Changing Family Roles in Modern Society
TITLE
To what extent are family roles changing in modern industrial societies?
ESSAY
Title: Changing Family Roles in Modern Industrial Societies
Introduction
In modern industrial societies (MIS), the dynamics of family roles have significantly evolved over the years. Traditional gender expectations and family structures are being challenged by various social, economic, and cultural changes. This essay will explore the extent to which family roles are changing in MIS, focusing on the roles of husbands, wives, and children, while engaging with the feminist debate.
Changing Family Roles in Modern Industrial Societies
Loss of family functions: One significant change in family roles in MIS is the shift from the family being the primary provider of care to other institutions such as the state. Functions such as child-rearing are increasingly being outsourced to educational institutions and daycare centers.
Sandwich/pivot generation: Parents in MIS are now often tasked with supporting their adult children, leading to the emergence of boomerang families. This shift in roles reflects changing economic conditions and the prolonged period of dependency experienced by young adults today.
Changing legislation: The evolving legal landscape, including equality acts and parental leave policies, has also influenced family roles. These legal changes have facilitated greater gender equality within families and encouraged shared responsibilities between partners.
Increased divorce rates: The rise in divorce rates has necessitated changes in family roles as individuals navigate new family structures, such as single-parent households, singlehood, and blended families. This has led to a reconfiguration of traditional roles based on marital status.
Secularisation and family diversity: Secularisation has reduced societal pressure on individuals to conform to traditional family norms, leading to greater family diversity. As a result, family roles have become more fluid and open to individual interpretation.
Child-centered families: In child-centered MIS, children hold significant influence within the family unit. Their needs and preferences often dictate family decisions and dynamics, highlighting a shift towards a more child-focused approach to parenting.
Gender equality and joint conjugal roles: Feminist movements have contributed to the redefinition of gender roles within families. Women's increased status and power in society have translated into more egalitarian relationships, with joint conjugal roles becoming the norm.
Changing maternal and paternal roles: The rise of working women and childless women has redefined the maternal role, while the decline of the hegemonic male figure has paved the way for new forms of masculinity. Grandparents also play a more active role in organizing family life by providing childcare and emotional support.
Contrasting Views
Despite these changes, some argue that certain aspects of family roles in MIS have remained largely unchanged:
Grandparents' role: Contrary to the claim of increased grandparent involvement, extended family structures have historically involved significant support from grandparents.
Hierarchy within families: Children still occupy a subordinate role within the family hierarchy, subject to adult authority and decision-making.
Gender disparities in household tasks: While the division of household tasks may have become more symmetrical, women continue to bear the primary responsibility for domestic work.
Maternal and paternal roles: Women often face career breaks or part-time work to prioritize caregiving, reinforcing traditional maternal roles. Men still tend to dominate financial decisions and act as primary breadwinners in many families.
Dual burden on women: Women often face a triple burden of juggling paid work, domestic responsibilities, and emotional labor, highlighting persistent gender inequalities in family roles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, family roles in modern industrial societies are undergoing significant transformations, influenced by various social, economic, and cultural factors. While there are clear indicators of more egalitarian relationships and diverse family structures, persistent gender inequalities and traditional expectations continue to shape family dynamics. Understanding these changes is crucial for policymakers and individuals alike to navigate the complexities of family life in contemporary society.
SUBJECT
SOCIOLOGY
LEVEL
O level and GCSE
NOTES
To what extent are family roles changing in modern industrial societies?
Candidates should show an awareness of the various ways that family roles are changing in MIS’s. They are likely to look at husbands’ and wives’ roles in their response but the role of children may also be considered. It is likely that candidates will engage with the feminist debate here.
Possible answers:
FOR
- Loss of family functions means that roles once taken by the family e.g. taking care of the children, are now performed by the state;
- Sandwich/pivot generation – roles of parents now often involve supporting children into adulthood – the boomerang family;
- Changing legislation affects family roles e.g. equality acts, children’s acts, maternity/paternity leave etc;
- Increased levels of divorce in society means that both men and women are having to change their roles to fit the new family structure they find themselves in – single parent, singlehood, blended families etc;
- Secularisation has meant there is less pressure for people to get married and to have children in wedlock – this leads to greater family diversity and therefore different family roles;
- In child-centred MIS’s, the role of the child has changed to be the focus of many families, highly protected and with a lot of power over decisions and day-to-day family life;
- Traditional conjugal roles are typically being replaced by joint conjugal roles, largely due to feminism and the greater power and status women have in both society and the family;
- The maternal role has changed to the rise in working women and childless women;
- The paternal role has changed to reflect the decline in the hegemonic male and the rise in new men and househusbands;
- Grand-parents may be playing an increasingly important role in organizing family life – through childcare, financial and emotional support;
- Other reasonable response.
AGAINST
- Grand-parents always played a large role in family life, through extended family structures so this hasn’t changed;
- Children are still lower in status and power than adult family members and subject to adult authority, this hasn’t changed;
- Whilst there is a lot of evidence to show that families today are more symmetrical it is still typically the woman who performs the majority of the household tasks;
- The maternal role has changed but stereotypes have not and for most women, having children often leads to a career break or to part-time work meaning that they become the primary care giver in the family;
- The paternal role may not have changed much at all in the family – it is still typically the father who is in charge of household finances and important decisions (Edgell, Pahl) as well as being the breadwinner;
- With an increase in boomerang families there has been a continuation in MIS’s of the traditional parent-child relationship;
- There is often a dual or triple burden placed upon women in family life, meaning she is responsible for both paid work, domestic work and emotional work;
- Other reasonable response.