Introduction
From the mid to late 20th Century there has been a visible and remarkable changes in family structures and dynamics (Cliquet, 2003). Most people experience society through their own early family experiences, and they grow up thinking that their family is the same as everyone else’s (Saggers and Sims, 2005). However, when entering school, the understanding and ideals of family structure changes realities when encountering; single-parent households, step- and blended families, extended families, same-sex families, childless households, parentless households and even the single person household where the strongest bonds are not with biological relations, but with intimate friendships (Saggers and Sims, 2005). The aim of this essay is to discuss how contemporary family and household structures have become more diverse. Looking at what was previously the ideal family structure and dynamics to what is understood today, what changes are there in modern families compared to previously accepted, and what are the causes of these changes.
Previous Family Structure Ideals Compared to Modern Circumstances
Family structures symbolize the numerous ways that cultures and
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Therefore, some family structural changes in South Africa are similar to that of western countries, which includes increase in divorce, delay in first marriage, the increase in remarriage, high infertility rates, decrease in childbearing numbers (Yaw and Heaton, 2007). There has been a decrease in polygyny. Another new development in family structures is that there is an increase in child headed households (Meintjes et al., 2009). This could be due to that children under 18 have lost their parents, or that there is a only the mother, and she is servery ill and the child needs to run the household (Meintjes et al.,
Jean Bethke Elshtain presents a critical perspective about the deteriorating state of the family in contemporary society in her article, “Society's Well-Being Depends upon the Traditional Family”. By employing rhetorical strategies of ethos, logos, and pathos, the author constructs a persuasive case that calls for renewed focus on the family as the fundamental unit of society. Elshtain builds her argument through a combination of rhetorical strategies, including the use of ethos, logos, and pathos. Each of these elements contributes to her overall argument and the extent to which her rhetoric succeeds in convincing readers of the urgency in addressing the challenges faced by the family unit.
Stephanie Coontz analyzes the role of family over time, tracking the events in history that caused family to develop into the sentimental term it means today. Coontz delineates the gradual evolution of the family unit from its original form of the members of the household (including extended family, servants, as well as the parents and children) to what is now known as the “nuclear family,” or the parent and their children. The author uses the example of the industrialization of America to depict the impact the increased need for cheap labor in factories had on the family. While lower-income families resorted to working (both the husband and wife), in middle-class families the role of the wife became that of the caretaker and “emotional center”
Today we ask ourselves, what defines a family? Will we ever be able to pinpoint one exact answer? Meanings and explanations of our past have been rightfully challenged. The family structures and dynamics that we see today have evolved great lengths from what they once were in the 1950’s. The 1950’s consisted of “standard” families.
Moreover, this is because, “women are more likely to have a relational orientation than men” (Campos, Aquilera, Ullman, & Schetter, 2014, p. 192). Women are usually the ones that maintain the family bonds and benefit more of the closeness and support from the family. Nevertheless, women still feel more compromised of keeping the bond, and if an issue surges they are more likely to stress due to the conflict (Campos, Aquilera, Ullman, & Schetter, 2014). • Around the world, it appears familism is coming to an end. What are the economic, political and cultural implications of the changes underway in the traditional family unit?
In the late 19th and early 20th century, family was the foundation and core of society in America (Hussung). During this period of time, the wife was in charge of raising the children and cleaning the house, while the husband worked and provided protection for the family. A strong family unit was something highly regarded and looked upon in society.
While family structure has changed dramatically since the 1950’s, what current changes are we seeing; and how is it affecting the roles to which we play in a compromising world. In the 1950’s families consisted of a head of household (the Father), the house wife (or mother); and their offspring (the children). The father’s duty was to bring home the bacon, while making end meets for his family, while the wife stayed home and cared for the children, the elderly; and took on the household duties. These families usually lived in the suburbs, where they raised their children; while teaching them the proper ways of life. During this time in history, young women were expected to find a mate through persuasion, then get hitched; and eventually produce an offspring.
Main Analysis The varieties in family structure are exposed in the television series Parenthood. The small families within the Braverman family give relevant examples of the change. Each of the children in the show has their own unique support system. All families prove relevance to prior research conducted on the topic.
The structural aspect of a family is that since laws and rights have come into fruition, it has led to an increase in couples having civil marriages and partnerships. Currently, the frequency of partners who are gay and lesbian has also increased and has therefore wilted of what was once recognised a ‘traditional family’. Parents who live on their own and taking full responsibility of their children has taken a gradual rise in and around the World, this has also the paved the way towards a lesser representation on how a traditional family would look like to a certain
This essay discusses how the family is viewed by two different sociological perspectives- functionalism and conflict theory. Firstly, ‘family’ is defined. Secondly, the main ideas of functionalism will be discussed followed by how this theory perceives the family. The main ideas of Conflict Theory will then be examined and how conflict theorists perceive the family.
“The Changing American Family” by Natalie Angier states, “Fictive families are springing up among young people, old people, disabled people, homeless people, and may well define one of the ultimate evolutions of the family concept, maximizing, as they do, the opportunities for fulfillment of specific social and economic needs outside the constraints of biological relatedness.” The ever changing social dynamics and circumstances of this life have opened the definition of family to encompass individuals who can fill those deep-seated needs
Maureen Samms-Vaughan’s article “Children Caught in the Crossfire” sends a very sensitive message to the families out there. The title encompasses the whole issue presented in the article. Vaughan creates a forum for families undergoing this issue, as well as for other families out there, to be educated about the severe consequences that the change in family structures have on children. Vaughan introduces her message by beginning with the thesis statement, “The change in family structure that children experience during their lives are not without consequences.” Even though the thesis would have been much more effective at the end of her introduction, it still helped to pave a path for the readers.
This essay will inspect and discuss the components of individualisation and its effect on families and relationships. This essay will focus on the advancements of the traditional nuclear family. Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (2002, p. 27) described individualisation as the dissolution of previously prevailing social structures. This means that traditionally, an individuals’ destiny was once shaped by structures such as social class, gender roles or religion. This means that people’s lives were already laid down and their individual origins chose which line to take after and which “destiny” they prompted (Brannen and Nilsen 2005, p. 415).
Family members may or may not be biologically related, share the same household, or be legally recognized” (Raney, 2015:6). In the series Modern family, it shows the dynamics of a 21st century family and how traditions and culture has evolved over the years. As opposed to “nuclear family” “No longer does the traditional family consist of two parents and two children; instead, more diverse and shifting family structures are becoming the norm.
Modern Family is a hilarious sitcom that depicts the diversity of today’s American family and is one of the highest rated comedy shows on TV. The show, which is produced by ABC was a success from the first season with over seven million viewers and grew to more than fourteen million views by season three. The shows underlying message, that there is more than just one kind of family and that we are all crazy is done with a kind humor that is a refreshing change from the modern reality TV we now see on most nights. The comedy combined with diversity and great acting makes this show attracting to a broad range of viewers and proves that everyone loves a good laugh. One reason Modern Family has been a continued success over the years is their dedication to what the show was made to be, a comedy.
I believe that every family has their own roots, essence, uniqueness, beliefs and thoughts, some families have both parents, some just the mother, just the father, two mothers or two fathers, they might have an only child or two, or maybe 5 or even 10, therefore, those children start learning all these things from their family and surroundings, they ask questions, they imitate each other’s actions and are constantly learning and trying to catch as much information and experiences as possible. Children are growing fast, their parents are their role models, they learn mostly from them; parents have the tremendous job of forming good citizens that provide to society, healthy and happy beings that keep growing as humans in every stage of their