THE EXTENDED FAMILIES TODAY THE BEANPOLE FAMILY

The existence of the extended family among minority ethnic groups raises the question of how The 'beanpole' family
widespread or important this kind of family is in the UK today. As we saw in Topic 3, according to
functionalists such as Parsons, the extended family is the dominant family type in pre-industrial Bell's findings suggest the importance of the so-called 'beanpole' family. The beanpole family is a
society, but in modern industrial society it is replaced by the nuclear family. particular type of extended family, which Julia Brannen (2003) describes as 'long and thin':
For example, as Nickie Charles' (2008) study of Swansea found, the classic three-generation family all  It is extended vertically (up and down) through three or more generations: grandparents,
living together under one roof is now "all but extinct". The only significant exceptions she found were parents and children.
among the city's Bangladeshi community.  But it is not extended horizontally (sideways): it doesn't involve aunts, uncles, cousins etc.
However, while the extended family may have declined, it has not entirely disappeared. Instead, as For example, Charles found the same high level of contact between mothers and adult, daughters that
Peter Willmott (1988) argues, it continues p to exist as a 'dispersed extended family', where m Bell had found in the 1960s. However, in the case of brothers and sisters, there had been a sharp
relatives are geographically separated but maintains frequent contact through visits and phone calls. decline in both support and contact. This suggests a 'beanpole' structure.
the Beanpole families may partly be the result of two demographic changes:
Similarly, Mary Chamberlain's (1999) study of bet Caribbean families in Britain found that, despite  Increased life expectancy means more surviving grandparents and great-grandparents.
being geographically dispersed, they continue to provide support. She describes them as 'multiple  Smaller family sizes mean people have fewer siblings and thus fewer horizontal ties..
nuclear families' with close and frequent contactuxe between siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins, who
often make a big contribution to childrearing. As Chamberlain suggests, the extended family survives
because it performs important functions. for its members. For example, Colin Bell's (1968) earlier
research in Swansea found that both working-class and middle-class families had emotional bonds
with kin and relied on them for support,there was more financial help from father to son. Working-
class families had more frequent contact (they lived closer) and there was more domestic help from
mothers to daughters.

OBLIGATIONS TO RELATIVES

Yet despite the rise of the beanpole family, many people still feel a sense of obligation to help their wider extended kin. For example, Janet Finch and Jennifer Mason (1993) found that over 90% of people had
given or received financial help, and about half had cared for a sick relative.

However, there is some variability in what can be expected of different relatives. For example, Finch and Mason found that more is expected of females than males. Similarly, Cheal (2002) argues that, when it
comes to help with household tasks:

'A systematic set of rules exists for deciding who has the greatest obligation to assist. Help should be given: first, by a spouse; second, by a daughter; third, by a daughter-in-law; fourth, by a son; fifth, by
other relatives; and sixth, by non-relatives."

Cheal notes that where personal care for an elderly woman is needed, a daughter or daughter-in-law is preferred if the husband is not available. Sons are rarely chosen as caregivers for an elderly woman. On
the other hand, daughters are rarely chosen as appropriate people to provide money.
But while daughters are more likely than sons to take responsibility for the care of elderly relatives, not all the daughters in a family necessarily play an equal part. As Mason (2011) found, much depends on
the history of the relationship, the particular obligations women feel towards their relatives, and what other responsibilities they have that would give them 'legitimate excuses' not to be involved. Similarly,
Finch and Mason found that the principle of reciprocity or balance is also important - people felt that 2A help received should be returned to avoid any feelings of indebtedness.

Overall, evidence suggests that the extended family continues to play an important role for many people today. providing both practical and emotional support when called upon. However, this is very
different from Parsons' classic extended family, whose members lived and worked together, and who were bound by strong mutual obligations. Nevertheless, some sense of obligation does remain, at least to
some kin and as a last resort in times of crisis.