1. The Family in the Caribbean

2. The Family A relatively permanent group
Who are related by ancestry, marriage or adoption
Who live together

3. Take care of their young.
Form an economic unit
Take care of their young.
Robertson, p. 49

4. Other Aspects of the Family
Geography - Location (urban, rural), migration

5. Culture or Rhythm of Life
Identity - Name, Social Class, etc.

6. Marriage
A relationship, “usually” between a male and female involving

7. Marriage (cont.) Economic considerations
Normative sexual activity that people expect to be enduring

8. Mating
Forming a sexual bond with another individual (usually of the opposite sex)

9. Seven Types of Family Structures in the Caribbean
Extended
Nuclear

10. Seven Types of Family Structures in the Caribbean (cont.)
Compassionate
Visiting
Single Parent

11. Seven Types of Family Structures in the Caribbean (cont.)
Blended
Same-Sex Parents

12. The Extended Family

13. Extended Family –
Many families living under one roof

14. Familism – the notion that the individual is always secondary to the family’s welfare

15. Important Aspects of the Caribbean Extended Family
The individual member is often provided with a secure environment
Children are important economic assets

16. Important Aspects of the Caribbean Extended Family
The cultural traditions are handed down more easily through direct contact with older members of the family

17. The Nuclear Family

18. Nuclear - Parents and Immediate Offspring
Formal marriage
Man and woman are legally united
Share the same residence
Share a sexual union (mating)

19. Nuclear (cont) Faithful, Long-term Often well established and enduring
No formal marriage or legal contract

20. Nuclear (cont)
Live together in a household in mutual agreement based on love and/or shared responsibility
Share a sexual union
Usually last for three years and more

21. The Compassionate Family

22. Compassionate Family Man and woman are not legally united
Share the same residence (usually for three years or less)
Share a sexual union

23. Visiting or "Friending" Relationship

24. Visiting or Friendly Relationship
Man and woman are not legally married
Do not share the same residence

25. Visiting or Friendly Relationship (cont.)
Man visits the woman at intervals, couple often has a child(ren)
Share a sexual union

26. Single-parent family

27. Reasons for Single Parenthood
Death of one of the parents
Separation of one of the parents through conflict, desertion, migration or legal separation and divorce

28. Reasons for Single Parenthood (cont.)
Deliberate choice to rear child in the absence of the other parent
Adoption (usually women and rarely men)

29. Possible Effects of Single Parenthood
Live on one income while being mother and father to the children
Moonlighting

30. Possible Effects of Single Parenthood (cont.)
Poverty (half of all children with no father live in poverty); may result in dependence on the state
Children may develop anxiety and stress because of the financial and emotional burdens on one parent

31. Possible Effects of Single Parenthood (cont.)
Fewer resources for health, education and recreation
Absence of love and affection of both parents
Delinquency (double that of two-parent families)

32. Blended family

33. Characteristics of Blended Families
Remarried parents and their children
Usually mother marries a man who does not have custody of his children by a previous marriage

34. Same-Sex Parents

35. Characteristics of Families with Same-Sex Parents
Several million American gay men and lesbians are parents
Becoming more common
Children in homosexual families
Seem as well adjusted as other children
Large majority are heterosexual

36. Functions of the Family
To produce children to replace society's members
To meet the essential needs of life
To teach children their role in society

37. Functions of the Family (cont.)
To protect and provide security, including from incest
To provide all members, including children, with affection and emotional support
To create social placement- identity

38. Mate Selection
Choice Mating  The physical and emotional attraction, as well as the idealization, which generally sees the person in an entirely positive light and fails to recognize negative qualities or traits

39. Mate Selection (cont.)
Arranged Marriage  Arranged by parents for the social economic and political advantage of the family unit

40. Love & Male-Female Relationships
Stages of Love
Rapport
Self-revelation
Mutual dependency
Personalityneed fulfillment

41. Components of Love Intimacyfeelings of closeness
Passionromance and sexual pleasure
Commitment

42. Factors which Influence Mate Selection and Lifestyle
Endogamy  Spouses must be members of the same group (racial, religious, ethnic etc.)
Exogamy  Partner must be chosen from outside one's own group

43. Types of Life Style
Monogamy  Form of marriage involving one man and one woman

44. Types of Life Style (cont.)
Polygamy  A marriage which involves more than one spouse at a time
Serial Monogamy  Having more than one spouse in one's lifetime, although only one at a time

45. Postmarital Residency Patterns
Patrilocality  The newly married take up residence with the husband's family
Matrilocality  The newly married take up residence with the wife's family

46. Postmarital Residency Patterns (cont)
Bilocality (Neolocality)  A residency pattern in which the married couple form a separate household and live in their own residence

47. Descent Systems Patrilineal system  Lineage traced through male line
Matrilineal system  Lineage traced through female line

48. Patterns of Authority/Dominance
Patriarchy  Father's authority is supreme
Matriarchy  Mother's authority is supreme
Egalitarian  Mother and father share equal authority

49. Influences from Europe on Family Life and Marriage in the Caribbean
A marriage partner should be chosen on the basis of romantic love
Dating, courting and marriage should precede the establishment of a family
Marriage is “for keeps”

50. European Influences (cont.)
Marriage should be fruitful
Sexual conduct is to be limited to the marriage state
Monolithic Code- marriage should be monogamous

51. Influences from Africa & Slavery on Family Life & Marriage in the Caribbean
An element of the West African family that was transferred to the Caribbean is patriarchy
Extended family
Polygamy

52. African and Slavery Influences (cont.)
Marriage should be fruitful
Romantic love
Because children were the property of their masters, there was no obligation of support by fathers

53. Influences from India on the Family Life and Marriage in the Caribbean
The joint family system (extended)
Male domination of the family (father and the eldest son)
Marriages are often arranged (romantic love occurs after marriage)

54. Changes in the Caribbean Family
Functions
The state assists in varying degrees with meals, books and transportation
People work in the factories and offices rather than in the home or the fields

55. Changes in the Caribbean Family (cont.)
Size
Greater tendency toward smaller families, especially among middle class

56. Changes in the Caribbean Family Size (cont.)
Entertainment and leisure provided by age and interests, resulting in families not spending much leisure time together
This has given rise to child-caring arrangements (nurseries, day care centers and paid domestic help)

57. Changes in the Caribbean Family
Family Relationships
Status of Women  More women at all levels of society are finding employment in a variety of occupations
Shared Roles  It is not unusual for fathers to feed the baby, shop and cook

58. Changes in the Caribbean Family
Family Relationships (cont.)
Less Family Time  Due to expanded parental employment outside the home, children spend less time under parental influence and this has often led to delinquency
Intergenerational Conflict  Parents and teenagers often have different expectations, leading to the generation gap and conflict in the family

59. Reading assignments for Families in the Caribbean:
“Finding a Place for the Slave Family: Historical Anthropological Perspective” by Karen Fog Olwig in Reader I, pp
Selections from Our Children Now! by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in Reader II.