Lesson:

Family forms  

 

In this lesson we will discuss different family forms in Belgium.

Which family compositions do you know?

At the end there is a small quiz about the lesson

Now we will look at the evolution of family forms in Belgium

Before the 18th century

  • Extended families
    • more than two generations living under one roof.
  • Only a married man could live there; the others left the house once they were married.
  • Inheritance most often given to the eldest son.
  • Many children.

After the 18th century

  • Industrialization
  • Nuclear family (mother, father, children) appears as the norm
  • Fathers go to work, mothers stay at home

Evolution to the 21st century

Today

  • Different types of families
  • The family structure is also changed by the number of children: decreased birth rate
  • Increased divorce rates
  • More single-parent families

 

Which changes in the society impacted family compositions ?

Some changes in the society...

  1. Economic independence of men and women
  2. Changing organization of work
  3. Social security system
    • the importance of a welfare state
  4. Secularization
    • reduced influence of the church
  5. Scientific progress
    • controlling fertility  
    • improving public health
  6. Flexible legislation

Now we will look closer to 4 forms :

  1. Blended families

  2. Single-parent families

  3. Single mother by choice

  4. Foster family

Blended Families

10 % of the families today are blended families

a family unit where one or both parents have children from a previous relationship, but they have combined to form a new family

Between 1986 and 1996, the number of single-parent families increased by 33% 

Single-parent families

Single Mother by choice

 

 a single woman who decides to become a mother, knowing that she will be the sole parent of her child – at least at the outset

In Dutch this is called BAM (= bewust alleenstaande moeder)

More information?

 

Here are two articles (in Dutch):

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2015/12/29/wat_is_de_procedurevoorbewustalleenstaandemoeders-1-2498002/

https://www.charliemag.be/lijf/bam/#0

Foster care

Here you find more information

  • You offer temporary care for a child
  • More then 4000 foster families in Flanders
  • As a foster family, you decide what kind of commitment you are willing to offer: weekends, short or long term foster care.
  • They can last for a few days, weeks, months or even years, depending on the individual needs and the specific situation of the child or adult.

There is also foster care for unaccompanied minors arriving in Belgium

Conclusion: Many different types of families

To finish this lesson, complete the assignment on the Google Classroom

Do you have a Question?

Ask me on the GGL classroom

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