Challenges of Conventional Definition of UK Family - Essay Example

? HOW HAVE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS CHALLENGED THE CONVENTIONAL HETEROSEXUAL DEFINITION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FAMILY? By Donna Purcell Social Science University Instructor Date Order #554420 Introduction What is the typical heterosexual family like today in the United Kingdom, England, and Whales? The definition of a family carries many explanations. Web Dictionary gives five definitions, 1. “an association of people who share common beliefs of activities.” (Webdictionary.co.uk 1999-2011). 2. “(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera.” (Webdictionary.co.uk 1999-2011). 3. “a social unit living together.” (Webdictionary.co.uk 1999-2011). 4. “people descended from a common ancestor.” (Webdictionary.co.uk 1999-2011). 5. “primary social group.” (Webdictionary.co.uk 1999-2011). All five definitions carry a meaning for the “family.” Each definition has a different meaning; so how do these apply to the changing structure and values of the British heterosexual family? The typical British family has changed dramatically during the 20th century. The past has shown us that marriages were given a more stable and serious quality than that of today. When a couple married in the past they normally stayed married. When children were born the unit became a stable family. The past has also shown us that divorce was not common; divorce was very difficult, was very expensive, and it took a very long time to finalize. Values have changed along with views on marriage. Young couples now, usually those in their twenties and thirties, cohabitate or live together without getting married. Forty percent of these will never marry; however, the other sixty- percent will eventually get married. (Barrow 2011, p. 1). Values have taken a dramatic turn in the opposite direction. It was common in the past to marry before having children, but now it’s very common for 40% of children in Britain to be born to unmarried parents. However, this does not limit itself to the young people in their twenties and thirties, it has also spread between ages 16 and 59. “In 2000, around a quarter of unmarried people between the ages of 16 and 59 were cohabiting in Great Britain.” (Barrow 2011, p. 1). It has become socially acceptable in the new British culture. Before 1960 this attitude would have been very uncommon and socially unacceptable. Civil and Political Rights 1966 “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which the UK is a signatory, requires that protection be given to “the family.” (Ghandhi, MacNamee 1991). However, within the United Kingdom no legal definition of “family” exists. Ghandhi and MacNamee argue that the law is not based on a stable or consistent notion of what a family should be. They contend that the “family” is made up of different domestic units and are treated as familial for differing purposes. They also argue that the law is based on a narrow notion of what constitutes a family and is volatile of certain individual rights under the covenant. They contend that what constitutes a family should be based on de facto relationships, rather than marital status or sexual preference. Marriage between homosexuals and transsexuals are in violation of the right to marry under the Covenant. (Ghandhi, MaNamee 1991). What has Caused this Change? Several factors contribute to the changing values and attitude toward marriage and family. Divorce has played a major role in the changing family in Britain. It is estimated that by the year 2020, there will be more single people than married people. (Barrow 2011, p.1). Twenty-three percent of births in the United Kingdom in 2001 were among cohabiting couples, thus forming the new family unit. Both men and women are generally marrying at a later age now. Women with careers don’t want to have children immediately as it may interfere with a stable career. Therefore, couples opt for waiting until their late thirties before starting a family. The average family size has also decreased greatly in Great Britain to an average 2.4 people living in one home. (Barrow 2011, p.1). “London has the highest proportion of lone parents.” (statistics.gov.uk 2007). Lifestyles have changed as well. Children are more commonly born into couples that are doing less well financially. (Irwin 2000, p.4). This one factor would suggest that women with children tend to become lone parents with unfavorable economic circumstances. Alternative lifestyles have also played a major role in the changing heterosexual family in the United Kingdom, Britain and Whales. Views have become very open minded concerning gay partnerships. The European Court of Human Rights has been challenged many times by gay couples. “The United Kingdom legalized civil partnerships for gay couples in 2006.” (Geen 2011, p.1). Abortion has become a major challenge contributing to the changing values and lifestyles of the heterosexual family. In 1967 the United Kingdom’s abortion reform was due mostly to medical pressure. The reform was liberalized on a limited basis for medical and social grounds only. “To this day in the United Kingdom, legal abortion on request has still not been formally introduced, even if the medical practices interpret very liberally the grounds authorized for abortion.” (Engeli 2007, p. 67). Equal Rights and the Heterosexual Family “Heterosexual married couples are supported by a wide array of legal privileges, benefits, rights and powers.” (Ryder 1990-1991). These powers include economic support for such things as tax and pension benefits that have been extended in some cases to unmarried cohabiting heterosexual couples. Persons in same sex relationships are excluded from the definition of “spouse” and they are not granted any legal privileges, benefits, rights, or powers. Ryder contends that until the legal decision and lawmakers are willing to address the construction of heterosexual privilege and discount the condemning approach, there will be neither freedom nor equality of sexual identity. (Ryder 1990-1991). The Religious View Laws are needed in a civilized society to present order and values among common people. This can be man made laws or natural laws, which are considered laws given by God. According to Steven Montgomery, natural law or divine law was the basis upon forming man made law. (Montgomery 2008, p.2). Even man made law had to be built on values that were moral and just and those principles were applied to the law. So in the beginning the traditional heterosexual family consists of a man and a woman and any children. It is considered a crime against natural law for men to leave “the natural use of a woman” (Montgomery 2008, p. 2) and look for relationships of “men with men working that which is unseemly.”(Montgomery 2008, p. 2). Montgomery contends that marriage between a man and woman is “ordained of God” and a natural law or mandate; the natural order of family law is being altered or changed. (Montgomery 2008, p.2). He sees a world moving away from the family unit and toward focusing on “functional parenthood” and not focusing on biological parenthood. Montgomery also contends that family law might need to be reconstituted to focus on “substance of relationships”, thus putting alternative relationships on a level playing field with traditional marriage. (Montgomery 2008, p.2). “There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence. The more governments try in vain to take the place of the family, the less effective governments will be in performing the traditional and basic roles for which governments are formed in the first place.” (Montgomery 2008, p.4). Supporters of Marx and Lenin, for instance, adhere to the ideology of “abolition of the family. It is further noted that an expert on Marxism testified before Congress in 2003 in the United States that, “the planned destruction of the family was part of the communist agenda from its inception by Karl Marx and Frederic Engels.” (Montgomery 2008, p.3). So the decline of the heterosexual family has not only been a challenge in Great Britain, Whales and the United Kingdom but also the United States. Military Benefits When addressing the definition of the heterosexual family one must consider the military aspect. Australia, Canada, Israel and the United Kingdom have adopted the policy of making benefits available to families of lesbian, gay and bisexual servicemembers after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. (Brocco 2010, p. 2). The United States has been lagging behind on this legislation. When it is signed into law, the statues will be altered to redefine the “dependent,” status for eligibility for military benefits to include same-sex partners of servicemembers with registered domestic partnerships. So in essence, by changing the military status for same sex partners, the country has recognized a new definition of the “family.” The United Kingdom lifted their ban on civil partnerships through the Civil Partnership Act of 2004, however, ”the European High Court of Human Rights ruled that Britain’s gay ban violated the right to privacy guaranteed in the European Convention of Human Rights in 1999.” (Brocco 2010, p. 20). The United Kingdom does not recognize same-sex marriage, but civil partnerships are roughly equivalent with marriage. In Conclusion We have covered the five differing definitions of a family and how it has challenged the social scientists view of a conventional heterosexual family in the United Kingdom. There has been a dramatic change in the way values, morals and the family unit are viewed since 1966. In reviewing the causes of the change and the definition of the family, any one of the five definitions would apply. The rights and privileges extended to the heterosexual family are still a norm in Great Britain; however, the definition of family has been altered further to include other forms of family not included in the heterosexual classification. Religious views have played an important part in forming the laws that once defined the heterosexual family; however, changing lifestyles and choices have been adapted to the changes. By giving military benefits to the family of all servicemembers, the commonwealth has by itself redefined the word “family.” References Barrow, Mandy, “What is family life like in Britain?” 2010, British Life & Culture, Viewed 16 July 2011, http://woodlands-junior,kent,sch,uk/. Brocco, Maureen, “Familiar Stores: An international suggestion for LGB Family Military Benefits After the Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” 2010. Viewed 17 July 2011. http://works,bepress.com/maureen_brocco/1. Engeli, Isabelle, “The challenges of abortion and assisted reproduction technologies Policies in Europe.” 2009. Viewed 16 July 2011. http://mysite.wsu.edu/. Family Structure has changed dramatically over past decade finds new research. 2007. Viewed 16 July 2011. http://statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.amp?vink=14049. Geen, Jessica, “UK gay marriage challenge goes to European Court.” 31 January 2011. Viewed 16 July 2011. http://pinknews.co.uk/. Ghandhi, P.R., MacNamee, E. “The Family in UK Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.” 1991, Viewed 16 July 2011. http://lawfam.oxfordjournals.org/. Harvard (AGPS) Style. “A guide to referencing sources used in assignments.” Victoria University. 2002, 6th edition. Viewed May 15, 2011. http://w2.vu.edu/library/infolink/vrc/style.htm. Irwin, Sarah. “Paterns of Change in Family and Household Structure and Resourcing: An Overview.” 21 January 2000. http://leeds.ac.uk/. Meaning of Family. WebDictionary.co.uk. 1999 –2011. Viewed 17 July 2011. http://webdictionary.co.uk/. Montgomery, Steven. “Marriage and the Traditional Family: A World Turned Upside Down.” 21 April 2008. Viewed 16 July 2011. http://ldsliberty.org/. Ryder, Bruce. “Equality Rights and Sexual Orientation: Confronting Heterosexual Family Privilege.” 1990-1991. Viewed 16 July 2011. http://heinonline.org/. Read More