Strategies for dealing
with social problems
Strategies for dealing with social
problems
• Formal and informal education
• Individual and community efforts
• Passing laws and rules
• Spending money on prevention and
curative measures
1.20 Caribbean Society and
Culture
Culture:
Culture is all the customs,
ideas, behaviors, and beliefs
of a society that have been
passed on from generation
to generation.
Insert culture picture from
textbook
Cultural Diversity
Much of the cultural diversity in the
Caribbean results from:
• Our various points of ancestral origin
• Influences from the colonial powers
• Influence from the mass media
• Influences from nearby countries e.g. USA
1.22 Protecting and developing
Caribbean culture
Protecting and preserving our culture
Culture is protected by:
• Governmental organisations
• Non-governmental organisations
• Celebrations and cultural events
• Exhibitions and archiving
• Teaching in schools and groups
0
