The evolution of family Models in Mexico
The concept of family models has evolved over time, opening up alternatives that meet new needs. This not only implies changes in the social sphere but also in the legal and medical fields.1
There have been some notable changes in legislative proposals in both public and private spaces, such as schools or gyms, to accommodate the new types of families that are forming.
Understanding the different family models allows us to comprehend the idiosyncrasies and needs of the population in our country in order to find development strategies.1
Currently, according to INEGI, 13% of households in Mexico are cohabitants, and 87% share a blood relationship.1
What Are the Most Common Family Types in Mexico?
- Father, mother, and children under 12 years old (26%): This is the most common family nucleus. The parents are already economically established, so they seek a better quality of life for their children. They always select food, clothing, housing, and education with high standards that meet family needs.2
The higher the standards they follow, the more admired the parents, who play the primary role, will be in society. They also constantly comply with established guidelines to implement them in their community, supporting their children’s growth. - Father, mother, and teenage children (15%): This is one of the most dynamic family models. The parents are focused on developing their children’s abilities as best as possible and providing them with the best educational and employment opportunities.2
Parents are concerned about maintaining their health as well as possible: they eat balanced meals and exercise to stay youthful; they also take advantage of their children’s independence to develop personally. - Extended family: father, children, and relatives (9.6%): One of the most representative models. In our country, it is common for grandparents, parents, children, and additional relatives such as uncles or cousins to be part of the family household.
They rigorously follow traditions and jealously guard values so that future generations follow the same framework, including continuing the family profession or business. - Single mothers (18.8%) / single fathers (4.8%): They rank second in Mexico; this family form is a consequence of couple separation, domestic violence, or mutual agreement.2-3
The mother, even with limited economic and academic resources, seeks to provide better opportunities for her children than she had. Socially, many resources are still lacking to support this critical sector in the country’s economic life.
The father tends to be more open and seeks to manage resources more efficiently. - Young couples without children (5%): They have higher incomes since both partners work and have not yet invested in expanding the family. They generally postpone having children due to a desire for professional growth or to maintain greater freedom as a couple.2
- Older adults without children (6%): Mostly adults over 55 years old who are thinking about retirement or receiving a pension, and in some cases, their relatives support them.
In their youth, they decided not to have children, or their children have already formed their own families, so they are in a phase of rediscovering their own tastes and goals.3 - Single-person family (11%): For various reasons (widowhood, infertility, or seeking economic independence), a person forms their own family. In these scenarios, practicality and personal entertainment are sought.3
- Co-residents (4%): There are no blood ties, but two or more people have decided to cohabit.
- Reconstituted families (11%): Couples who come from previous marriages to form a new family. In some cases, both partners already have children from their previous relationships.2-4
- Same-sex couples (3.6%): Although their number is relatively low, they have set trends and opened new market demands, which has allowed for more opportunities not only for this sector but in general.
Within this nucleus, they are subdivided into different forms of family conception:2-3- Co-maternity: Parental authority is exercised by two mothers.
- Co-paternity: Parental authority is exercised by two fathers.
- Children of same-sex couples through adoption: In which neither is the biological parent.
- Children of same-sex couples through assisted reproduction: In which one of them is the biological parent.
- Unfortunately, in Mexico, there is still no specific legislation regarding filiation in cases of assisted reproduction or adoption by same-sex couples, although there have been legislative initiatives presented in the Congress of the Union since 2017.4
Additionally, Mexico, within the American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José), establishes in Article 17 the protection of the family and its right to form one.4
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At UR Crea Reproductive Medicine, we have over 30 years of experience in reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction services. We offer different types of treatments tailored to your needs, which is why we carry out a diagnostic protocol that is key to being able to help you.
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References:
- INEGI. Households in Mexico. [Internet] Consulted in August 2024. Available at: https://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/poblacion/hogares.aspx?tema=P
- López H. 11 types of families in Mexico. Social Research Institutes: 2020:26-31. Available at: https://www.amai.org/revistaAMAI/47-2016/6.pdf
- Blog UR-Crea. How to know if I am infertile? [Internet] Consulted in August 2024. Available at: https://ur-crea.mx/2024/02/20/como-saber-si-soy-infertil-causas-de-la-infertilidad-en-hombres-y-mujeres/
- Ruíz J., Flores R. Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Their Effects on the Legal Conceptualization of Maternity, Paternity, and Filiation. 2018; 2(8): 2448-5128. Available at: https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2448-51362018000100103
