Family & Households Key Terms

Geographical mobility

The ability to move around the country, usually in pursuit of employment.  

Surrogacy 
 

An arrangement where a woman has a child for another couple 

Infant Mortality Rate
 
The number of deaths in the population of infants under the age of 1, per thousand births. 

Child centred

The idea that children are now the most important aspect of society 

Nanny State

The idea that the government regulates and controls all aspects of our own life and attempts to protect us from dangers 

Integration

The subjective feeling of 'belonging' to society and its structures 

Cultural Identity 

The culture that you most closely identify with.

Consensus

Agreement or harmony. 

Socialisation

The process of learning the norms and values of society.

Instrumental Role

The economic or breadwinner role.

Expressive Role

The caring or nurturing role.

Underclass

A group of people who exist outside the main culture and at the bottom of the class system, often associated with lone parents, welfare dependency and criminal activity. 

Social construct 

The idea that an objective phenomenon is created by society or its institutions, rather than being a natural occurrence. 

Absolute poverty 

poverty defined by the minimum requirements necessary, such as food, clothing, and shelter, to lead a healthy existence. 

 Singleton

Someone who lives by themselves

Nuclear Family 

This is what's classed as the 'normal' family. Consists of a mum, dad and children 

Reconstituted Family

This is made up of and adult couple living together, who are married or unmarried, and at least one child from  a previous relationship of one of the partners. (Can also be known as step family) 

Extend Family 

A family of three generations, living together 

Beanpole Family 

A nuclear family with one or more children that maintain regular contact with their grandparents 

patriarchy 

Male domination in society. 

Double shift 

When woman have a paid job, and do most of the house work. 

Triple Shift

Where woman have a paid job, do most of the housework and take care of the emotional needs of the family.