THE FAMILY.

A family is a group of people affiliated either by consanguinity, affinity or co-residence or some combination of these. It is a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit. In most societies, the family is the principle institution for the socialization of children. As the basic unit of raising children, anthropologists generally classify most family organisations as matrifocal (a mother and her children)conjugal(a wife, her husband and children are also called a nuclear family avuncular( a grandparent, a brother, his sister and her children) or extended(parents and children co-reside with other members of one parent’s family). Sexual relationships among the members are regulated by the rules cocncerning incest such as incest taboo.

According to Maclver and Page, ‘Family is a group defined by a sex relationship, sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children.’’

According to Burgess and Locke, ‘Family is a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood or adoption; consisting a single household, interacting and intercommunicating with each other in their social roles of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister creating a common culture.

As a k. Davis defines, family is a group of persons whose relations to one another are based upon consanguinity and who are ,therefore, kin to one another.

According to Eliot and Meril, the family is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children.

The word ‘ family’ can be used metaphorically to create more inclusive categories such as community, nationhood, village and humanism. The field of genealogy aims to trace family lineages through history. The family is also an important economic unit studied in family.

STRUCTURE OR FORMS OF THE FAMILY.

According to the functionalist George Murdock a family is defined as ‘a social group characterised by common residence,economic cooperation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted of the sexually co-habiting adults.

NUCLEAR FAMILY

The nuclear family implies the sharing of two generations of family members under the same roof. Family contacts amongst kin(for example ,brothers, sisters, cousins and so forth) are usually weaker and less frequent than amongst members of extended families. Contact with wider kin, while it clearly exists, is more likely to involve impersonal contacts such as the telephone, rather than the more closely personal relationships experienced in the extended family. Such contacts between the nuclear family and wider kin are also likely to be devoid of any economic content that is, wider kin do not provide a mutual support network for the family members in the form experienced by the extended family.

EXTENDED FAMILY.

It generally consists of three or more generations living in the same household(or very close proximity). The usual name for this kind of family is a ‘vertically extended group’ because the extensions to the basic family group are intergenerational(that is between generations they involve grandparents rather than uncles or aunts). Another form of extended family structure is that of the horizontally extended family which involves relations such as aunts, uncles, cousins and so forth under the same roof. The extensions to the basic family group branch out on an intra-generational dimension. There are social reasons for the existence of this basic type of family structure(that is ,its existence is related to the various ways in which the family group responds to changes and developments in wider society). The extended family type, therefore, usually arises in those societies where a large group of related people living together can be of use to one another in their everyday lives- each family member provides some kind of support to the remaining members of the family. For In-agricultural societies, where people are dependant upon working the land for their existence, a large group of people can work together to do such things as care for the sick, do domestic labour work and so forth. In industrial societies(especially where no support for the family is provided by the state),the extended family provides a form of mutual aid especially in times of family crises.

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES.

 As the name implies, this family structure involves a single person, either a male or female parent plus the independent children. Although it is more likely to involve a female parent, a significant proportion of such families involve a male parent. This type of family is sometimes referred to as a ‘broken nuclear’ family, in so far as it often- but not always- arises out of the break up of a nuclear family. This family structure can be attributed to four main factors:  An increase in the numbers of divorcing.  The removal of most of the social stigma formerly involved in pregnancy outside marriage( this type of single parent family usually involves the desertion of the male partner following the female pregnancy).  The death of a marriage partner  The decision not to get married but yet to play the role of parents through adoption.

RECONSTITUTED FAMILIES(SOMETIMES CALLED THE STEP-FAMILIES) This form of family unit is one of the consequences of high rates of divorce and remarriage(or cohabitation). Step-mothers and Step-fathers head the family. This type of family is usually nuclear in form and involves parents, children of either spouse from a first marriage and(possibly) children from their present marriage.

CHILDLESS FAMILIES.

Childless families are a little different from the other four(4) families that involve children to be named what they are. However, a childless family is just what is called a family with no child. The is two parents living without a child . they may not bae able to have children or may choose not to. Childless families tend to have better financial situations than families who have children. Most female athletes tend to not have children because of their career and travelling businessmen or women decide that they want their hands caught up with children.

MONOGAMUS FAMILY.

A monogamous family is based on a legal or social monogamy. In this case, an individual has only one(official) partner during their lifetime or at any one time(that is. Serial monogamy). This means that a person may not have several different legal spouses at the same time, as this is usually prohibited by bigamy laws, in jurisdiction that require monogamous marriages.

POLYGAMOUS FAMILY.

Polygamy is a marriage that includes more than two partners. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, the relationship is called polygyny and when a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called polamory, group or conjoint marriage.

Polygyny is a form of plural marriage in which a man is allowed more than one wife . in modern countries that permit polygamy, polygyny is typically the only form permitted. Polygyny is practiced primarily(but not only) in parts of the middle west and Africa; and is often associated with Islam, however, there are certain conditions in Islam that must to perform polygyny.

Polyandry is a form of marriage whereby a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. Fraternal polyandry, where two or more brothers are married to the same wife, is a common form of polyandry. Polyandry was traditionally practiced in areas of the Himalayan mountains, among Tibetans in Nepal, in parts of China and in parts of northern India. Polyandry is most common in societies marked by high male morality or where males will often be apart from the rest of the family a considerable period of time. FUNCTIONS OF THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY IN AN AFRICAN SOCIETY.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.

1. Satisfaction of sex Need; This is the essential function which the family performs. The sex instinct is natural and biological urge of human beings. The satisfaction of sex desire requires that male and female should live together as husband and wife. It may be referred that that while premarital or extramarital mating is permitted or tolerated in some societies, however, every society places some restrictions may vary from culture to culture. No society is entirely promiscuous, it may also be noted that premarital mating is not uncommon in a society which by law as well as customs prohibits all sexual relations except those between husband wife. 2. Reproduction; the family is an institution par excellence of the reproduction and the rearing of children. It secures a legitimate and responsible basis for procreation by regulating sexual behaviour. It provides care and personal procreation to the newly born human beings and children. The function of child rearing is better performed today than in the past because now more skill and knowledge are devoted to the care of the unborn and newborn child. 3. Sustenance function; the family provides the daily care and personal protection to its dependant members namely aged, children. The family is an insurance for the individual in times of crisis. Family provides protection and shelter to orphans, widow and her children. 4. Provision of a home: establishment of household life or provision of a home is another essential function of the family. The desire for a home is a powerful instinct for men as well as women. Family provides an opportunity for husband and wife to live together happily and as one. Although there are hotels and clubs which provide recreation, the home is still the heaven where its members find comfort and affection. Home is the foundation of family, the meeting place of husband and wife, the birth place and play ground of children. The family is a psychological relief station in which one can safely relax. Though in modern timed there are hotels and clubs which also provides recreation to man but the joy that a man feels within the congenial circle of a woman, parents and children stands far above the momentary pleasure which is provided by club and hotel. Inspite of these order agencies the home is still the heaven and sanctuary where its members find comfort and affection. Socialisation; Man is a social animal. But he is not born human or social. He is made social through the process of socialisation. Socialisation refers to the process through which the growing individual learns the habits, attitudes values and beliefs of the social group into which he has been born and becomes a person. The family presents itself as a concrete manifestation of the cultural process. It is the first social environment which trains and educates the newborn child. NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.

The non-essential functions of a family can be the following ones; 1. Economic functions; family serves as an economic unit. The earlier agricultural family was a self-supporting business enterprise. It was producing whatever the family needed. The family still remains as an important economic unit from the point of view of customers outlay. 2. Property transformation; the family acts an agency for holding and transmission of property. Most families accumulate much property such as land, goods, money and other forms of wealth. The family transmits these property.

3. Religious functions; family is a centre for religious training of the children who learn from their parents various religious virtues. In the old family, different religious practices like idol worship, yagya, religious discourses and sermons by pandits were carried on which made the outlook of the children religious. In the hindu scriptures religious rituals are considered incomplete in the absence of wife. The modern family, however, does not observe religious practices and has become secular in outlook. Family prayers are obsolete.

4. Educational; another function performed in the family is the education of children. The family is an important educational agency where good morals and values are being thought. The child learns the first letters under the guidance of parents, though, today, he learns them in kindergarten. The tradition family was the centre of vocational education because the children from the early childhood were associated with the family task. The modern family has delegated the task of vocational education to technical institutes and colleges.

5. Health; similarly the functions relating to health which were performed in the old family have now been transferred to hospitals and clinics. Formerly a sick man was cared for in the family, by his own kith and kin today he is admitted to admitted to a hospital and looked after by nurses. The child is born today not in the comforting fragrance of a home but in the maternity wards of well equipped but loveless hospital. Instead of ‘the house where I was born’ is more relevant to modern conditions.

6. Recreation; the old family provided recreation to its members. They used to sing and dance together and visit the family relations. In modern family relation is individual rather than relation is indidual rather than collective. The present forms of creation such as bridge, tennis, carom and movies, provide for only individual or couple or couple participation. Moreover, creation is now had in club or hotel rather than in home.

7. Civic; family is the school of civic virtues. The child learns the first lessons of citizenship in the family. The virtues of love, cooperation, toleration, sacrifice, obedience and discipline are first learnt by the child in the family. These qualities enable him to grow into a good citizen. That is why family has been called the cradle of civic virtues.

8. Social; family imparts the knowledge of social customs, mores etc, to the coming generation. It exercises social control over its members which helps in the maintenance of well organised society. Family is an important agency of social control. It is also custodian of culture and serves as the natural and convenient channel of social continuity.

THE FAMILY AS AN ECONOMY.

The term family is used to describe an economic unit. The early stages of development in many economies are characterised by family based production. In the early, pre-industrial stage, technology was limited and unchanging. Most economical activity took place within the household, and production and distribution were organised by custom and tradition. High mortality rates and low productivity meant that on the farms and in towns life was short and living conditions were harsh- an existence which was accepted fatalistically. In this society the family played a central role, since economic and social status were defined by birth, family ties and local custom. Most importantly, the family was productive unit, and physical strength- typically a male attribute- was an essential element in survival. The family economic unit has always been dependant on specialized labour done by family members. The family was a multi- generational producer with capital and land provided by older generations and labour provided by younger generations. Goods were produced not only for home consumption but to sell and trade in the market as well. Family production was not only limited to agricultural products but they also manufacturing goods and providing services. In order to sustain a viable family economy during the pre-industrial era labour was needed. The labour needed to operate the farm and provide old age support came from family members, fertility was . High fertility and guaranteed employment on the family farm made education, beyond the basic literacy needed to read the bible, expensive and unnecessary. During the post industrial stage the family as an economic unit changed. The family transformed from being a unit of production to being a unit of consumption. This new era of industrialisation brought changes where farming can be done with less persons, therefore children were no longer tobe viewed as economic assets but rather as liabilities. Industrialization further contributed to the demise of the family economy where the capitalist market encouraged production in large scale factories, farms and mines. Wage labour became common and family members no longer worked together but rather used the wages they had earned to buy goods which they consumed as a family unit. The industrial revolution, starting in the nineteenth and going into the twentieth century, is seen as the force that changed the economic family and its basically responsible for the modern family.

STRUCTURE OF MY FAMILY FROM THE THIRD GENERATION. From my third generation, my family has always been a nuclear family. It has always been the father, the mother and the children and this will be shown in my presentation of my family tree below;

FAMILY TREE OF THE MADUEGBUNAM FAMILY. MY FATHER’S FAMILY MY MOTHER’S FAMILY My parents are Parents of my My parents are Parentsof my father Maj. Gen mother are Gilbert Maj. Gen are Eugene and dolly Nnemeka and Ngozi Okpala Nnemeka maduegbunam their Charles and their children are Charles and children are Pauline Engr Mrs afam, obiora , Engr Mrs Nnamdi Uchenna nzube, Uchenna Nnemeka Ifeoma, Florence chinonso,uchenna, Florencence ikechukwu and eugene Maduegbunam. nkiru, ijeoma and maduegbunam. and florence Their children chinuwe. Their children maduegbunam. are chioma, Nzubes child is are chioma Pauline’s child is chidera, somto chiamanda, myself, chidimna, Nnamdi’s and ijeomas children chidera, somto children are chidimma, chukwuemeka are chidebelu, and marvellous and chidubem and chukwuemeka. miracle, Nnemekas kenechukwu. children are Chinuwes children myself(chioma),chidera are Odera, Gozie, somto and Daniel and Ada. chukwuemeka Obioras children are Naetochukwu, Onyedikachukwu and Kamsiyochukwu.