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Alleyne, George. "Cultivating Caribbean Cultural Regionalism." UWI TODAY 29th May 2011: A8. Web. 4th Apr. 2017.

Clarke, Edith. My Mother Who Fathered Me: A Study of the Family in Three Selected Communities in Jamaica. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1957. Print.

Copelon, Rhonda. “Understanding Domestic Violence as Torture.” Human Rights of Women: National and International Perspectives. Ed. Rebecca J Cook. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1994. Press.

Danns, George K, and Parsad B. Shiw. Domestic Violence in the Caribbean: A Guyana Case Study. Georgetown: Women's Studies Unit, University of Guyana, 1989. Print.

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As a student of history for over seven years, there was not much excitement in having to do over most of what was learnt since form two. What more is there to learn was present in mind from the very beginning and therefore a mental block was put in place and focus was placed on other courses. However, after listening to the sessions online and in classes, it was brought to attention that most people did not know a lot about their region and this course was a good way of enlightening them. It was an engaging course though it was very hard to approach it not as a history course. The assignments were a bit of a struggle as it was a difficult task to write not as a historian as have been taught. Each unit was very interesting and thought-provoking and took the classes through a journey from the very beginning to the present day, clearing up any misconceptions along the way. There was not much interest in having lectures online as face-to-face interaction is more enjoyable and it forces you to focus more on what is being taught. However, the fact that the online sessions allowed the entire Caribbean to be logged in together and everyone sharing their stories from their respective island brought about a sense of regionalism which is great as the course focuses on the region and not just one island. Having learnt about Caribbean identity and the different groups present in the region, I would like to see U.W.I along with the assistance of the students bring to life some of these topics through plays, activities and events and this will allow everyone to enjoy the rich history and diversity of the region. I look forward to seeing history being told from our perspective and giving ourselves a voice and an identity away from any influences.

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http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/caribbean-man-kills-self-after-brutally-chopping-wife-mother-in-law/INEWS GUYANA. “CARIBBEAN: Man Kills Self after Brutally Chopping Wife, Mother-in-Law in Guyana.” St. Lucia News Online, 17 Sept. 2016,
ANALYSIS:
Caribbean families have been plagued with social issues for a very long time. One such social issue is domestic violence and it has adversely affected family life in the Caribbean.Rhonda Copelon (1994) described domestic violence as "systematic and structural, a mechanism of patriarchal control of women that is built on male superiority and female inferiority." Previously, in the 1970s, domestic violence was seen as a private issues but increasing incidents of domestic violence, especially among women, have led to governments and agencies becoming involved and trying to solve the problem. In the Caribbean, religion is entrenched in the people and has been present from the days of colonialism where it had a part in oppression, subjugation, promoting patriarchy and male dominance and dis-empowering women and girls. Although domestic violence is found in all races, it is particularly dominant among the East Indians.
In the article above, it is reported that a man committed suicide after he chopped his wife and her mother in Guyana. It was stated that the wife left the man, after he became abusive following their marriage, to return to her parents. He followed her home and tormented her before committing the crime. This story is not a unique case as there are many stores that are along the same lines where the woman tries to remove herself from the situation but it only serves as fuel to the rage experienced by the man.
The high incidents of domestic violence among East Indians can be traced to indentureship because of the shortage of women and the patriarchal nature of the East Indians. There were more men than women which led to women becoming more open with their partners, some times having more than one. This resulted in  jealousy among the men which caused them to resort to violence against the women, sometimes killing the women and themselves. The East Indian culture is known to be very patriarchal which gave the men a sense of dominance over the women and this allowed the men to think that they have a right to be abusive to their women and girls if they disobey. This is one of the social effects of East Indian immigration that is continuing to perpetuate the Caribbean.
Domestic violence is not only an issue of one Caribbean island, but one of regional importance as over 60 percent of Caribbean people, notably women, experience domestic violence in their lives. This issue have affected Caribbean family life and should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

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The social environment of an informal group of friends will be discussed and how each person's family life has impacted on the way they are socialized. Among friends, different topics of interest are always brought into conversations and from those everyone catches a glimpse of one another and our backgrounds. In the Caribbean, there are different family types and among friends there will always be a mixture of the family types: one person might come from a single parent, one can have a sibling headed household and another can have a nuclear family.
Depending on the family structure one comes from they may view certain issues in another light or react to circumstances differently. A friend coming from a single mother household will not have the benefit of having a father figure around so they won't see the importance of that paternal relationship. As oppose to a friend having both parents where he receives attention and bonding from his mother and father. Some groups of friends vary in social and economic spheres but in common places like universities/ schools they all interact and learn from each other.
Among my friends in U.W.I, we all come from different backgrounds and we enjoy having discussions about the differences between our families. Most of my friends came from nuclear families however the women were the head of the households and we did not see much difference between that and our friend who has a single mother. Having all studied Sociology in sixth form and at U.W.I, we know the struggles single mothers face in trying to find jobs and caring for their children among the other effects of this family type. We have talked about education having a positive impact on families as both parents and their children can use it to uplift themselves.
My friends and I  saw  U.W.I   serving  as a means for women to empower themselves as they are able to educate themselves and move up the social ladder. It aids in removing the dependency women have on men and allowing them to make decisions for themselves. There are single mothers who are going U.W.I to get degrees or certificates so they can get better jobs to earn a higher wage to care for their children. Education is the key to helping families out of poverty and other issues they face as there are many socio-economic benefits from gaining a tertiary education.

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The image above sheds light on the growing issue of absent fathers and mothers as the sole caretakers of the children. Matrifocal families can be viewed as the foundation/base for some of the social ills in Caribbean society. It can be seen as the culprit for poverty, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse and criminal activities.
The impact of absentee fathers in Caribbean families is important as poverty is a consequence stemming from it. The father refusing to take responsibility of his child/children puts a financial strain on the mother. Mothers are expected to care for the children, the household and have a job. Most of the single mothers have low levels of education which result in them having limited job skills and this leads to unemployment or underemployment where they receive low wages if any at all.  With this they are unable to provide the basic necessities such as food, water, clothes and  a good housing environment.
Criminal activities may result from frustration and desperation on the part of single mothers and children lacking the guidance of the father figure. Edward Clarke, dean at the University of Southern Caribbean Trinidad, stated that 60 percent of the women at the Golden Grove Prison were single mothers. Some mothers resort to stealing from stores to get food or pampers for their children. There are those who had no choice because they got pregnant in their teens and can not provide for the child. Illegal means are the only way some single mothers are able to care for their children.

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http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Single-parents_15871613Robinson, Tony. " Single Parents Daddy Oh." Jamaica Observer, 26th Jan, 2014.

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The Caribbean family life and structures present today have been strongly influenced by historical forms, along with other factors such as socio-economic status, social class and religion. One particular family structure which is prevalent in the Caribbean is the matrifocal family. During colonization, the men, particularly towards the end of the slave trade, were used as "breeders" so they were not seen as "fathers" and also they were sold by their planters which severed their family ties. The plantation system, according to M.G. Smith, did not give the man responsibility for his family.
In the excerpt above,  Clarke describes the woman as taking on the roles of both mother and father in their children's lives. The legacy of fathers not being given responsibility of his family is present as the mother has to care for the child with the help of her mother. She goes on to highlight that the boy receives no education of the role and duty of a father and he will grow up with the mindset that children are women's concern and this will continue the cycle of fatherless children. Society does not have examples, according to Clarke,  for the child to understand the importance of paternal relationships and his experience has only allowed him to see mothers as the focus in the family and having dominance in all aspects of the child's life.
There have been an increase in female-headed homes over the years, particularly in the African households, as Herskovits and Herskovits saw it as being retained from African culture. This isn't to say that fathers are not always present, most are not involved in the day-to-day activities and choose instead to provide economically. The statistics have shown that the matrifocal family structure is an issue of importance in the region as 30-50  percent of African-Caribbean families are headed by females.
Hence, one can see that absent fathers and female-headed households are quite present in the Caribbean today. It is a legacy that has yet to be forgotten as the cycle keeps on going due to lack of exposure on the part of the mothers, fathers and society on the ills of matrifocal homes. However, there are some people, authors like Clarke and poets who are trying to shed light on the issue and the consequences that stem from it.

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https://daleoleary.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/my-mother-who-fathered-me/

My Mother Who Fathered Me

JUNE 11, 2013

My Mother Who Fathered Me, Edith Clark

“A girl ‘seeks for a man’ who, in return for companionship and sexual favours, will give her presents of money, clothes or trinkets. When the inevitable pregnancy occurs, the girl had to leave her job, but it was rare for the union to be stabilized.”

“… when the union breaks up the children are normally regarded as her responsibility.”

“… the boy receives no education as to his duty as a father. He accepts from his elders the dictum that children are woman’s concern and that there need be no avoidance of procreation until such a time as he is in a position to fulfil the natural obligations of husband and father. Nothing in his own experience has enabled him to learn the meaning of the paternal relationship nor has the society helped by example or precept.”

Clarke, Edith. My Mother Who Fathered Me: A Study of the Family in Three Selected Communities in Jamaica. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1957. Print.

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The Caribbean region is a very diverse place and as such there are different family structures. There are nuclear families, single-parent families, sibling-headed families,visiting families among others. Families in the Caribbean are not only known for their structures but for being multi-ethnic: African-Caribbean families, Indian-Caribbean families and Chinese-Caribbean families and a blend of all. Family life is very important as it is the primary level of socialization where people learn their culture and how their identity is shaped. Patriarchy and matriarchy are both present in the Caribbean and also plays a big part in some of the issues which are affecting families.Caribbean family life have been greatly impacted upon by colonialism and some of the issues needing to be addressed presently can be traced back to that time period of enslavement and indentureship.

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This portfolio will consist of three areas of analysis and a reflective piece. The first area is  critical thinking on an issue of importance to Caribbean Civilization where the issue of female-headed households and absent fathers will be critically analyzed and the effects it has on Caribbean life. The second area is the application of learning in Caribbean Civilization to student's understanding of their social or geographical environment and U.W.I will be used to highlight the impact it has on Caribbean identity and family life. The third area is the application of learning to understanding a problem of regional importance and here the issue of domestic violence will be examined as it relates to patriarchy and male dominance in East Indian family life.

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In Caribbean Civilization, there were different units which focused on various themes and the them of family life in the Caribbean stood out the most and will be further examined in the portfolio.

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A Man's World or A Woman's World: Who dominates family life?
Sub-Title: Caribbean Family Life: How Colonialism impacted family life presently.