Introduction

Watch the following television commerical: Chevrolet Traverse TV Commercial

What are your thoughts on all of the different types of families presented? Do any of the families resemble your family? The commercial states, "And while what it means to be a family hasn't changed, what a family looks like has." What do you think it means to be a family? Do you think the idea of family can change over time?

In this lesson you will explore the social institution of family, and in the following two lessons, you will explore the many forms families can take. 

 

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Describe the structure of the family unit, including traditional, extended, and nuclear families.
  • Describe the function of the family unit involving the roles of parent, child, and spouse.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Sociology Objectives: 8.

 

 

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