Sociology Of Family Questions - Essay Example

Sociology Of Family Questions Q What does Arlene Skolnick mean by the “life revolution”? How did it affect the family? Skolnick (31) defines life course revolution as the changes that have been brought about by advances in the 20th century. While the past form of life may have had a number of advantages that we can look at with a lot of nostalgia, low life expectancy was a problem that had to be contended with. In the beginning of the 20th-century life expectancy was less than 65 and only 2% percent of the population lived past their 65 years birthday. At the time this low life expectancy was not considered an anomaly and was accepted as the state of affairs. By the end of the same century life expectancy had risen to well beyond 65 years (Skolnick 31-32). These changes in life expectancy in the last century have had a profound effect on family structures. While previously it was common for parents to bury their children and grandparents not to meet their grandchildren due to a host of issues that include health complications, which is not the case now. For the first time in history, as much as five generations of members of the same family are alive at the same time. This scenario has created new family dynamics as the family structure is changed and family members revised relationships (33). The new life expectancy rates have made families less psychologically prepared for when they lose a member of the family. Most people only get to question mortality when they reach they approach their 50th birthday and become aware that by the present life expectancy rates they have loved more than half of their lives. The implication is that death in the family is no longer viewed as a life transition, as was the case in the early parts of the 20th century, but it is now seen as an emotionally draining experience (33). The changes in family relations have resulted in fewer children born as their mortality rates reduced, and higher divorce rates. In essence, the high divorce rates have balanced the high family instability previously created by low life expectancy (34). I agree with the views expressed by Skolnick (31-34) as they have been supported by research evidence that has been presented. Q 2: According to Janet Giele, what is the feminist view on the decline of the family? What is their solution? The feminist view on the decline of the family is that the increasing presence of women in the workplace, high divorce rates and risks that children are exposed to are responsible for the family decline. A middle ground must be reached between gender freedom and equality, and family care (Giele 76-77). Feminists put forward that elements from both conservative and liberals must be married to ensure that no more family decline is experienced. They contend that while a woman must embrace her traditional role as the primary family caregiver, she must also be allowed to pursue a professional career. They raise the issue with conservatives' point of view by pointing out that they rely on women as exploited and underpaid caregivers who allow men the opportunity to pursue their activities outside the family setting. In essence, men are allowed a great deal of liberation while women are restricted to family settings. Liberals while advocating for women independence fail to acknowledge that this independence was facilitated from the family and was only made possible by family relationships. Feminists propose a system that would involve judging a family based on its functioning and not form. Functioning, in this context, is human satisfaction and development while the form is the family structure. Feminists further add that reforms to ‘build and maintain the social capital of volunteer groups, neighborhoods and communities are the way to go in building family structures (85-86). I agree with the feminist view as expressed by Gisele (76-86). The paper has clearly presented the conservatives, liberals and feminists ideas and made a clear distinction between them. Q 3: What is the myth of universality? Skolnick and Skolnick (3) define the myth of universality as the belief that all families are fundamentally similar even though they differ in members, emotional settings, living dynamics, principles, social and family networks and economic functions. This similarities and differences have made it difficult to formulate a definition for the family that would hold true across time and place. While the myth of universality is a noble and commendable attempt at defining families, it is a serious disservice to understanding the concept of family as it influences perceptions of the concept by narrowing perception and considering deviations as perversities (4). I disagree with the myth of universality and believe that the definition of a family is dependent on the setting, cultural background and beliefs. For instance, among the Muslim faithful a man is allowed to marry up to four wives and divorce is common, such that any family with four wives and one husband is considered normal and divorce is a common occurrence. This is, however, not the case among the Catholics. Based on their bible teachings a man is only allowed to marry one wife and divorce is frowned upon. An attempt at defining a family in the Muslim setting would be unacceptable among the Catholics and vice versa. In essence, any definition of a family must consider the setting, cultural background and social beliefs. Q 4: According to Gerson, how are men and women similar/different in what they expect in relationships and family? Gerson (109) is of the opinion that men and women share some fundamental similarities and differences in their expectations of relationships and family. Men and women get into relationships and start families with the expectation that they would forge lifetime partnerships both within and out of the house. They are also cognizant of the fact that their professional and home environments and dynamics may hinder the achievement of this goal. Faced with this reality, most of them are now revising their expectations of relationships and families and are ready to make concessions toward this regard. They now live with the philosophy that if they cannot get all of what they want then they could always settle for getting part of what they want (Gerson 110). In settling on getting what they can out of relationships and families, differences emerge between men and women expectations. On average, women have accepted that she will not get her ideal family settles for autonomy in a family such that they are independent and do not have to depend on their partners. Men, on the other hand, have different expectations of relationships and family. They settle for an equal balance between parenting and work, but if this is not possible they would go for placing their work expectations first and relying on their partners to fulfill their roles in the family. To ensure that families are stable institutions, the couples must be allowed to define their expectations of the family and not conform to societal expectations (110). I agree with this assessment by Gerson (109-110). I believe that the societal pressure on families to conform and implied rules are to blame for the breakdown of most family structures. Most couples start families without clearly defining their expectations and roles, as a result, their partners assume that they will conform to expectations. The result is that couples feel pressured and end up seeking separation as a coping mechanism. Works Cited Gerson, Kathleen. “What Do Women and Men Want?” Family in Transition, 15th Ed. Ed. Arlene Skolnick and Jerome Skolnick. Boston: Pearson Higher Education, 2009. 109-114. Giele, Janet. "Decline of the Family: Conservative, Liberal, and Feminist Views" Family in Transition, 15th Ed. Ed. Arlene Skolnick and Jerome Skolnick. Boston: Pearson Higher Education, 2009. 76-92. Skolnick, Arlene, and Jerome Skolnick. Family in Transition, 15th Ed. Boston: Pearson Higher Education, 2009. Skolnick, Arlene. “The Life Course Revolution” Family in Transition, 15th Ed. Ed. Arlene Skolnick and Jerome Skolnick. Boston: Pearson Higher Education, 2009. 31-40. Read More