Chapter 13. Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

13.1 Synopsis

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Welcome

Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

Featuring an interactive world map, this activity examines the different types of family structures in the United States and in several other countries throughout the world.

Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity

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13.2 Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

Family Structures in the United States

Although nearly two-thirds of all U.S. school-age children live with two married parents, many other family structures are possible. Click on the family types below to review what each entails.

13.3 Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

As your text states, how a family functions is more important for children than the structure of their family. But, that does not make structure irrelevant: Structure influences function. And as with most aspects of development, there is much variation in family structure throughout the world. The map below illustrates this and provides additional detail for U.S. family structure types.

Focus on a country to view the available data on family structure for that particular nation.

13.4 Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

Family Structure in the United States and Around the World

family of four smiling and hugging each other

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Question 13.1 Family Structure

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Remember the text’s discussion of two-parent families versus single-parent families: Two-parent families seem to function best worldwide, but non-married parents in some European countries provide as much stability as married couples in the United States. This could be because single parents are offered many public resources in some countries, and shame and ostracism in others. Single parenthood is common among African Americans, and the community routinely supports single parents. Asian American families function best with nuclear families, and Hispanic American families function well with nuclear or extended families.

13.5 Activity Completed!

Congratulations! You have completed this activity.

REFERENCES

U.S. Census Bureau. (2011). America's families and living arrangements: 2011. U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2013a). America’s families and living arrangements: 2012. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. Census Bureau. (1989). Current population survey: November, 1989. Ann Arbor, MI: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

U.S. Census Bureau. (1992). Current population survey: October, 1992. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. Census Bureau. (1995). Current population survey: October, 1995. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. Census Bureau. (1999). Current population survey: October, 1999. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau.

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2012, July 31). Two-thirds of democrats now support gay marriage. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

Statistics Canada. (2013). Table 2: Distribution (number and percentage) and percentage change of census families by family structure, Canada, provinces and territories, 2011. Government of Canada.

Child Trends. (2013). World family map 2013: Mapping family change and child well-being outcomes. Bethesda, MD: Child Trends.