Family Life Changing Issues - Coursework Example

Changes in family life Introduction Family life in the 21st century is dramatically changing from the typical olden structure in to a revolved mode. The change however may not be to the expected direction as in the case with United Kingdom. Surveys conducted across the kingdom have shown that the closest relationship that used to be in the traditional families is eroding as time progresses. These changes in family life have totally changed the roles of each gender subjecting it to different responsibilities against the societal expectations. The current family formality is different from the way it used to be in say, 1960s. Many factors that did not show in the olden family set up are very evident in the current society (Deacon, 2004:71). The community concern has tremendously decreased due to the changing family lives. Family breakdown has been a common trend in the current society. Modern families are recording increased rates of factor marriages, divorce, and single-parented (Strong et al., 2010:458). In the modern society, the number of single parent’s households has increased from roughly 8 percent in 1970 to 39 percent in 2005. However, the number of the single parent will raise more compared to married persons in two decades time in the United Kingdom. In the past, people married and stayed happily within the marriage boundaries. Divorce was not common if not allowed in these societies. Today, these views of marriage are changing. Couples at their early life cohabit without being married. After a certain period, they may decide to marry or part ways. Probability of any of the above to happen is a half. In the olden families people married before they had children and a great percentage were virgins. Currently, 40% of the children in a family are born during the cohabit stage. A research conducted recently found that the number of unmarried virgins of either sex is really wanting (Gallagher, 2003:145). The number of virgin young men aged 18 to 26 was 0.75 % in 2008 while the females of the same age formed 2%. People are currently getting marries at very late age due to other commitments like education or job basis. Changing roles There are many controversies and unanswered question that judges are struggling with, in the courts about the modern family. The main questions are; does the have the dire right to give a baby the last name? Can an expectant mother opt for abortion without consulting the husband? Should a parent have influence on the child who has attained the age of majority? These among many other questions have taken course in the modern generation and in the families specifically (Rider and Sigelman, 2011:112). In around 1960, the father used to be the breadwinner of the family. However, the modern day father comes in various forms. The father is no longer the breadwinner of the family. He can have officially married or not, might be working or stays at home, might be an adoptive or a stepparent. These are the new forms of the new modern father. This situation is due to industrialization and urbanization, which has distanced the fathers from their families. This makes them leave their fatherly roles to the subsequent person who is the mother. This event has converted mothers have the responsibility of nurturing the children. In addition, the economic role of women has greatly affected the role of fathers. The number of working women has increased from 31 % to 60 % within the last four decades. This increase in financial power of the women has made them rely less on the paternal support over the family. Other factors like increased divorce rates, remarriages, and childbirth outside wedlock have also catalyzed the change in the roles of the father (McKee and Jensen, 2003:141). As time changes and the father’s roles change, consequently the roles of a mother in family setting change to meet the current family expectation. Gone are the times when mothers used to be caretakers of the children and the husband. Currently, mothers have many staff to perform in a family structure than it used to be (Strong et al., 2010:507). They have the responsibility of rearing the family. The mothers are subject to the responsibility of total home care, educating the children, and looking for healthy lifestyles for their children. This holds in most of the northwest pacific countries, people living in major cities, and those running white-collar jobs. Today, mothers are not afraid to say what is on their minds. They know what is good for them and work towards achieving their goals. Mothers are allocating time to refresh themselves in their own ways and do what pleases them. The change of mother’s roles in a family life should not be subject of debate or be seen as a bad trend. The general perception should be that this change promotes a healthier family and improves the lifestyle of the family members (Deacon, 2004:142). The societies are realizing the importance of mothers in the family and thus focusing at bettering their lives. Mothers however, will remain to fill the motherly roles despite the many challenges they may come across. (Gallagher, 2003:214). The children life in a family is no longer the same. The young are much relieved and have less concern over matters termed as weighty in olden days. This probably may probably be the cause of the problems experienced in the current society. Some decade ago, children had consideration as small adults and had many responsibilities shouldered over them. They worked alongside their parents. Their moral behaviors had scrutiny from the parents and were to marry at puberty. Some secret lives were a paradox to them (Gallagher, 2003:214). However, the modern young people have exposure to the harsh realities of life from the very tender age. Children should not struggle to make ends meet. Their parents have become lenient and are acting as predecessors over their wealth to their children. Every modern child enjoys quality education and a healthy life hence a happy later life. Feminism in transforming family life Women liberation movement has attacked the expectation of the society towards female gender. Currently, women do not require men or children in order to live peacefully. Many modern females have denounced marriage as slavery and a legalized rape. They articulate the role of bringing up children as a critique idea that is applicable to the olden-day woman. The feminist movements have awakened the female gender to jump out of the cocoon of slavery and social oppression in the name of marriage. Feminist groups are small groups of women in the in the United States who are drastically altering the roles of women and changing their mentality towards family roles, childcare, and the general housework. Due to this feminist groups influence it is now clear for the women; they should have a job alongside that of the men, the household chores are for both sexes, and every parent should be very involved in the care for children (Strong et al., 2010:541). There has been a change in the distribution of wok in the families. Compared to the historical polling people are optimistic about the family structure of the future. The current family life has numerous changes. For example in Britain, a single-parent family is a common phenomenon in the country. This change in family structure has an effect on the individual child. A scholarly study has shown that single parented children generally perform poorer than a child raised by both parents does (Marina, 2007:147). Technology has also changed the family life by great extend. The media contributes a lot to the changing family life. The media for example airs some programs that emphasize on the roles of a certain gender and discriminate another. This may lead to family breakages as one tries to fight for denied rights. The increased technology is accessible to anyone willing. The youth are the greatly affected group by the technology advancement. They can access some information, which might not be fit for their consumption. This drives them to commit some actions, which are against the community ethics (Rider and Sigelman, 2011:157). Through technology, a family can access a good car or a house that improves the family living. The mobile phones have made family life easier and enjoyable as the members can communicate to know the whereabouts of the other. The technology has changed family life to be God fearing or change morals out of the programs aired in the media. Family life has also undergone other changes as suggested by functionalism. All institutions have been affected by time due to this changing trend. Humans have been very creative and the institutions have been the creation (McKee and Jensen, 2003:157). Due to these changes in the society the life expectancy has changed dramatically hence implicating a life-long marriages and partnership. The nutritious food people are consuming nowadays has increased their fertility rate, thus some countries like Kenya are experiencing high birth rates. Some foods that are very nutritious for the young ones are in the market. They make the growth rate of the children be very fast. In a social concept, the family and the community have a direct link. The changing community leads to a community decline features that are influential to capital thinkers. Also changes in family life leads to changes in community life. Family based concerns like marriage ending through divorce, the growth of a lone-parent family, and the increased work force participation of women have also led to community decline despite the decline in the family life. These changes lead to loss of capital in the family setting and to the community (Marina, 2007:197). Conclusion Family lives have been transforming for the last four decades, flourishing through divorce, increased cohabitation, and fall in levels of fertility incidences. All these events have led to changes in family form. The norms that govern families are also undergoing changes from being legible to negotiable issues. Families are experiencing increased individualism and change in the roles of the fathers (Deacon, 2004: 172). Mothers in the new society are demanding for greater freedom and flexibility to have free entry and exit from the relationship. The family responsibilities are not as they used to be some decades ago. The new family is shifting towards social relationship to a pure relationship indented for own sake. This means the current marriages are subject to negotiation and individualism that is, people decide how to live, not dictate by traditional norms. Couples in a negotiated marriage have no restrictions rather governed by normative expectations. They have bases on empathy and affinity, not obligation or duty (Strong et al., 2010:612). Bibliography Balswick, J. and Balswick, J., 2007. The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home. Michigan: Baker Academic. Berger, B., 2002. The Family in the Modern Age: More Than a Lifestyle Choice. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Billari, F., Filipov, D. and Hantrais, L., 2006. Policy Implications of Changing Family Formation. Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Cherlin, J., 2008. The Changing American Family and Public Policy.  Washington, DC: The Urban Insitute. Deacon, B., 2004. The Cornish Family: The Roots of Our Future. 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