Nuclear family
Extended family
Family Structure: Today the reality is much different: the 25 per cent of American people live alone, and the typical families are formed, among others, by: Married couples, without children Single parents and their children Unrelated people living together Homosexual couples Intercultural unions: marriages between people from different races or cultures.
The Emphasis on Individual Freedom: Americans view family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members The needs of each individual take priority in the life of the family The primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically Family name and honor are less important than in aristocratic societies Less emphasis on the family as an economic unit Americans do not like to have controls placed on them by other family members.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE: Most parents have little (or none) control over who are their children going to marry with. Happiness is based on companionship. The majority of American women value companionship as the most important part of marriage. Other values, such as having economic support and the opportunity to have children, although important, are seen by many as less important. If the couple is not happy, the individuals may choose to get a DIVORCE. A divorce is relatively easy to obtain in most parts of the United States. As a result of this, approximately, one out of every two marriages now ends in divorce
The role of the child: The American emphasis on the individual affects children in a contradictory way: They get more attention and even more power than they should They may not get enough attention from either parent.
FAMILY VALUES: Respecting one’s parents Being responsible for one’s actions Having faith in God Respecting authority Remaining married to the same person for life Leaving the world in better shape BLEND Giving...