The Family in the Caribbean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seven Types of Family Structures in the Caribbean Extended Nuclear

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

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

The Extended Family

Extended Family – Many families living under one roof

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

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

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

The Nuclear Family

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

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

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

The Compassionate Family

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

Visiting or "Friending" Relationship

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

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

Single-parent family

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

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

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

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

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)

Blended family

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

Same-Sex Parents

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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 37-47. Selections from Our Children Now! by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in Reader II.