In the recent past divorce cases have been on the rise, cohabitation and homosexuality have also been greatly practiced. With all these factors, the family institution is definitely under attack and so many families have broken down as a result. The breakdown of this institution has led to the increase in various social problems such as single parenthood, child abuse and immorality.
Individual Project
Introduction
Many experts in sociology and psychology have pegged the breakdown of the family to the current social problems that the world is facing. Initially, the family was seen as a platform for teaching and promoting morality and ethics. It meant that in a family, children could be taught how to integrate with the world.
Identify important or significant changes in families since 1960. What factors are responsible for this change?
In the last forty or so years, the family has encountered a lot of social change; the rate of family break ups and divorces rose by about 150 percent from 1958-1974 (Massey, 2011, p. 74). Needless to say this rate has greatly increased within the recent years. This has led to the rise of single parent families in society; hence the strain caused by such parenthood has caused the parent not to concentrate on the child’s growth (Gershon, 2009, p. 61). This has led to many children in single parent families getting exposed to many social evils.
On the balance, are families becoming weaker or simply different? What evidence can you cite?
The number of married couples has also reduced greatly in the period from 1970 which is as a result of a rise in cohabitation. The increase in separation means that children see their parents having multiple sexual partners or even having more than one step parent with the passage of time leading to an increase in moral decadence in society. These children end up being molested and scarred for life.
Recent studies have shown that most homosexuals, rape cases, drug abuse cases, and crime perpetrators come from single parent and broken families. Therefore the weakening of the family structure and role in the society has led to majority of the problems we face in society.
If you agree with the experts, what proposals do you have to strengthen the family?
Most families are weakening, this is because the dignity of marriage, or even of keeping a family together is quickly being eroded in society (Weinstein, 2010, p. 83). To greater strengthen this, would be to go back to religion, for example the Christian religion, because not only does it have great principles on maintenance of the family but it also has effective teaching on child upbringing. I would also recommend marriage classes for any couple planning to have a marriage.
Conclusion
The family institution plays a great role in maintaining morality in society; it is a platform where the ethics and morals that hold society together are taught and passed on. Sociologists are therefore right in saying that the breakdown of families has led to some of the social problems experienced today.
Weinstein, J. (2010). Social Change. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Gershon, D. (2009). Social Change 2.0: A Blueprint for Reinventing our World. London: Chelsea
Green
Massey, G. (2011). Ways of Social Change: Making Sense of Modern Times. New York: Sage
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