In Charles' analysis, which pattern is most characteristic of the working class?

In Charles' analysis, which pattern is most characteristic of the working class?

• A. Modified extended families are common
• B. Privatised nuclear families are common
• C. Nuclear families are rare in all classes
• D. Always lone-parent households in the working class

Answer: (A)

The pattern being tested is how class shapes family arrangements, specifically that the working class tends to maintain a modified extended family rather than a fully privatized nuclear one. A modified extended family means the household is fundamentally nuclear, but kin beyond the immediate family—such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins—remain closely involved, often living nearby or in regular contact to provide practical support like childcare, money, or housing. This reflects economic constraints and the ongoing importance of kinship networks in the working class, where extended family ties act as a social safety net and practical support system.

Privatised nuclear families, which rely more on the immediate household and less on extended kin, are more typical of middle-class life and independence from kin networks, so they don’t capture the characteristic pattern for the working class. The idea that nuclear families are rare in all classes is incorrect, since nuclear family arrangements are common across many groups. Likewise, the notion of always lone-parent households in the working class is an overstatement and doesn’t describe the typical pattern the analysis highlights.