Introduction
In general, families are binding force and unite the member of the family. A typical family consists of a man, a woman, and children. Family gives a supreme sense of safety, strong support, and confidence to each member of the family. It implies that families play a significant role in shaping a good society. There are some cases that the decline in values in a family affects the society. There are many changes in family life since the 1960s. The 1960s is a time of change. The insight of the family is changed. A family no longer consists of a father, a mother, and a child. Women are more independent. The view of women on their place and role in the family has changed. Women continue to work while men come to a decision to take care the children at home. Single-sex marriages become more accepted and lawful in some countries in the world. There are new ideas emerged that changed the look of families before compared today. In this manner, the family cannot provide a better function in the society that creates and develops new moral and workable members of the society. It is clear enough that the family structures have changed but it does not necessarily mean that the institution “family” has weakened.
Family Changes from 1960s to Present
Family is a large social structure that stands as a mediator among individuals and society (Mustaeva, 2010). The society is strengthened by the social construction of the family. Family is defined by individuals’ relationship that is based on adoption or marital status, blood relation, and mutual agreement as well. In consideration on family structure from 1960 to present, it is significantly identified before the revolution industrially. Women have strong contributions in terms of income in the family. Contrary in the 1830s, the main providers are men and women stay at home; raise and provide care for the children. This kind of scenario leads to discouragement for women to look for a job away from home (Bernard, 1981). Eventually, in 1960s, women start to work and they pursue professional careers and create double income in families. However, women in workforce are not the only changes in the family in 50 years.
Some individuals get married on mid twenty or late twenty in opposition to the early twenties in 1960. A child becomes a monetary responsibility (Bernard, 1981). In addition, the couples’ decision not to bear a child is a choice personally and decides to live together without a child. The decision of women not to have a child is not a freedom personally and unwillingness; it is the career paths they choose to achieve that do not allow the couples to bear a child. Men do not worry regarding their careers the moment they became fathers. At the end, women have the right to decide to achieve their careers or to have a child.
However, there are changes in the insight of parenting roles traditionally. As perceived, that men are the main contributors in the family financially, still there are an increased of fathers or husbands to stay at home. This is related to the change on the insight of being a father. Before 1960s, fathers strongly believed that hard work and abilities pays best and definitely provide the family a significant support (Bernard, 1981). Fathers are concerned to their children’s well-being and interest. Not all family can manage that a parent just stay on their homes knowing the fact that fathers must earn more compare to mother and seems impractical that fathers stay at home. There is an increased of same – sex relationship (Mustaeva, 2010). Children have a distinct importance than they have a heterosexual couples compare to same – sex couples. Normally, same sex couples both work harder for the benefit of their loving children and at the same time to obtain a legal and equal rights. Some countries do not allow an adoption. For example in Florida, same sex relationships are not allowed for any adoption (“Florida gay adoption,” 2010.) The government does not offer legal right to couples or parents and demand for an adoption as a second parent instead. In the case if, one partner brings a child in the family or from a previous relationship.
Issues in the Family and Society
There are individuals disagree about the family that is weakened is seen in same sex families and consider it as immoral. It is proven in some research that it is wrong. A heterosexual couple is not different from same sex couples. The factors that are not different from heterosexual couples are contentment and fulfillment (Mustaeva, 2010). In addition, children from same sex couples have less social and behavioral issues and perform better in school. It implies that sexual preference of the parents does not affect the growth of a child and as the next age group of the society.
The focus is on the firmness of the bond the children being nurtured with and not on the same – sex couples involved. It is believed that children who are nurtures in an established relationship show a healthy and good issues; this is in spite of the couples’ sex preferences (Mustaeva, 2010). The children have a good appreciation of their uniqueness and knowledge with elevated stage of truthfulness in the home. In addition, parents provide importance and support, good information, and bright chance to the child. Contrary, unstable, and unhappy bonds and broken homes cannot grant the support as expected and cannot create significant assets that assist children to become responsible members of the society. Instead, the situation leads to high risk of hopelessness, end their lives, and harm to the society.
Children of single parents are also in jeopardy for poor performances in education. One of the reasons is the financial supplies (Bernard, 1981). Single mother work more compared to married mother to provide educational costs and the bills for a child. It is not a great surprise if single mother experiences poverty compare to a married one. In addition, extended family plays an important role aside from the single parent families. An extended family can take over in the absence of the parent by raising the children or provides financial and moral support. Another example cited in a weakening family is the daycare. The more time spent by a child in the daycare means less time the child can spend together his family or parents and with his extended family as well. This is the critical stage for a child to develop efficiently. However, if a child is raised in daycare most likely show a less social and behavioral issues compared to a child who is raised at home. It is significant to remember that the result only depends on the quality of the services rendered by the daycare with the interaction done by parents in the care and the needs of the child (Bernard, 2010).
Conclusion
As a result, it is only the structure of the family that is changed and not the weakening of the family. The accomplishment of individuals dictates the number of children they bear. There are several steps necessary to be done in order to strengthen the family ties and further change the outlook of how families are being perceived (Mustaeva, 2010). One of the steps is offer an abundant stability for parents financially. A lasting marriage is suggested to undergo in this factor. In addition, both parents, more resources are the result of double income. It also implies that parents are able to engage a more in terms of social and culture involvements in the society. In a same sex marriage statewide legislation, it promotes the strengthening of families and more benefits for the child that is involved (Mustaeva, 2010). It is necessary for the legislation to identify the desire of the fathers to stay at home as a significant responsibility to raise their children. By means of these changes, parents can take more time from their job to spend quality time for their children when they avail the maternity provision. Over 50 years, the family as social structure has significant changed. Families are more diverse. Men are no longer the sole providers in the family because women take part in the financial aspects. There is a need to remove the shame in diverse family structures and create equal needs for the family economically. With the support of legislation, the new family structures are more powerful and united compared in the past. Even though there are changes in family structures, the weakening of the family is not a cause for some of the problems that the society faces today. As long as a child lives in a happy family to call as his own, then that child grows happy and responsible person and in the society as a whole.
References
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