Version 01
Sections 1–3
7540005495
Families in
Society
Family Studies 10–12
Contents
Course Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Welcome to Family in Society! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 1: Families in a Changing World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Lesson A: Definition of Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lesson B: Functions of a Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Lesson C: Family Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Lesson D: Family Customs and Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Lesson E: Current Trends in Canadian Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Section 1 Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Section 2: Living in a Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Lesson A: Roles and Responsibilities of Family Members . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Lesson B: Factors That Influence Family Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Lesson C: Personal and Family Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Section 2 Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Section 3: Facing Family Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Lesson A: Family Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Lesson B: Show Me the Money! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Lesson C: Care Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Section 3 Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Course Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267
Course Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Scoring Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
SECTION 1 | LESSON A: DEFINITION OF FAMILY
Lesson A
Definition of Family
In this lesson, you will:
• compare your definition of family with
those of social scientists.
• learn about the evolution of the family.
• identify the impact social changes
and historical events have had on the
Canadian family.
For this lesson, you will need:
• Families in Society Source File
• Families in Society Website
Writer and humourist Erma Bombeck described her family this way:
We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases
and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing
money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal
it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the
common thread that bound us all together.
Does Bombeck’s family sound familiar to you? Maybe you had different
experiences in your family. In this lesson, you will learn some different
definitions of family and how views of the family have changed throughout
history. You will also discover how events in society have impacted how we
define a family.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 13
SECTION 1 | LESSON B: FUNCTIONS OF A FAMILY
What Do Families Do?
Families are the foundation of society—much like the bricks that form a brick
wall. If the bricks are cracked and crumbly, no matter how well the wall is
constructed, maintained, or mortared, the wall will eventually fall down. If
the bricks (families) are well built and sturdy, then the wall (society) will stand
strong and endure.
If the family is so important, what
is its role or purpose in our society?
According to social scientist Shirley
Zimmerman of the University of
Minnesota, basic and universal
functions of the family include:
• Roles
• Responsibilities
• Actions
• Duties
Zimmerman identifies six functions of the family.
Function 1: Addition of New Family Members Through Procreation
or Adoption
Having babies expands families and strengthens and renews society. Having
children continues the family line; children born into families will carry on
the family name, culture, and traditions. Also, a strong society with a vibrant
economy depends on a stable population.
Consider This...
When a country’s birthrate goes down, what is the effect on society?
According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s fertility rate in 2005 was 1.54
children per woman. But this is well below the level needed to replace the
population, which is 2.1 children per woman. This means there are more
deaths than babies born in Canada—not enough to replace the population.
A vibrant economy relies on a stable workforce. As well, if not enough
workers are paying taxes, this affects the government’s ability to provide
programs such as healthcare, education, and social services to its citizens.
What is Canada doing to boost its population? For one, Canada is increasing
immigration. Since 2003, more than one million immigrants have arrived
in Canada from over 200 countries. Over half of the new immigrants are of
prime working age—25 to 64—which will give Canada’s labour force a much
needed infusion of workers.
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SECTION 1 | LESSON B: FUNCTIONS OF A FAMILY
Activity 1
Finding the Function
Understanding the functions of the family in a practical way can be challenging.
Looking at concrete examples can be a good way to understand a concept.
Instructions: Identify the family function that is best associated with each task.
1. Teaching a three year old not to take a candy bar from a supermarket
without first purchasing it:
a. physical care and maintenance of family members
b. social control of children
c. nurturance and love
2. Teaching children about the special celebrations of their culture:
a. addition of new family members
b. physical care and maintenance of family members
c. socialization of children
3. Taking an older father to a medical appointment:
a. physical care and maintenance of family members
b. socialization of children
c. production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
4. Deciding to have a second child:
a. addition of new family members
b. physical care and maintenance of family members
c. socialization of children
5. Budgeting and shopping for the next week’s meals:
a. social control of children
b. production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
c. nurturance and love
6. Hugging a child after she has had a tough day at school:
a. social control of children
b. production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
c. nurturance and love
Go to the Answer Key at the end of the course to check your answers.
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SECTION 1 | LESSON D: FAMILY CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
Family Rituals
Does your family get together regularly for meaningful events or gatherings that
family members would like to carry on in the future? If so, those activities are
family rituals.
A ritual can be defined as a custom or behaviour regularly performed in a
certain manner. Rituals reflect family traditions and are most often connected
to cultural, religious and ethnic customs. Rituals are universal to family
life regardless of the family’s cultural, religious, ethnic, or socioeconomic
background. Rituals can be as elaborate as celebrating births and weddings, or
as simple as sharing family dinners and reading bedtime stories. All families
participate in rituals although the extent of a celebration varies from family to
family.
There are three main types of family rituals:
• rites of passage
• family traditions
• family routines
Rites of Passage
Rites of passage mark a time when a person reaches a new and significant
change in his or her life. Rites of passage are about transition and
transformation from one stage of life to another. Obtaining a driver’s license
is a rite of passage for many North American youth and is a step toward
independence. Leaving home is a transition into adulthood and a time for
taking on new responsibilities. When you get married, you leave your family
of origin to start a family of your
our own. Some view death
as a passage or transition from this life to
an afterlife. Recognizing
or celebrating rites of
passage often help people
understand their new roles
in society. Most cultures
celebrate the transition into
new stages of life in their own
unique ways.
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SECTION 1 | LESSON D: FAMILY CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
Traditional Chinese Wedding Rituals
Many Chinese believe that the marriage union is the continuation of the
ancestral lineage, the joining of two families, and the linking of the past to the
future.
Traditional Chinese weddings can be elaborate celebrations that include many
rituals. Here are some highlights of a traditional Chinese wedding.
Before the Wedding
When a couple decides to marry, they go to their parents to ask for their
blessing.
The groom’s family then consults the Chinese Astrological Calendar for the best
days on which to wed and the best days to send gifts to the bride’s family. The
groom’s family is responsible for planning and organizing the wedding.
Before the wedding, the couple purchases a new bed for their wedding night and
new red bed linens. This symbolizes a new beginning and is supposed to bring
good luck to the marriage.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 53
SECTION 1 | ASSIGNMENT
Your Name
Student No.
Section 1 Assignment: Part 4
The Future of Canadian Weddings
Resources:
• Families in Society Source File
Introduction: One outcome of Canada’s multicultural society is that an increasing
number of people from different ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds are
marrying. And with an increase in immigration, this number will only increase.
How are these couples managing to represent both of their cultures in their
wedding ceremonies? Read on to find out the choice one Ontario couple made.
Instructions: Go to the Families in Society Source File and read the article “MixedRace Families More Common.” Answer the following questions based on the
article you have just read. (10 marks)
1. Why did Daphne and Vivek decide to have a double wedding ceremony
instead of a hybrid wedding ceremony?
2. Why does Minelle Matahni believe that mixed marriages will be the wave of
the future?
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SECTION 1 | ASSIGNMENT
Your Name
Student No.
3. Identify two positive social implications of mixed marriages.
4. What component of the Hindi wedding ceremony did Daphne objective to?
5. What is Daphne’s approach to child rearing and cultural integration?
Evaluation Guidelines
2 marks per question
Total Marks
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| FAMILIES IN SOCIETY
Marks
10
/10
SECTION 2 | LESSON A: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Lesson A
Roles and Responsibilities of
Family Members
In this lesson, you will:
• identify the roles you play in life.
• learn about the changing roles and responsibilities of family members.
When you think of the word ‘role’, you may imagine an actor performing
a part in a play or in a movie. This is how you may feel sometimes—acting
out different roles for various situations and groups of people in your life. We
also play roles in our families. This lesson will look at the various roles and
responsibilities of family members and how the labour is divided among family
members.
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SECTION 2 | LESSON A: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Roles in the Family
How do roles and responsibilities apply to the family? In a previous lesson you
learned about the functions of the family. The roles and responsibilities fulfilled
in families directly impact how a family functions. Typically, parents have more
roles and responsibilities as heads of the family than do the children. Here are a
few examples.
Parents’ Roles
Parents’ Responsibilities
Providers
Work to make enough money to purchase
what the family needs in order to live.
Family Function:
• production, consumption,
and distribution of goods and
services
Caregivers
Family Function:
• physical care and maintenance
of family members
• nurturance and love
Disciplinarians
Family Function:
• social control of children
Money Managers
Family Function:
• production, consumption,
and distribution of goods and
services
Example: Mom takes a part-time job at the
post office before Christmas to earn some
extra money.
Look after children’s emotional and physical
needs.
Example: Dad takes kids to get
immunization shots and reads to them in
the doctor’s office to distract them.
Provide feedback and consequences for
misbehaviour.
Example: Dad carries toddler out of the
restaurant, telling her why she can’t yell
and cry when she doesn’t like her dessert.
Monitor family finances, pay bills, and
distribute resources as needed among
family members.
Example: Mom and Dad use their tax
refund to build a deck on the house.
In some families parents share the various roles, while in others the roles
are divided. Other roles such as cook, house cleaner, and laundry cleaner are
sometimes divided among all family members.
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SECTION 2 | LESSON A: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Activity 2
Role Match
In this activity, you are going to consider examples of family members
performing a variety of functions.
Instructions: Select the best role to match the example.
1. Mom makes sure that her son’s backpack has food and a change of clothes
before she takes him to childcare.
a. caregiver
b. disciplinarian
c. provider
d. money manager
2. Dad takes away his daughter’s cell phone until she gets caught up in her
homework.
a. caregiver
b. disciplinarian
c. provider
d. money manager
3. Mom takes a job when dad loses his.
a. caregiver
b. disciplinarian
c. provider
d. money manager
4. Dad takes his son to the dentist.
a. caregiver
b. disciplinarian
c. provider
d. money manager
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SECTION 2 | LESSON A: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Division of Labour in the Family: Who does what?
If you were a housewife in the 1950s, you may have read a magazine article
something like this one.
A Guide for the Wife, circa 1955:
Be happy to see him.
Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even
the night before, to have a delicious
meal ready, on time for his return. This
is a way of letting him know that you
have been thinking about him and are
concerned about his needs. Most men
are hungry when they come home and
the prospect of a good meal (especially
his favourite dish) is part of the warm
welcome needed.
Greet him with a warm smile and show
sincerity in your desire to please him.
Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest
so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives.
Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon
in your hair and be fresh-looking. He
has just been with a lot of work-weary
people.
Be a little gay and a little more interesting
for him. His boring day may need a lift
and one of your duties is to provide it.
Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip
through the main part of the house just
before your husband arrives.
Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc.,
and then run a dust-cloth over the tables.
Over the cooler months of the year you
should prepare and light a fire for him to
unwind by. Your husband will feel he has
reached a haven of rest and order, and it
will give you a lift too. After all, catering
for his comfort will provide you with
immense personal satisfaction.
Prepare the children. Take a few minutes
to wash the children’s hands and faces
(if they are small), comb their hair and,
if necessary, change their clothes. They
are little treasures and he would like to
see them playing the part. Minimize all
noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate
all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum.
Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
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Listen to him. You may have a dozen
important things to tell him, but the
moment of his arrival is not the time. Let
him talk first—remember, his topics of
conversation are more important than
yours.
Make the evening his. Never complain if
he comes home late or goes out to dinner,
or other places of entertainment without
you. Instead, try to understand his world
of strain and pressure and his very real
need to be at home and relax.
Your goal: Try to make sure your home
is a place of peace, order, and tranquility
where your husband can renew himself in
body and spirit.
Don’t greet him with complaints or
problems.
Don’t complain if he’s late home for
dinner or even if he stays out all night.
Count this as minor compared to what he
might have gone through that day.
Make him comfortable. Have him lean
back in a comfortable chair or have him
lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or
warm drink ready for him.
Arrange his pillow and offer to take off
his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and
pleasant voice.
Don’t ask him questions about his actions
or question his judgment or integrity.
Remember, he is the master of the house
and as such will always exercise his will
with fairness and truthfulness. You have
no right to question him.
A good wife always knows her place.
SECTION 2 | LESSON A: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS
It’s clear that women’s roles in the family have changed dramatically since the
1950s. Women’s expanding role in the workforce and the rise of dual-income
families has meant that the traditional married-couple roles of the “breadwinner”
husband and the “homemaker” wife are no longer the norm. Women’s
participation in the workforce was expected to start a “revolution in gendered
division of labour,” meaning that men and women would be equal partners
when it came to performing household duties. This change has been a slow
process.
A time-use survey found that women still do most of the housework and
feel more time-stressed than men. Ninety percent of Canadian women do
daily housework. But the survey also reported that more men are taking on
household duties. In 1986, 54% of married men did some housework daily—by
2005 married men’s participation rate rose to 69%. This is a significant as it
shows the gap is narrowing between men and women in terms of the amount
of household duties performed. This, in part, has to do with the reality that
most wives now work outside of the home for longer hours and have less
time at home to do housework. But the survey also found that in 1986, 61%
of single men were engaged in tasks around the home. This is most likely due
to changing cultural norms; it is less common for roles to be rigidly divided
according gender. Over the past three decades, while it has become acceptable
for women to work outside the home, it has also become acceptable for men to
work in the home cooking and cleaning.
The changing division of labour within families is becoming a public
policy issue. Since men’s work schedules are being impacted by more home
responsibilities, such as picking up children at school, staying home with a sick
child, or taking parental leave, the workplace has had to change and adapt to
this new reality. Some employers have instituted on-site childcare facilities and
flexible work schedules, and governments have legislated parental leave and
compassionate care leave for both women and men.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 127
SECTION 3 | LESSON A: FAMILY STRESS
Lesson A
Family Stress
In this lesson, you will:
•
•
•
•
analyze the stress level of your family.
define family stress.
identify stressors that lead to family stress.
identify actions to help reduce family stress.
What challenges or stresses has your family faced? Many Canadian families
struggle to deal with social, economic, and emotional issues that affect how
their families function. This lesson will discuss family stress and look at the
factors or events that cause or contribute to family stress.
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SECTION 3 | LESSON A: FAMILY STRESS
What are some of the most stressful life events?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
death of a spouse
divorce
marital separation
spending time in jail
death of a close family member
personal illness or injury
marriage
pregnancy
retirement
Journal Entry 3.1:
Family Stressors
Go to your Section 3 Assignment and complete the following
prompt in the space provided in Part 5: Journal Entries:
In your opinion—based on what you have read in this course, seen in
the media, heard from people around you, or learned from your own life
experience—what is the most significant stressor facing families today?
Consider This...
Did you know stress and health are closely linked? If stress isn’t dealt
with, it can result in the following health issues: headaches, anxiety,
sleeplessness, nervousness, muscle cramps, and depression. Stress can also
lead to chronic health conditions by affecting your immune, nervous,
and cardiovascular systems.
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SECTION 3 | LESSON A: FAMILY STRESS
Family Stress Action Plan
Why do some families cope better than others when faced with stress? One
factor is perception—how families make sense or meaning out of different
stressors. For example, one family could view a move to a new city as an
exciting, new adventure, while another family could see the move as stressful
because of the physical and emotional upheaval the move is causing.
Less stressed families tend to spend time together, support each other, be more
flexible, have good communication skills, have reasonable expectations, be
willing to access resources in the community if need be, and view stress as a
temporary challenge that can be dealt with.
What can stressed-out families do to cope? There is no magic cure for surviving
stress in your family, but there are strategies that can help.
• Know that your family is not alone in dealing with stressful situations.
• Identify your family’s feelings around stressful events, but don’t dwell on
negative thoughts. Keep things in perspective! Learn from the event and set
up a plan, so that your family is able to cope and move forward.
• When your family is going through a stressful time, concentrate on
activities that bring the most rewards to your family such as sports, social
events, or hobbies.
• Develop a support system for you and your family. But be aware that not
all family members and friends are the best people to have around during
times of stress. If family members or friends are pressuring you to conform
to their beliefs or wanting repayment for their help—you’re better off
without them. Make sure your support system is looking out for your
family’s best interest and offers a healthy and positive influence.
• Your support network of people could play different roles. For example, you
may have a group of friends who give support and encouragement when
needed, and extended family members who help with practical things like
childcare.
• Focus on your family’s health. Ensure family members are eating healthy
meals, exercising daily, and sleeping well.
• Know when to get professional help. Research community resources that
will help your family cope with particular stressors.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 197
SECTION 3 | LESSON B: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Lesson B
Show Me the Money!
In this lesson, you will:
• be able to define financial pressures facing families.
• compare wages over time.
• familiarize yourself with the concept of debt and credit.
According to the Vanier Institute of the Family, the most pressing issue for
Canadian families is economic security. Financial stress can lead to marital
problems, loss of sleep, anxiety, and depression. Family debt is rising much
quicker than the average family income. Even dual-income families are having
a hard time keeping up with their monthly bills. This lesson will discuss why
Canadians are finding it hard to make ends meet and present an action plan for
families to get their financial house in order.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 203
SECTION 3 | LESSON B: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Canadian Household Incomes
From the early 1990s to 2003, 80% of Canadian families saw their wages shrink,
or just barely stay the same, while the price of consumer goods rose. In order
to make up for the decline in pay, many families worked longer hours and
depleted their savings in order to make ends meet. The decline in wages meant
more people were forced into the labour market because of financial necessity.
This trend affected families; 84% of married couples with children, and 70% of
couples without children, have two or more earners.
With Canada’s expanding economy since 2003, household incomes are on the
rise. Reasons include:
• increase in hourly earnings
• more earners per household
• lower income tax payments
In spite of the economic gains of many Canadians, a growing number of
households live on the financial edge. A 2007 report from the Vanier Institute
of the Family states that 3.4 million Canadians live in poverty compared to
approximately 3.2 million in 1990.
Consider This...
A report from Statistics Canada found that women still earn 70% of
what men do at full-time, full-year jobs. If part-time, part-year work is
included, women make only 64% of the average earnings of all male
workers.
So, if household incomes are on the rise, what’s causing financial stress among
Canadian families?
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SECTION 3 | LESSON B: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Activity 1
Playing the Percentages
You may have noticed that percentages are used a lot in this lesson. It’s
important to understand how they can be used to identify financial trends.
Consider the following sentence about the minimum wage and the cost of
living: “The average increase in minimum wage earnings in most provinces
was 2% from 2000 to 2003. At the same time, consumer prices increased by
7%. This means that a worker on a minimum wage is actually falling behind by
about 5%.” What if the government decided to just give everyone a 5% wage
increase every year? What would the overall effect be for the low wage earners?
Instructions: Review the information in the table and answer the questions.
Yearly
income start
Year 1
increase= 5% Total
Year 2
increase= 5% Total
Year 3
increase= 5% Total
Income 1
$90 000
$4 500
$94 500
$4 275
$98 775
$4938.75
Income 2
$40 000
$2 000
$42 000
$2 100
$44 100
$2 205
Difference
($50 000)
($2 500)
($52 500)
($2 175)
($54 675)
($2733.75)
1. Complete the totals for the Year 3 increase, and place the answers in the
chart.
2. After 3 years’ increase, what is the difference between the two incomes?
By how much has the increase changed?
3. If wages in these two cases were to continue to increase by the same
percentage, how would they compare?
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SECTION 3 | LESSON B: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Coping with Financial Stress
Anxiety over money can affect the health of family members in several ways.
People living with financial stress
• often numb their anxiety with unhealthy coping strategies such as smoking,
drinking, or taking drugs.
• tend to cut corners in areas such as health to pay for necessities like food.
• often experience trouble sleeping, which can cause unclear thinking and
moodiness.
• may experience unhealthy emotions such as anxiety, hopelessness, shame,
guilt, or fear.
In order to prevent financial stress and insecurity, families need a financial
action plan.
Family Financial Action Plan
Set Financial Goals
• What purchases does your family want to make within the year, within five
years, within 10 to 15 years?
Know Your Family’s Financial Situation
• What is your monthly income?
• What are your monthly expenses and debt payments?
Budget
• Design a family budget including all expenses such as rent or mortgage
payments, groceries, utilities (electricity, gas), transit, or clothing.
• Distinguish needs from wants; avoid impulse buying.
• Follow your budget closely.
• Don’t allow expenses to exceed income.
• Comparison-shop; look for the best value at the lowest cost. You might
want to shop for recycled household items and second-hand clothing.
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| FAMILIES IN SOCIETY
COURSE PROJECT
Your Name
Student No.
Families in Need
Instructions: Following are descriptions of families confronting challenges
or situations where they need support from helping professionals. You will be
asked to consider where the families concerned might look for help. Read each
scenario and complete the short-answer questions that follow. Use the list of
helping professionals provided to help answer the questions. Your answers may
also include professions that aren’t listed. (30 marks)
1. Huen and Kien have just moved to British Columbia from Vietnam. They
have four children, ranging in age from six months to five years. The couple
plan to open an arts and craft shop. Huen will work full time in the shop,
and Kien will work every morning while the eldest child is in kindergarten,
provided they can find childcare for the other three. The family doesn’t
know anyone else in the area, and only Huen can speak some limited
English.
Think about what sort of help or support you think this family needs.
a. What is the main challenge this family is facing? (1 mark)
b. What are two other challenges is this family dealing with? (2 marks)
1.
2.
c. Suggest two helping occupations/professions that might assist this family.
(2 marks)
1.
2.
FAMILIES IN SOCIETY | 271
COURSE PROJECT
Your Name
Student No.
2. Cianne and Mitchell live in the same small B.C. town they both grew up
in. He works in a local pulp mill, and she is in university upgrading her
education to be a teacher. When Cianne decided to go back to school, her
parents offered to help care for the two children, picking them up from
school, fixing dinner, and doing anything to support the family. Now that
she is in her last year of school, Cianne has just discovered that the breast
cancer her mom battled a few years ago has come out of remission and
cancer is now present in her mom’s lungs as well. Although the doctor has
given her mom a poor prognosis, she has chosen to undergo chemotherapy
in hope of another remission. Should her condition continue to deteriorate,
the family has been told to consider palliative care.
a. List at least two major issues that are affecting this family currently, or
might in the future, as a direct result of their current situation. (2 marks)
1.
2.
b. How might stress be affecting the individual family members? Choose
two different members and summarize how each of them might be
reacting to this stressful situation. (4 marks)
1.
2.
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