Families in a Global World - Research Proposal Example

FAMILIES IN A GLOBAL WORLD Families Global a Context SOC 325 FAMILIES IN A GLOBAL WORLD Globalization is a world-wide phenomenon with implications for families around the world. This essay will discuss the impact of globalization on different types of families in different societies and cultures. The terms ‘traditional’, ‘modern’ and ‘postmodern’ will be defined, elaborated upon and discussed on a continuum of change. Social change, in the face of globalization, will be discussed with relation to how cultures and families within two Asian cultures have resisted the forces of globalization. An unforeseen consequence of globalization is the impact it has on children. Two problems affecting children around the world will be tied to the phenomenon of globalization and will conclude with possible prescriptive solutions. Government intervention in the private realm will also be analyzed cross-culturally and assessed. Finally, the widening gap between rich and poor will be discussed with reference to the emerging patterns of globalization. Families on the Continuum of Change Ranging from ‘traditional’ to ‘postmodern’, there are a variety of family forms in this world. For the theoretical purposes of this essay, a family will be defined as “two or more people who are in a relationship created by birth, marriage or choice.” (Roopnarine & Gielen 33). There are a multitude of family forms and family types across the globe and the global family is a social unit in a constant state of evolution. The ‘traditional’ family is a heterosexual, nuclear family headed by two parents in which the husband is the primary breadwinner and the wife is the homemaker. On the far left side of the continuum of change, the traditional nuclear family model is widespread across the globe and represents a traditional gendered division of labour, both within the house as well as outside of the home. In the Western world, the traditional model is becoming less and less viable as many families require the incomes of both parents. Women’s increased education and employment prospects have made the transition from the traditional model to the modern familial model more and more prevalent in modern Western society (Bossen 128-133; Roopnarine & Gielen 32-34). As with the traditional family, the ‘modern family’ is nuclear in the sense that it involves the cohabitation of two heterosexual partners but differs in that it involves dual earners as both the man and the woman work outside of the home to earn money. While both husband and wife work outside of the home in paid labor, it is important to note that the gendered division of labour within the home of the modern family has not necessarily changed. Women, within the modern family, still bear the brunt of housekeeping, child rearing and basic familial chores (Roopnarine & Gielen 32-34). On the far end of the continuum of change is the post-modern family. A post-modern family can be defined as one is which there is a “deconstruction or transformation of at least one aspect of the traditional family” (Roopnarine & Gielen 34). An example of a post-modern family would be a lesbian or gay parented family or a family headed by a single mother. The term post-modern can encompass a lot including, as mentioned above, lesbian and gay parented families, families headed by single mothers, extended families, de-gendered families and families who conceive children through the use of reproductive technology. A de-gendered family is one in which traditional gender roles, such as the male as breadwinner and female as homemaker, are rejected. In terms of change, post-modern families are becoming increasingly common in many countries of the Western world and represent an evolution of the traditional nuclear family. The post-modern family is an exciting family form to watch as it continues to develop along the continuum of change (Roopnarine & Gielen 34-35). Social Change and Globalization Societies around the world are threatened by the forces of Western culture and globalization. Industrialization and the revolution in information technology have made the world a much smaller place. Although many feel that social change in the face of globalization is inevitable, many cultures around the world have resisted the changes brought about to their culture. Developing countries, in particular, have to deal with rapid social and economic change caused by globalization. India and Indonesia provide excellent examples of how social change caused by globalization is currently being challenged and resisted in the developing world. Globalization is often accused of simply being Westernization and the importation of Western ideas and practices to the rest of the world. India has experienced rapid industrialization and is growing at an exponential rate with a population of nearly one billion people expected by 2010. Social change in the face of globalization has been resisted by a variety of means in India. Although homes today are often furnished in Western style, the focal point of Indian homes remains the temple or the shrine (Hindu, Muslim or often Sikh). Despite the prevalence of Western food, Indian cuisine continue to be important and indigenous cooking flourishes. Meals remain an important point of social cohesion and collective identity amongst Indians. Finally, upon reaching the age of maturity, men are not expected to leave their homes and establish their own lives. They are expected to remain at home and if they choose to move out, it is also expected that they remain physically close to their parents (Roopnarine & Gielen 100-101). Families in Indonesia are facing Western encroachment caused by the forces of globalization, and just like families in India, are maintaining their traditions in the face of these challenges. In Indonesia, the extended family remains more dominant the nuclear family and has a very strong influence on the behavior of individual family members. Additionally, childrearing is often strict and characterized by the authoritarian attitudes of parents. The status of women has not changed much in the face of globalization and women are generally perceived as being less worthy and less valuable than their male counterparts. Religion remains an important facet of Indonesian life and for Muslims in Indonesia, the religious court system deals with marriage, inheritance and kinship issues. Indonesian society remains largely traditional and religious, in spite of the challenges brought forth by globalization (Roopnarine & Gielen 118). Globalization and Children Children, as the most vulnerable members of society, need to be properly protected and taken care of. Poverty and displacement caused by urbanization are two important problems affecting children around the world. Although globalization has enriched many, it also has had the effect of impoverishing vulnerable members of the economy. Children around the world are facing increased poverty and displacement caused by economic development and urbanization. It is estimated that 1 billion children live in poverty (Pemberton et al 371). Like globalization, poverty is an international phenomenon with far-reaching consequences. Poverty is endemic in many countries of the world and children in developing regions face broad challenges due to the effects of poverty. In fact, children who grow up poor are more likely to have to deal with malnutrition, are more likely to drop out of school and are more likely to have a child out of wedlock. They are also more likely to die at a younger age and experience a life which is shorter and immeasurably more difficult than that of their more fortunate peers. Globalization has increased the geographic gap between haves and have-nots and widespread poverty is characteristic of much of Africa, Asian, the Middle East and Latin America. Poverty is both rural and urban but there has been a drive recently, particularly among children, to escape rural poverty by migrating into cities (Jazairy et al 1992). Urbanization is a product of industrialization, economic development and the concentration of people in cities. Although not immediately clear to the untrained observer, industrialization is not always a positive development and can have negative ramifications on the lives of people displaced by rapid economic growth. Brazil provides an excellent example of how urbanization and rapid economic growth can have negative effects. Although numbers vary, it is estimated that there are at least tens – if not hundreds - of thousands of street children in Brazil, “subsisting on a combination of odd jobs, prostitution, petty crime, sleeping, urinating, and defecating in public, sniffing glue, drinking alcohol, and begging” (Roopnarine & Gielen 340). These children inhabit the major Brazilian cities or Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo, Salvador and Brasilia. A recent study undertaken about these “abandoned children” revealed that most had moved to the city from rural areas, many having left an abusive family situation. Displaced from their native rural communities, street children in Brazil have found their way to the cities where crime, prostitution, as well as alcohol and drug abuse run rampant. (Roopnarine & Gielen 339-340). The increased impoverishment of children as well their dislocation caused by urbanization need to be tackled in the face of the challenges caused by globalization. Government programs can work to alleviate some of the antecedents of poverty, such the imposition of structural adjustment policies, rising unemployment, and the rising cost of food around the world. Many of these antecedents to poverty are caused by globalization. Corporations are directly responsible for rising costs of living and the dislocation of entire communities. The development of the Amazon region and the implementation of hydroelectric dams in Brazil have served to both impoverish and displace entire indigenous communities (Cycon 761-794). As the most vulnerable members of their communities, children are most aversely impacted by these changes. Both governments and corporations need to intervene and help offset some of the consequences of the globalization phenomenon. Government and the Family The notion of a familial private sphere is not universal and in many parts of the world, the government plays an important role in shaping family life. Turkey and China provide two excellent case studies of the different roles governments can play in shaping the lives of their citizenry. Both are developing countries with large populations and each has a different tradition of governmental intervention in the private sphere. Although an officially secular state, Turkey is predominately Muslim country straddling the border between Europe and Asia. Accordingly, 98% of the Turkish population self-identifies as Muslim and Turkey remains “the only predominately Muslim country with a fully secular system of government and administration” (Roopnarine & Gielen 170). Despite progressive change politically and economically, Turkish culture can still be described as “traditional, authoritarian and patriarchal” (Roopnarine & Gielen 170). The Republic of Turkey was officially established following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire as a modern, secular and democratic state. Successive Turkish governments have promoted modernization, industrialization and urbanization. When the Republic was first founded in 1923, only 13% of the Turkish population lived in cities; by the year 2000, that figure had climbed to nearly 70% (Roopnarine & Gielen 170). In addition to promoting modernization and urbanization, the Turkish government has also promoted egalitarian social policies. Turkey was the first Muslims country in the world to extend the right to vote and run for office to women, doing so in 1934. In fact, Turkey also elected a female Prime Minister in 1993 (Arat 28-31). Despite government attempts to promote the equality of the sexes, Turkish society remains traditional and patriarchal. Islam is an important influence on gender roles and expectations. Polygamy exists in rural areas and women remain perceived as inferior in all realms of society. A macho ideology and sex-role stereotypes prevail and gender hierarchies continue to play an important role in modern Turkish society. Sex segregation is widespread and fears of the sexuality of women ensure that they remain socially inferior in Turkish society. Although positive attempts have been made to promote the equality of the sexes, traditional forces, including Islam, have thwarted attempts at making sure that men and women are treated as equals in Turkish society. The government is omnipresent in Chinese society and has played an important role in shaping family life in mainland China. Chinese society is intensely family-oriented and the family, as opposed to the individual, is the basic social unit. Relatively homogenous in nature, Confucianism is the near universal ideological basis for families in Chinese society (Roopnarine & Gielen 51). The Communist government of China has been activist in nature since the early days of the Chinese revolution. Economic development, particularly since 1978, has led to an increase in the standard of living, rises in per capita income, industrialization and urbanization. Compulsory education is presently being promoted in conjunction with advances in health and overall increases in life expectancy. The role of the government in regulating family life in China is most controversially expressed through the one-child policy, in place for more than 20 years. This policy restricts the number of children a family can have to one and is often described as an egregious attempt at social engineering (Roopnarine & Gielen 50-60; “Chinas Child Fines 2007”; “China Steps Up” 2000). This is seen by many outside observers as a harmful policy with very negative consequences for the people of China. It is argued that this policy results in forced skewed birth rates, with more boys born than girls, and leads to infanticide – the killing of a child – as well as government-forced sterilizations of women. This extreme policy is reputedly undertaken for population control and twenty years after its implementation, the government of China reported that “the policy was a great success, preventing at least 250 million births since 1980” (“China Steps Up” 2000). Globalization and the widening gap between Rich and Poor Globalization has promoted both international growth and global economic disparities. Although globalization has created wealth it has also concentrated much of that wealth in the hands of the few. The global nanny phenomenon is a direct result of the concentration of economic development and wealth in certain sectors of the world. The transnational family is one in which its members work in a different country and send remittances home. It is now common for mothers to work in prosperous countries as underpaid and undervalued nannies while leaving their child-rearing responsibilities to others back home (Ehrenreich & Hochschild 1-39). These nannies, often underpaid and sometimes exploited, represent some of the dislocating effects caused by globalization on the family unit. These migrant maids are also often described as modern-day slaves. Another consequence of the widening global gap between rich and poor is a decrease in the social ties of extended kin in societies in which kinship and collective familial identity have always been strong. As young people move the cities and towns in search of employment and opportunity, kinship and familial bonds are weakened. This is threatening to many cultures of the world including in Asia, Europe and Latin America (Ehrenreich & Hochschild142; Roopnarine & Gielen 221, 232-239, 334). Conclusion Globalization has had important implications for families across the world. Today’s family is evolving and the post-modern family represents and evolution of the traditional nuclear family unit. Globalization has not been applied uniformly and many cultures and societies are resisting social change brought forth by global trends. Children are particularly vulnerable to widespread social change and their well-being must be safeguarded through active government endeavor. Additionally, the widening gap between rich and poor has been exacerbated by globalization and this phenomenon continues to have important effects on family units across the globe. WORKS CITED Arat, Yesim. “On Gender and Citizenship in Turkey” Middle East Report 198 (1996): 28-31. Bossen, Laurel. “Towards a Theory of Marriage: The Economic Anthropology of Marriage Transactions.” Ethnology 27:2 (1988): 127-144. “Chinas Child Fines Spark Riot”. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2007. Last Accessed August 16 2008 “China Steps Up One Child Policy”. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 September, 2000. Last Accessed August 16 2008 Cycon, Dean E. “When Worlds Collide: Law, Development and Indigenous People”. 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