Unit 1: Family as Ecosystem

Overview The family is a smaller ecosystem in the larger global ecosystem. The family creates, nurtures and prepares its offspring to function in the larger environment. Family members are linked to one another and to a network of physical and social environments.

The family as ecosystem explores: the interdependence of members within their environment the development of the immature to the mature the place of family members within the system the ability of individuals to adjust and change to ensure sustainability of the system

This component conceptualizes the family's environment as having a variety of dimensions: economic social political cultural physical

Lesson 1: The Family Part 1: Definition Introduction One of the most influential aspect of an individual's life is their family. Families come in various types and structures. Each member of a family has a role to play and the actions of one member affects everyone else in that family. This is similar to the interactions which occur within an ecosystem.

The Vanier Institute of the Family defines "Family" as any combination of two or more persons who are bound together over time by ties of mutual consent, birth and/or adoption or placement and who, together, assume responsibilities for variant combinations of some of the following: physical maintenance and care of group members. addition of new members through procreation or adoption. socialization of children. social control of children. production, consumption and distribution of goods and services; and affective nurturance-love.

According to this same institute, there are many different types of families including: "Nuclear" families composed of two parents and their one or more biological or adopted children, living together - when the nuclear family was led by a male wage earner, it was the conventional family of the 1950's, although now it is only one of many types of family.

"Extended" families are all your relatives including parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents and other blood relations. "Blended" or "recombined" or "reconstituted" families composed of parents who have divorced their first spouses, remarried someone else and formed a new family that includes children from one or both first marriages, and/or from the re-marriage.

"Childless" families consisting of a couple without children. "Lone-parent" families composed of a parent, most often a mother, with a child or children.

"Cohabiting couples" and "common law marriages" which are family arrangements that resemble other forms, but without legalized marriage. "Gay and lesbian parents"

Another type of family not discussed by this institution is a foster family where temporary care for children is offered until the children can be returned to their own family or be placed into an adoptive family. Any group of people sharing responsibilities within a similar environment can be considered a family. Sometimes a group that shares these responsibilities may be a bunch of friends who have common interests.

Test yourself 1. All of your relatives would be part of which family type?       Childless       Extended       Lone-parent       Nuclear 2. A divorced man with a son who is living with a woman who had no children would be considered which type of family?       Foster       Lone-parent       Nuclear       Recombined 3. Which type of family would be identified for Tom and Susan who have no children?       Blended       Childless       Foster       Nuclear

Activity Family structures Televisions show/Movie Reason for choice There are numerous examples of the different types of families on television shows and movies. List the names of shows (at least 6) illustrating the various types of families. Give a brief explanation of how this illustrates the type of family you have chosen. Complete this activity in a table with three headings: Family structures Televisions show/Movie Reason for choice Nuclear The Simpsons Father – bread winner, Mother, and two children