Question
In what ways can changes in social structure lead to changes in family structure?
Solution
- According to social structure, a family can be male headed or female-headed; migration of men in search of work can increase the number of female headed households.
- After independence, the rapid processes of industrialisations and urbanisation have changed the structure of the extended families to nuclear families.
- The long work schedules of young parents may lead to increasing number of grand parents moving in as care givers for young grand children.
- The changes in the family structure may occur accidentally as when a war takes place or people migrate in search of work. Sometimes the changes in the family structure are purposely brought about.
