Types of families

For a long time, the traditional family consisted of the so-called nuclear family . It was made up of father, mother and children.

For several years this concept has changed and other types of family have been adopted . The different sociocultural, political and economic changes have been reconfiguring this type of traditional family to the point of establishing at least ten different types of family.

Next we will know the different types of family.

If there is something that has changed in recent times, it is the family composition . Currently there are several types of family, which have been modifying the structure of the “traditional family” that prevailed for a long time.

Different studies show that the family models that have emerged over the years respond to the cultural and historical changes that took place in society.

Although there is no exact definition of the family, according to some specialists we can define it as a set of people who share the same common space and have ties, whether of consanguinity or affinity. Other specialists support the idea that it is not necessary to live in the same space to be considered a family.

Types of family

Nuclear family

It is that family that is made up of a father, a mother and the children of both. It receives the name of nuclear since it is a single nucleus. When the time comes for a member of the family to create their own family, for example when their parents separate or when their children become independent and have children, then it is no longer considered a nuclear family, beyond the fact that there are still members of the family. the family that still live together.

This type of family does not include other relatives and maintains the traditional basic structure.

Single parent family

The case of the single parent family is one that is made up of the mother or father and their respective children. Today it is one of the most common types of family in Latin America, as it is also common for the mother to assume all responsibility for the family structure, when the father figure is absent. But beyond this, it is increasingly common for us to find single-parent families in which the father is the one who assumes all responsibility for the family structure.

Although there is no single criterion for this type of family, many specialists determine that for a family to fit into this classification, the age of the children and the type of absence of the other parent must be taken into account. In cases where the children are minors and economically dependent on their main parent, or if the absence of the missing parent is total, it is considered a single parent family.

In the event that the absent father has a temporary presence or is responsible for the maintenance of the children, then we will be facing a case of a nuclear family in a single parenting situation.

Family Composite family

The concept of a compound family comprises a structure made up of several nuclear families. Such is the case, for example, of a couple with children who separate, and then both parents form a new family.

In this type of family, it is very common for children to have stepbrothers and live with one of their parents or divide the days of living with their parents. Today this type of family, also called “assembled” is very common.

Adoptive family

This type of family includes those cases in which both parents have the guardianship of a minor, after having complied with a series of procedures through which they are enabled and authorized to exercise the role of adoptive parents.

Depending on the laws in force in each country, adoptions can be of different types:

-Simple adoption : are those cases in which although the minor becomes an adopted child, the legal procedures are not carried out to change his surname to that of his adoptive parents.

-Full adoption: in these cases the inheritance rights of the adopted minor are legally established, and the requirements that must be met in order to exercise them are also established.

-Open adoption : in these types of adoption the future adoptive parents maintain direct contact with the biological parents of the minor to be adopted. An agreement is also established between the parties so that the biological parents can continue to have contact with their child.

-Adoption closed: it occurs in those cases in which there is no contact between the biological parents and the adoptive parents, or a close relationship is not generated with the minor who has been adopted.

Family without children

This type of family is one that is formed only by a couple who do not have children, either because they do not have them yet, because they do not want them or they are elderly people who have not had children for various reasons.

The family without children is very common today, especially in developed countries, where it is common for people to give priority to their professional development and the fulfillment of individual or couple goals.

Elderly family

They are those families that at some point had another type of structure, such as nuclear family, single parent, adoptive family, but their children have already become emancipated

Family of separated parents

En is another very common type of family today, and are those cases in which the children live with one of their parents, since there is a separation or divorce, but they usually spend time and live with the other parent temporarily. For example, it is common for children to spend some days of the week in one house and other days in another, vacations are also divided with parents, and so on.

In those cases in which one of the parents forms a new family, it becomes a composite family.

Homoparental family

They are those family members that are made up of a couple of men or a couple of women. According to the legislation of each country, a homoparental family can be formed in three ways: surrogacy, adoption or artificial insemination.

It is also common for one or both members of the couple to already have children from previous relationships and they join the family structure.

Extended family

This family is a family group in which members of different generations and with different roles coexist, for example: children, parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins, among others.

It is a fairly common type of family in Latin America and especially in those societies that have strong family traditions and in which numerous social structures are highly respected.

Host family

This classification includes temporary families , which are generally made up of nuclear families or parents without children who give a home to children or adolescents for a certain period, while the institutions in charge place them with their adoptive family definitive.

It often happens that certain families become foster families as a first step in preparing for a future adoption.