A family is made up of members who are closely related like a father, mother and their children. There are two types of families which are nuclear family and extended family.
The nuclear family begins from the father followed by the mother and then the children while the extended family begins from the grandfather down to the youngest grandchild in the family. As it has always been known, the family is the basic and the smallest unit of a society. This is the main reason why experts have put it that the weakening of families is the main cause of the problems that are in the current society.
It would be impossible to ignore this naked truth because each and every individual knows that the society is faced by problems that are brought about by families. There are some changes that have occurred in families since 1960’s and they have greatly contributed to the problems in the society (Bunson, 2008).
Discussion
The main factor that has contributed greatly to the weakening of the families is the neglect of duties by parents. Most of this duties neglected by parents are nurturing their children to be responsible and ready to face the future wisely and correctly. This issue arose in 1960’s where both parents could go to work so as to be able to earn enough income to run the family. The cost of living had increased rapidly and this urged for more income.
Unlike in the past years where the wives were left to do household chores and look after the children, they began working so as to earn income. Although the parents could get time to educate and mature up children after work, the time was less and could only mean less done towards the children.
Also due to the increased cost of living in the 1960’s, women began running single families as they would be in a position to work and get income thus enable them to cater for their children’s needs. The single families contributed greatly to weakening of families as most of the single ladies had minimal time to educate their children (Marien, 1993).
Another cause of the weakening of families which has brought about the many problems in the society is the dedication of duties to the unqualified and uneducated personnel. This arose in 1960’s when women began working thus resulting to employment of house-helps. The house-helps could not play the roles of the parents since most of them were young and had never run their own families.
Children were therefore not educated and helped to mature up to make them responsible and ready to face the future. In the single families children had to be brought up by house helps since most of the times their mothers are at work.
These changes in roles from parents to house helps is exactly what is happening today and it is greatly weakening families and thus leading to problems in the society. Also in some cases, the older children are left to look after the young ones. This is another change of roles that is also contributing to the weakening of families.
This is seen clearly in the families found in urban areas where house helps are in high demand. For instance in case study of London, the capital city of United Kingdom, that was conducted in 2007 it was found out that two thirds of the families have house helps (Atkinson, 2007).
Conclusion
To strengthen families and reduce the problems in the society, parents must dedicate more time to interact with their children so as to educate them and pass the right morals to them. House helps should be obliged to do other household chores and not to look after children. The government can also pass laws that can help to strengthen families hence eradicate the problems in the current society.
References
Atkinson, P. G. (2007). A Study of Our Decline. Washington, DC: Lulu.com.
Bunson, M. T. (2008).Our Sunday visitor’s catholic almanac. London: Our Sunday Visitor.
Marien, M. N. (1993) Future Survey Annual 1992: A Guide to the recent literature of trends, forecasts, and policy proposals. New York, NY: Transaction Publishers.
Children are a blessing to couples. When a family has a newborn baby, the choice to have one parent or both of them to stay at home to care for the infant during this crucial period is a family decision. Most people uphold certain principles when it comes to matters that concern their families. For some people, family is a priority. The opinion is that one parent should stay at home when a couple has a newborn baby. There are numerous reasons why it is a good idea for one parent to stop working when a couple has a baby.
The first and the most obvious reason is to save money. It is expensive to hire people for childcare services. Couples spend thousands of dollars to hire competent people to take good care of their children. However, when one parent decides to take up the responsibility of caring for the baby it becomes economical for the family.
This is an opportunity to save money that would be otherwise spent on hiring people to care for the child. According to statistics, the amount of money spent by ordinary Americans in child care is about $ 4, 500 every year (Hecter and Wetchler 65). Therefore, if one parent was to stay at home to take care of the newborn child, the couple could avoid such expenses.
The second reason why a parent should stay at home when a couple has a newborn baby is because a child needs parental care. It is extremely important for parents to spend time with their children. Caring for a newly born baby is the best gift a parent can give to a child. Taking care of an infant during the first year can have positive outcomes on its development.
Research has shown that children who receive enough parental care during the first two years are likely to perform well in school (Hecter and Wetchler 78). In contrast, children whose parents go back to work within the first year are likely to perform poorly in school.
Alternatively, parents should not stay at home when they have babies. No matter what, bills and taxes must be paid. Because of this, a couple should continue working even after they have a newborn baby. Children are extremely demanding during the first one or two years and therefore, both parents should work to earn money to meet the baby’s needs.
Undoubtedly, raising a child is an extremely rewarding job, and parents who decide to stay at home enjoy the benefit of spending more time with their children. However, it can be extremely boring to stay at home with a newborn baby. To be fully occupied, a parent should try to work part time by doing freelance jobs and other house chores such as cleaning and cooking. By doing part time jobs, a parent will have an opportunity to earn extra income.
In summary, it is the choice of a couple to decide whether to work during the first year (or two years) when they have a baby. There is no particular answer that can work for couples, but it is important to keep in mind that staying at home to take care of a baby is beneficial. This is because it can help save money and provide an opportunity to spend more time with a child, which is the best gift any parent can give a child.
Works Cited
Hecker, Lorna, and Joseph Wetchler. An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy.
It is difficult to overlook the role of the family in the social organization of the Japanese family. However, this perception not only applies to the Japanese context because in most societies, the family is an important unit of social organization. Japan however provides an interesting scenario for understanding the effect of social and economic changes in the family structure.
Some analysts say, “Social problems have created circular name-calling in Japan and conservative officials and policymakers have tended to lay these issues at the feet of families” (Katzenstein & Shiraishi 81). Certainly, despite the prevailing importance of the family in the Japanese society, the family structure in Japan is undergoing significant changes. These changes have consequently led to the emergence of new and unexplored family and societal dynamics.
This paper explores the implications of the falling birth rates and the changing family structure as critical issues that may influence the future of Japanese families. Specifically, this paper explores the role that such social changes may have on the roles and attitudes of the Japanese people. This paper also explores the underlying factors that inform the falling birth rates to predict if the trend may change, or not.
Projected Characteristics of the Future Japanese Family
Youth Disempowerment
In many societies, the role of the parents in shaping the lives of their children manifest as a critical component in the upbringing of youthful members of the society. This importance especially manifests because critical cultural and family values transfer through different generations (from the interaction between children and their parents). Hashimoto (cited in Ikels 195) has paid a special focus on the interaction between fathers and their children in Japan.
He explains that Japan has a relatively low level of interaction between children and their fathers. Indeed, Hashimoto (cited in Ikels 195) says that when compared to Korea, United States, and Germany, Japanese parents are more likely to alienate their children by giving them less guidance on how to live their lives. For instance, some Japanese youth said their parents never taught them to be truthful (Ikels 195). Certainly,
“The disengagement of Japanese parents from their children far exceeds that of Korea (never taught by father 27%; by mother 22%), the United States (never taught by father 22%; never taught by mother 21%), and Germany (never taught by father 42%; by mother 38%)” (Ikels 195).
Therefore, compared to other children from other advanced societies like America, Japanese children learn very little from important figures of authority such as their parents or teachers.
There is a significant potential implication of the disengagement of Japanese parents from their children. Besides the obvious lack of youth empowerment and its social consequence, the continued neglect and disengagement of Japanese parents from their children may significantly change the conventional Japanese family structure, which thrives on social hierarchy and ontological security (Bumiller 39).
For a long time, this system has served to instill social obedience and inculcate a culture of social stratification to preserve the distinction between the youth and the older members of the society.
However, with the continued lack of interest among Japanese parents (regarding their children’s welfare) and the prevailing social and political influences from western and other Asian cultures, the youth may increasingly see no need to subscribe to the traditional social doctrine of respecting their parents because the possibility of enjoying the social benefits of conformance is vague. Indeed, (Ikels 196) affirms that
“The interests of filial children in consenting to the continuity of inter-generational hierarchy for a promise of return on their investments have diminished as the prospects of inheriting the political, cultural, and symbolic power in their turn seems too far away, too uncertain, and too exacting” (Ikels 196).
The implication of this social disobedience is the emergence of a new breed of young people in the Japanese society, who do not necessarily subscribe to the traditional doctrine of “respect” and “obedience”. Instead, a new generation of young people, who are more independent and assertive, may emerge. Indeed, figuratively,
“The obedient Meiji model of ryosai kembo (good wife/wise mother), which has prevailed in the Japanese society for a long time, now often independent of the guidance of the mother-in-law, learned to shape a nuclear family home and lifestyle according to her budget” (White 43).
However, it is better for this new crop of young people to “direct their disobedience in a constructive, rather than destructive direction” (Ikels 196).
Role of the Father
The role of the father in the Japanese family may significantly change in the coming years because there will be lesser involvement of Japanese fathers in the lives of their children. Already, there are significantly lower levels of parental involvement between Japanese parents and their children.
In my view, this involvement is bound to decline significantly. James (199) defines the declining role of the Japanese father in the upbringing of their children as a significant factor that has contributed to the Japanese definition of masculinity.
Indeed, James (199) says, “because of the shallow and non-routine involvement of fathers at home, the society has frequently characterized most Japanese families as fatherless. Similarly, the society seems to appreciate a father’s existence when they are healthy and out of the house” (James 199).
From this understanding, the Japanese definition of “masculinity” centers on the philosophy of disengagement in the daily running of families. In fact, the society mostly regards fathers as “financial machines”. This perception shows that the primary role of the father is to provide for the family. Affirmatively, in an excerpt from an interview, many Japanese mothers said, “the ideal spouse should provide a financially secure life for their daughters” (Mathews & White 150).
In my view, as the economic needs of every Japanese family becomes more dominant, fathers are going to be more disengaged from their families. Since this perception defines the main understanding of “masculinity” in the Japanese society, younger males are equally likely to perpetuate the same perception.
Indeed, “Japanese men will continue to resist living for the family, as have their counterparts in other societies: a few men will live for family, but more may live for their careers, or for self” (Roberson & Suzuki 122).
Pluralism and Inclusion
The changing societal dynamics of the Japanese society paints a scenario where there will be widespread pluralism and inclusion in the society. Albeit, some pundits say Japan has a long way to change its societal composition, attitudes, and the roles of different genders in the society (because these changes are unstructured to create a dominant social force), there is bound to be a strong shift towards pluralism and inclusion in the future Japanese society. Indeed,
“the adaptability creativity, and flexibility that manifests in these emergent forms are cause for some optimism that many in Japan have envisioned and are enacting new ways of life that may yet produce a society whose vibrancy is based on pluralism and inclusion” (Katzenstein & Shiraishi 82).
Therefore, the traditional, predictable, and structured family unit in the Japanese society may disappear in favor of an unpredictable and diverse form of family unit. The diversity may blend in a “sea” of unique “individualistic” and less-culturally inclined acceptance of the family system. This shift of the family setup compares to consumerism, which observers define as “different mixtures demonstrating highly valuable blends of culture, capitalism, and personal desire” (White 43).
Besides pluralism, inclusion is also a critical factor that may define the future Japanese society. Inclusion will especially manifest through gender inclusion. Indeed, the significant gender differences between men and women may decline. The widening choice that young women in Japan enjoy informs the declining gender differences.
For example, today, “mothers and daughters believe very strongly that the younger generation is entitled to a range of choices. These beliefs have made new choices imaginable, possible, and desirable” (Mathews & White 151). Undoubtedly, the ranges of new choices are going to shape the future of Japanese families to be more inclusive and pluralist.
Birth Rates
The changing social and economic dynamics of Japan occasion the falling birth rate in Japan. Some observers believe that the increased independence and entry of women in the workforce inform the falling birth rates in the country (Roberson & Suzuki 109). In the traditional Japanese society, there was little involvement of women in the workplace.
Evidence of this dynamic exists today because “men have been expected to devote themselves to their work to support their families, while women have been forced to devote themselves to nurturing their families and raising their children, working only part-time at most” (Roberson & Suzuki 109).
However, today, most families in Japan face serious financial worries that lower their excitement to have children. Indeed, many young Japanese people face the problems of poor or little pay (because the Japanese workforce links pay by age). Moreover, the cost of living is high (such as housing costs, while the government does not offer any childcare allowances).
When these dynamics merge with the huge burden of paying educational loans, the young Japanese employee barely makes enough money to sustain their lives. It therefore becomes even more difficult to sustain a family.
By understanding the factors that have led to the declining birth rates in Japan, it is easier to predict if this trend may change. However, based on the circumstances that have forced most young people in Japan to shy away from having any (or many) children, it is very difficult to foresee a change in this trend, in the next ten years.
Indeed, the rising cost of living and the changing gender roles that are opening more opportunities for women to join the workforce are unlikely to relent in the next ten years. Therefore, may young Japanese mothers may still face the challenges of raising children they face today (ten years from now). The falling birth rates may therefore prevail even in the next decade.
Conclusion
The changing attitudes, beliefs, and values that the youthful population in Japan has acquired may significantly change the future of Japanese families. So far, this paper affirms that young people are slowly acquiring individualistic values that express their different personalities and traits.
The constant neglect shown by Japanese parents manifest these “individualistic” traits among young Japanese men. I believe, when these values merge with the changing gender roles and the prevailing economic uncertainties in Japan, there will be more pluralism and inclusion in the Japanese society.
Works Cited
Bumiller, Elisabeth. The Secrets of Mariko, New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010. Print.
Ikels, Charlotte. Filial Piety: Practice and Discourse in Contemporary East Asia, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2004. Print.
Katzenstein, Peter, & S. Takashi. Beyond Japan: The Dynamics of East Asian Regionalism, Itheca: Cornell University Press, 2006. Print.
Mathews, Gordon, & B. White. Japan’s Changing Generations: Are Young
People Creating a New Society, London: Taylor & Francis, 2004. Print.
Roberson, James. & N. Suzuki. Men and Masculinities in Contemporary Japan: Dislocating the Salaryman Doxa, London: Routledge, 2003. Print.
White, Merry. Perfectly Japanese: Making Families in an Era of Upheaval, Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2002. Print.
Generally, the way a family organizes itself; this has a direct effect on the children. Many times because of technological advancement children tend to allocate more time in video games or the internet during their childhood and this makes them have both positive and negative effects on brain functions and development (Schmitz, 2003).
Positive and Negative Effects
The positive effects on perception and attention may as well transfer to other computer-based tasks and beyond where these skills may be useful in an increasingly computer-based school and employment environment. On the other hand, adverse effects these include a lack of physical exercises such as carrying and lifting general health risks, and a lack of expertise in excellent motor skills relevant for whole body activities such as playing football, jogging as well as having a walk around.
Adolescence Stage
Adolescence stage is the most crucial period of brain development which is typically characterized by the increase of risk-taking and a relative lack of inhibition (Morley, 2003). This generally poses potential risks on the current internet like gambling sites, but again the various technologies use may reduce the time available for risks of mortality in real-world situations.
Family Influence
The families are the most crucial determinant factor of social-environmental influences on children’s health, behavior, and development (Demo & Cox, 2000). Most investigations of children’s health and growth theorize that family variables comprise direct, mediating, or moderating influences on children’s health, child’s behavior, social and cognitive developmental results.
Appraisal of the existing explores suggests that two significant domains that are the family income and family processes are primary influences on children’s behavior, health, and development. The family assets domain includes a family organization that is parental unions, family unit composition, and family source of revenue arrangements.
Family Socioeconomic Status
The family socioeconomic status which includes the parents’ and other members’ schooling income, wealth, physical condition insurance, and individual capital. The social resources such as ties and admission to supportive others, family physical and mental fitness; and family identity that is identification with cultural norms.
Family Resources
Family unit resources and processes figure the structure and excellence of children’s homes, childcare, discipline experiences, and financially viable opportunities. These possessions and processes affect children’s up growing and health trajectories and act as a go-between or moderate other ecological influences on children’s results.
Family Stability
The natural world and stability of relations structures, as well as parental unions, household symphony, and living measures, affect the child outcomes, including implementation of stress-responsive natural regulatory systems, levels of social competency and poignant regulation, and internalizing and externalizing conduct problems.
Research Study
Problem statement
Looking at various families in most cases the way parents are concerned and pay interest to their children for the period of their early stages of growth and development this helps them study and build up skills on how to figure out significant issues about life as they develop up. This also enables the children to be prepared and set up later relations with people outer their family (Eysenck, 1982).
Children, as they grow up, get nearer to learn that other people encompass their interests, desires, and traditions of their own. When kids mature in a family unit shared with other little ones like them come up to find out that they have to allocate the limited possessions of the family equally. Therefore this study tries to determine if the family has influenced the development of a child’s behavior.
Objectives of the study
The general aim of the study is to determine how the organization of the family has a direct effect on the development of the child’s behavior.
Research questions
To find out whether the well-being of children is influenced by how their family is planned and functions.
To determine whether family morals and principles shape at some stage to the extended time for which kids are reliant upon maturity to meet their basic needs.
To investigate whether the family is a mainly outstanding and lifelong influence in a child’s life.
Significance of the study
With the increased number of families where most children are highly abused and neglected within the society there is need to provide substantial evidence through research studies on the factors in the family that has influenced on the development of a child’s behavior and how or to which extent do these factors affect the growing little children.
This study is significant since it will bring out clearly the factors that affect the child’s behavior in the family and also create room for other interested researchers to carry out more findings on how family influences the child’s behavior. The study will also form a base for scholars interested in studying family functions and organizations.
Limitations of the study
One of the significant constraints of conducting this study is limited finances. The money that will be offered to carry out this study might be a deficit of the planned budget. This will be solved by working out with the minimum costs during budgeting and also avoiding crash programmers that may enhance the incurrence of more expenses.
Time can be a limiting factor that many of the respondents might not submit the questionnaires in the time leading to a delay, therefore leading to the incurrence of more costs. To curb this problem, we will allocate more time for data collection.
Another limitation is non-response. Some of the respondents might not cooperate in giving out information, i.e., the exact monthly income of the family. We opt to solve this by designing the questionnaire in such a way that the respondents will not have to state the precise amount of income earned but classify the revenues into groups.
Literature review
Parents
Parents, as usual, have a vital role in formulating the values of their little ones within the family. The psychological basis of early family experiences determines how it will adjust and cope with life problems and demands.
Some college students carried out a research and found that if the family experiences a more positive life, the more likely the children from such a family were to develop a positive attitude and confidence in life (Goldsmith, 2000). Denton (1952) reported that always the perceptive parents understand that a child, to grow up emotionally upright, both firmness and gentleness are highly needed.
Region
Physical condition outcomes for kids vary across geographic areas, from minor microenvironments such as confined neighborhoods to broader, further macro ones, such as urban, inhabited, and rural communities. These patterns of discrepancy are due only in component to the distinctiveness of the persons and families who reside in these areas; they can also be attributable to logical differences within diverse neighborhood environments.
Socialization
Society social processes that blow families and children include social structure and isolation, social institute and road and rail network social norms, and collective effectiveness and social principle. The levels of unceremonious and formal social control, impacts on the crime and injury toll and drug and alcohol use and abuse.
Socialization, both within the family and superior community constitution, impacts how socially tolerable attitudes and behaviors and informal methods of social control are transmitted. Neighborhoods with family stability allow for the family unit to maneuver as a moderating unpredictable between neighborhood and community unsteadiness like increased level of crime and lowered social control.
Public Structure
The public structure, possessions, and processes are interconnected. How they have an effect on child growth and health in affiliation with other determinants such as biomedical are significant to uncover.
Discipline
The child requires maximum discipline that is being corrected whenever the child does wrong as well as showing parental love. (p.108). Also, Denton (1952) quoted Ephesians 6:4 and advised the parents not to provoke their children to anger meaning they should encourage a good relationship between them and children as they grow up and have a positive attitude towards life.
It is believed that if a child is brought up in a chaotic family this will make him or her unhappy about life. (p.109). DeMoss (2001) further explained that the way parents play their responsibilities influences the lives of their children. In addition to that, DeMoss (2001) outlined an example of Eli, a well-known priest of the Old Testament. Eli was aware of the sins his sons could do but failed to correct them. Then God punished the family because of his actions.
Father Role
Also, Elkin and Handel (1978) found out that the father is a role model for the son and that, this basis enables him to develop his own male identity. For the case of his daughter, this principle helps her develop the right image of male companions or even a good husband (Elkin and Handel, 1978, p.128).
Mass Media
Many claims subsist regarding the blow of the mass media and especially the latest, more interactive, electronic media, on the child’s health and development in America. Several suggest media amount to a developmental risk aspect while others spot to opportunities for attractive children’s positive growth (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 1999).
Up-to-date studies of premature childhood exposure to media have worried many in the public health community for the reason that America’s youngest children are progressively more absorbed in an electronic culture, yet there is no comprehensible understanding of the blow of this media exposure on child behavior, health, and development (Christakis & Zimmerman, 2006).
Commencing concern for the prospective deleterious effects of untimely media exposure on neurobehavioral maturity and despite the absence of much logical evidence at this point, the AAP suggested children younger than 2 not watch television and those children 2 and older be restricted to 1-2 hours of educational screen media at least a day (AAP, 1999).
The pre-existing and up-to-date research that focuses on the sound effects of broadcast television is flattering outdated with the growing accessibility of competing for transferable technologies that incorporate the internet, video games, established and protectorate radio, music videos, and digital motion pictures.
Information
Children accumulate information that will shape their lives in the desired direction as they grow up and play the role of being parents well. This may include how to plan and set standards of cleanliness. Generally, when they grow up, they may accept or reject to modify what they were taught during childhood.
Methodology
This aims at explaining the research design to be used in carrying out the study, the targeted population, sampling method and procedures, data collection instruments, data analysis method, and the data dissemination method.
Research Design
We shall use both exploratory and descriptive research designs. Detailed research will be critical as the information will be based on what will be gathered from each selected families. The exploratory research design also will help to gain insight, understanding, and to analyze how each factor affects the child’s behavior within the family organization. This will facilitate in breaking down the problem statement into small manageable units.
Target Population
This study targets families within the US and Canada.
Sample and Sampling Design
The sampling design intended to be used in this study is the simple random sampling, whereby the number of families to be used in the study will be selected randomly using the Simple Random Sampling procedure where each family has an equal chance of being in the sample. The selection of each unit is independent of the choice of every other unit. Selection of one unit doesn’t affect the chances of the other.
Primary: Parent and Family
The interview will concentrate on the marital quality, parenting style, stress, use of services within the family through observation that is parent-child interaction.
Primary: Kid
The parents interviewed on their temperament, child care, and direct child assessment will also be included. The IQ, neurobehavioral organization of the child, observation the character of the child. Interview with also the childcare providers by observation.
Secondary: Parent and Family
Interview the family’s socioeconomic status.
Secondary: child
The child’s medical record reviews their gestational age, preterm birth, any disabilities within the child. Direct estimation of a child that is his or her developmental delay. The family blood for genetic analysis.
The Life Stage Primary: parent and family
This will entail beginning after birth and enduring periodically through teenage years that is marital quality, parenting, trauma, use of services.
Primary: child
The childbirth and neurobehavioral organization. The infancy or childhood temperament. The occasionally through infancy and childhood may be childcare. The early days (IQ).
Secondary: parent and family
Sometimes prenatal through puberty (socioeconomic condition)
Secondary: child
Birth includes the gestational age, preterm birth, disabilities, and blood group. The infancy or childhood developmental delay and disabilities.
The Outcome Measures
Measurement in Child
The child’s social competence, cognitive development or the achievement, child’s physical and motor development, and health status.
Outcome Methods
The interviews with the parents, the child care provider, teacher, and the direct assessment and observation of the child.
Life Stage
Sporadically from birth through age 21.
Data Collection Procedure
The researchers will collect both primary and secondary data. The primary data of the study will be collected through the use of questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The secondary data will be obtained from the Children’s Ministry.
We shall use self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires will have open-ended and closed-ended questions. In the closed-ended questions, the respondents will select the answers they think are best whereas in the open questions, the respondents will have total freedom of response.
The researchers shall use questionnaires because they will be easy to administer; the target respondents are literate, cost-effective (economic) in terms of time and money. However, there will be some limitations such as unwilling and reluctant respondents who lacked interest. This questionnaire will be divided into different categories to help in measuring the variables used in determining the independent variables.
Categories included in the questionnaires will be the age of the child, parenting style, social, economic status for each family, number of children in the family cost of providing the basic needs. These will help us in determining the factors that affect the child’s behavior within the family functions. The respondents will also be required to state the average amount of income they get each month.
Data Analysis
After the collection of data, data will be analyzed by coding it in software, SPSS, SAS and from it comes up with the descriptive statistics of the data. Data will also be explained by running Multiple Regression in the SPSS software. Through the Multiple Regression, the researchers will be in a position to determine the factors that affect the child’s behavior defining a maximum model.
After this, the researchers will try to reduce the model using the selection criteria to contain only the variables that will provide valuable information on how the family influences the child’s behavior. The reduced model will give almost as good a fit to the data as the maximum model. Thus the selection criteria will compare the maximum model and the reduced model.
Conclusion
This learning will provide some information on the area under discussion of the influence of family on the well-being of a child. Additional questions on the topic necessitate further examination. Thus the following recommendations for further explore and study are recommended:
This cram should be simulated, using a diverse population to find out whether or not family configuration and performance play a fundamental role in determining the well-being of a young person.
Further research should be conducted to investigate whether family ideals and principles are shaped during the extended instant for which children are reliant
The sound effects of conviction versus mistrust and those of self-sufficiency versus disunity should be extra-studied.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Public Education. (1999). Media education. Pediatrics, 104(2pt1), 341-343.
Brown, K. W., & Cozby, P. C. (1999). Research methods in human development. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Christakis, D.A., & Zimmerman, F.J. (2006). Media as a public health issue. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 160, 445-446.
Demo, D., & Cox, M. (2000). Families with young children: A Review of the research in the 1990s. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 876-895.
DeMoss, N. (2001). Lies women believe and the truth that sets them free. Chicago: Moody Press.
Denton, W. (1952). What’s happening to our family? Pennsylvania: Westminster Press.
Elkin, K. & Handel, G. (1978). The child and society: The process of socialization. New York: Random House.
Eysenck, H. J. (1982). Personality, genetics, and behavior. New York: Praeger.
Goldsmith, E. (2000). Resource management for individuals and family. United States: Wadsworth.
Morley, K., & Hall, W. (2003). Is there a genetic susceptibility to engage in criminal acts? Australian Institute of Criminology: Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 263, 1-6.
Schmitz, M. F. (2003). Influences of race and family environment on child hyperactivity and antisocial behavior. Journal of Marriage & the Family, 65, 835-849.
For survivors, they live with permanent scars, both emotional and physical;
Highly vulnerable groups of people like the disabled and elderly face higher risks;
It is important to have a disaster preparedness program for your family. This will reduce the impact on your family’s lives and ensure faster recovery from the effects (Schaefer-Jones, 2007).
Preparedness and Planning
The ability to be able to respond effectively in the event of a disaster is known disaster preparedness and planning.
Preparedness and planning is part of the capacity building process (Kolberg, 2005).
The capacity building process includes- staying informed, making a plan, building a kit, community involvement, protecting your business, fun and games for the children (Read, 2008).
Importance of Communication and Training
Talk! Talk! Talk!
Family members should carry contact with all crucial numbers including that of a friend or relative who lives out of town.
Coopt a wide range of communication tools into your system like cell phones, landlines, 2-way radio systems. Ensure they are always charged.
Training provides the procedures to follow, where to go, what to do, who to see/call (Panneerselvam, 2004).
References
Kolberg J., (2005) Organize for disaster: Prepare your home and your family for any natural or unnatural disaster. New York: Squall Press Inc.
Panneerselvam R., (2004) Research methodology. New York: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Read T., (2008) Family emergency preparedness plan. New York: Cedar Fort.
Schaefer-Jones J., (2007) Preparing for the worst: A comprehensive guide to protecting your family from terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other catastrophes. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Costs incurred in reducing or eliminating services provided by the government depend largely on the functional level of the government. In the US, there are three government levels, the federal government, state government, and local government. Costs also depend on the type of services given, these can be defensive, entitlement, and educational.
They also depend on time; there are times that they can be reduced or totally eliminated, time here means, times of war and times of peace; cost tend to be high in times of war and lower when there is peace (Henderson 71).
The Social Costs
When reading about Huffington’s debate “Guns vs. Butter” 2010, one gets the impression that reducing costs on defensive services when there is a prevailing period of calmness and peace, and then this will greatly favor the interests of the country. If this happens, then there will be little social costs incurred.
From this debate, it is clear that the social costs realized when trying to reduce defense services have little or no effect on the country. This is elaborated by Henderson’s data. This data proposes that if the nation actively seeks diplomacy in an effort to prevent any war, then it will have a better chance of providing butter to its people (Huffington 1).
Reducing or completely doing away with entitlement programs such as social security as highlighted in the production of “butter” will see the country face immediate social costs. This is shown by Carl when he explains about the social class in the US. He indicates that a bigger proportion of the US population will at some point, need assistance from the government.
This implies that eliminating social security services will increase the country’s social costs. This means that marginalized groups, which include, the poor, the disabled, and the elderly, will be required to find alternative means of earning a living. The minorities, those in the lower social class and surviving on meager incomes will feel the greatest impact (Huffington 1).
When you consider education, a socialized service in the US where it is compulsory for kids in grades K-12, its reduction or elimination will bring about significant social costs. At present, many parents rely on the socialized education system to provide their kids with the basic education.
This means that most of them do not depend on the private learning institutions for K-12 education. One can easily predict what would happen in case K-12 education was eliminated. Such a move will force parents to look for private education for their kids. This is not an education system that they are used to; this system will produce a totally different generation of young people with no basic educational skills.
Absence of basic skills will mean that this group of Americans will miss out on the opportunities for living decent lives. Such a situation will relegate America to the social class of third world countries. This also means that current students would not be in college now, neither would their professors be teaching them now if the education system is eliminated (Huffington 1).
What the government does, not how many people do it
People have argued that the most important issue about the big government is what it does rather than the number of people doing it. This can elicit different views and feelings from different people depending on how their respective governments serve them. However, according to me, I feel that only asking about “what the government does, not how many people do it” can not tackle the many issues that people have to contend with in their respective countries.
But because this question is about American, one can understand where it is coming from. Such an argument is made because the United States has a two party political system. It therefore, follows that statement also has two sides to address the political structure in this nation. The two parties in the US, the democrats and the republicans, have their respective answers to this statement. This means that they only give two answers to this statement. But as you and I know, an argument usually has more than just two sides to it.
Currently, health care is the most debated issue in the United States. This is the best example of what the American government can give its citizens as a service. If a national health care system is put in place, then there will develop a vacuum in positions that have a relationship with health care. However, at this time there is no threat because this system is not yet in place. However, if by any chance this system is implemented, then a way of filling the above mentioned positions will have to be sought by any means.
This move will compromise the existing health care institutions both public and private in terms of increasing their workforce. In a way, the created positions will help in reducing the unemployment rate that currently stands just above ten percent in the United States. Of course this can only happen if the government takes an initiative of filling these positions (Torrey 1).
During President Bush’s reign, telephone conversations were wiretapped by NSA; this is what the government does. NSA needs employees for the government to carry out its duties. It is therefore, clear that both what the government does and the number of those doing it are important.
Therefore, dealing with what the government does alone will be belittling the powers of the government because the government is structured into programs, tasks, order, all of which should be addressed. Such as statement will therefore, not conclusively answer all the issues that the government deals with.
Conclusion
Basing on the above suggestion, then one can comfortably ask what the government does, and not how many people do it? Many questions can then arise. For instance, in doing so, is the government in any way helping its people? The answer to this will address what the government does.
One can also look at how health care is provided to the American people. Here, one will look at how many people are providing these services. Looking at these two positions, one can then know if the argument given by either side is good or bad. But, according to my understanding, I think that both statements are valid. One should look at what the government does and the number of people doing it. This question should also address how the people are affected at all times, be it during war or in peace.
Works Cited
Henderson, Anthony. Democracy and war: the end of an illusion? New York: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002. Print.
Huffington, Arianna. Guns vs. Butter. HuffingtonPost, 2010. Web.
There has been an argument that United States has the weakest family in the developed world and this is based on various aspects. As far as this paper is concerned, we will look at the aspect of divorce in American families. Various stakeholders have reported that America has a divorce rate of more than 50% but this has not been fully authenticated for proper accuracy (Coontz, 2010, p. 23). At this rate, more marriages are likely to end in divorce as time goes by and this is not good news at all.
It should be known that the divorce rate is more prevalent in third marriages than in first marriages. As a matter of fact, those couples that have children have recorded low rates and levels of divorce than those ones without children. Currently, there are all indications that divorce rates are declining but this is more so on people who are just living together instead of marrying.
Most couples who had been married before and divorced never marry again and this is startling. In this case, they have never been ready to give it a chance and trial. The marriage rate has been declining as time goes by and people are opting to be single parents. Because single parenthood is on the rise in the United States, it gives us a good insight on why the country is having a lot of divorce rates (Coontz, 2010, p. 35).
It should be known that more divorce cases are prevalent in married women than in married men. This means that they are the ones who call the shot when things are not going on well. An increase in divorce in American families is not good news for children who end up being raised by single mothers. This therefore denies them an opportunity to be raised by both parents as expected of a good family.
Apart from touching on divorce, other family unions are not progressing well and this is a matter of concern. This means that such unions are not stable and it explains a given trend that is taking shape in the American family. Children are supposed to grow up with their biological parents and this can not be achieved with such divorce rates. To reinforce the point on why United States has the weakest family in the developed world, we can still base our point on an increase in solo parenting.
The African American home has suffered a lot of divorce cases and this is something that needs to be looked at (Ruoff, 2002, p. 28). Because divorce rates are prevalent in families with children, this seeks to explain to us something. In this case, couples have seen children as a burden or they have had problems with raising a family with children thereby opting to divorce.
Couples have always given various reasons as per to why they opt to divorce and this needs to be looked at. In this case, males and females give different reasons for divorce based on their own understanding. There are various factors that have transformed the institution of the American family over the past few years.
This revolves around various economic and cultural features. There has been an argument t that most couples do not give comprehensive reasons for divorce but this has always varied. In this case, it should be known that not all marriages can always fail for the same reasons (Ruoff, 2002, p. 36). As far as reasons for divorce are concerned, there are others that have been prevalent than others.
Couples have always blamed poor communication for divorce and this has been recorded from different couples. In this case, the couple fails to connect well thereby leading to divorce. There are cases where financial problems have also led to divorce and this is a major reason and concern. It should be known that partners that have not been able to take care of their families have caused problems thereby leading to divorce.
On the other hand, financial problems have brought about disagreements that have occasionally led to divorce (Baskerville, 2007, p. 38). Some partners and couples have cited lack of commitment as a reason for divorce and this is a reality. In this case, one of the partners is never committed to the marriage and that is why it has always ended up in divorce. This means that families are supposed to commit to the relationship for long term sustainability.
Commitment is necessary for success in everything and marriage has not been an exception in American families. As much as couples have given different reasons for not being committed, it has been one of the reasons for divorce. A dramatic change in priorities is also another reason that has been given for divorce. In this case, couples have been known to shift their priorities beyond family hood and thereby led to divorce.
When a partner changes his/her priorities, it will not be easy to live together as a family and that is why it has led to termination of the union (Luscombe, 2010, p. 48). Infidelity can also be considered as the reason behind divorce in American families. There is no partner who has been ready to see the other cheating and lived with it. This has been the reason behind bitter divorce cases in recent years and partners need to be faithful.
As much as there are other reasons for divorce cases in American families, these ones have been cited as the most prominent. Other reasons, though major, have not been prevalent and common in America. For instance, unmet needs and failed expectations have also contributed to divorce. In this case, people always have various expectations from their partners but when this is not met, partners have felt let down and opted for divorce.
Marriages in America experience various problems and this needs conflict resolution skills for success (Bratter, 2009, p. 43). As far as problems are concerned, some couples have lacked conflict resolution skills in the family and that is why we have had cases of divorce in America. Although minor, cases like substance and emotional abuse have also been responsible for divorce cases in America, this is something that can be taken care of by the society.
Divorce and the American family are an intertwined issue and topic that needs to be looked at by the whole society for long term sustainability. A good marriage should be saved and there is no reason for divorce. In this case, divorce in America should be effectively looked at as time goes by.
This is based on an increase in divorce rates that has been witnessed in recent years. When we say that the divorce rate in American families in more than 50%, this indicates that couples are more likely to break up as time goes by and this is not good news to the American society (Luscombe, 2010, p. 37). The American belief has been cited as one of the reasons behind divorce and there is need for change. As a matter of fact, Americans believe in freedom and this can be replaced with love as much as there is commitment.
It is undeniable that divorce is an aspect that has gained precedence and prominence in the American family in recent years beyond reasonable doubt. Different couples have admitted that they prefer to marry with high expectations but this has not been practical and that is why they have ended up in divorce. This has always been done if they think the family will not give them the happiness and safety that they had desired.
Because most Americans love freedom, this has made them to think of themselves being at the center. This has been done at the expense of the family and children that one has (Bratter, 2009, p. 39). Any rise in divorce will ultimately have bad effects and impacts on children and that is why it needs to addressed. This is based on the fact that our children are the future generation and they need to grow in a stable family with both parents.
Children develop their own personality from both parents and that is why divorce should not be entertained in the modern American society. In this case, a child can learn something different from both parents and that is why they should always be there for them. Couples should learn to persevere and live together no matter what because divorce is not always the best option (Coontz, 2010, p. 52).
The American family has been undergoing a lot of transformations and this is based on changing trends in the society. As much as the American family is changing in relation to modern needs, divorce is not a good trend that should be encouraged in the society. The family as an institution is supposed to change for the better to have a good American society.
Reference List
Baskerville, S. (2007). Taken Into Custody—The War Against Fathers, Marriage and the Family. New York: Cumberland House.
Bratter, J. (2009). But Will It Last? Marital Instability among Interracial and Same-Race Couples. Hoboken, New Jersey: Blackwell Publishing.
Coontz, S. (2010). Divorce, No-Fault Style. New York: The New York Times.
Luscombe, B. (2010). Divorcing by the Numbers. New York: New York Times.
Ruoff, J. (2002). An American Family: A Televised Life. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.
Marriage and Family is an interesting topic to be discussed within the context of this study. In order for the study to be helpful or resourceful to the reader, the researcher will embark on analysis of marriage and family as discussed in the three movies that include David Morrell’s First Blood, Pale Rider (1985) and Saturn-day Night fever.
Marriage is considered as an institution just like the family. Based on the themes under discussion, marriage and family differ based on the type of the society in which they are applied. However, marriage is considered as the union between two parties for instance a man and woman.
Some people define marriage as a relationship between a man and woman with an aim of forming a family by fulfilling the role of procreation. In contrast, people can live together but in real sense, they are not married to each other meaning that marriage is not the act of a man living with a woman but the agreement between the two parties.
In tradition society, marriage is practiced differently compared to the modern society. For instance, in traditional society, many people practice polygamous more often than monogamous, which is practiced in modern society.
The reason behind polygamous marriage was that in ancient time’s people consider children as source of security meaning that for a certain family to have potential security, a person should marry many wives. In contrast to modern society whereby children are considered as a blessing in the extended context, many people in the modern society treasure monogamous types of marriages.
In addition to this, the manner in which marriage is conducted matters a lot when it comes to differentiating of marriage in traditional and modern society. For instance, in traditional society marriage was not conducted in church as opposed to modern society where wedding ceremonies are presided over by pastors and priests whose purpose is to bless the marriage. Moreover, in the traditional society, people used to elope other people daughters at night hence forming a ritual among other western countries and the U.S.
Parents were entirely involved in the marriage of their sons and daughter because they were said to play important role in marriage arrangements. Many US scholars as arranged marriages that are rarely practiced consider this form of marriages in the modern society. Traditionally, marriages were considered as being more expensive compared to the modern society because in traditional society, large herds of cattle were to be handed over to the bridegroom parents as appreciation.
This is very different to what is practiced in the modern society. However, marriage can be considered as the engine of a family meaning that it is impossible for a family to exist without marriage. Family is considered as an entity that acts as the product of marriage and it forms the basis of the society. The implication here is that society is a complex entity that comprises of sub-entities known as families. Just like marriage, families differ based on the type of the society in which it is applied.
For instance, in traditional society, extended families dominated over nuclear families that are practiced in modern society. People in modern society advocate for a nuclear family in which a man and woman control over their family without influence from other family members such as their parents. Traditionally, gender roles have changed due to advanced education systems that call for gender equity between men and women.
Based on this issue, the core role of the study is to discuss various marriage and family themes as portrayed in the three movies under discussion. Examples of themes to be discussed within the context of the study include betrayal, father/son theme, traditional gender roles, traditional family roles, Orphaned sons/Adopted fathers, primogeniture, absent fathers/fatherless sons, communalism/individualism and the rugged individualist.
Thematic Analysis of Movies
Traditional gender roles is a theme portrayed in Movie-David Morrell’s First Blood by characters such as Sylvester stallone (John Rambo), delmare Berry,Will Teasle, Art galt and Caruso. Sylvester is ready to use all the available means to get Delmare berry hence depicting the roles of male gender in looking after the female.
Sylvester’s efforts reveal the duties performed by men. It is also clear that Sylvester is loving and caring and that is the reason he accepts to suffer because of berry. It is very uncertain that all of his mere efforts are unfruitful because Berry had already died from cancer that emanated from the Agent Orange exposure Galt death (Morrell 15).
Pale rider is a movie by Clint Eastwood who was a preacher. The movie describes how Clint Eastwood had good relations with the people from the village whereby he used to preach. Clint came to realize that Richard Dysart who was a mining boss had exploited his people.
Through the character of Clint Eastwood, the movie highlights the lives of people in the village by demonstrating how Richard Dysart intended to raid them. The reason behold his intention was to take control over the Gold and privatize the land. Richard Dysart and his son Christopher Penn hired guns with an aim of driving the people from the town.
Through the struggle between the gold mining boss, his son and the town people, Sydney Penny pet was killed. It is from that point when Sydney penny prays to God to send someone who could save the community from the attack. This incidence explains how Clint Eastwood intervened by joining hands with unofficial leader of miners by the name Michael Moriarty (Gerstner and Staiger 12).
The two characters defended against Richard Dysart and Christopher Penn his son. At the same time, Sydney Penny (Megan) and her mother by the name Sarah were drawn closer to the preacher. The theme of father and son is demonstrated whereby Richard Dysart joined hands with his father to raid the town people.
This was definitely evil because their actions were against the community wishes. The two characters portrayed a theme of individualism as it is tied in marriage and family concept in the movie. Richard Dysart and Christopher Penny were after individual achievement thus ignoring the needs of the town people.
In addition, the town people used to earn their living through mining while Richard Dysart and Christopher wanted to take control over the gold through evil means. Traditional gender role is another theme highlighted within the context of the study whereby men are assigned the role of providers with Richard and Christopher as major characters depicting this theme (Gerstner and Staiger 37).
This movie highlights the life experience of Tony Manero who was a Nineteen-year-old Brooklyn in the Saturday night club. He is portrayed as a King of the club because he likes local disco played every Saturday night. His title came from his dancing style that was unique compared to those of other dancers.
The movie tends to demonstrate how harsh his life is outside the club whereby everything is considered unfriendly to him. For instance, at home he is used in fighting with his father over petty issues. In addition, he competes with his elder brother who is a priest something that he hates because the entire family is against him. However, the other sort of trouble is associated with his working place whereby he is disgusted by the manner in which work mates behaves at the paint store (Faludi 27).
Moreover to Tony things are subject to change when he met with Stephanie in the dance floor and began to train him on how to dancer the modern music. The movie portrays a theme of betrayal whereby Tony thought that his brother is the cause of the conflict between him and his father. However, an aspect of individualism is highlighted with Tony playing the major role. Traditional family roles as a theme are portrayed whereby Tony’s father makes decisions for his children though Tony is against it (Faludi 39).
In conclusion, the study is interesting because it explores the concept of marriage and family as discussed in the three movies. Not all themes are highlighted in each movie as discussed in the study. It father and son theme, traditional family roles, traditional gender roles, individualism, and communism and orphaned are some of themes that are dominant in the study.
Works Cited
Faludi, Susan. Stiffed: the betrayal of the American man. Maryland: Perennial, 2000.
Gerstner, David and Staiger, Janet. Authorship and film. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Morrell, David. First Blood. London: Fawcett Publications, 1981
Family units have witnessed significant changes in the American society. These changes have been characterized by never ending court battles in relation to whom between the father and mother should give his or her name as the child’s surname.
Teenagers who have felt that their parents are so imposing in relation to use of drugs and dating have taken their parents to courts. All these changes have revolutionized American family unit. In the 1950’s, the television show Leave it to Beaver’ epitomized the drastic changes that American family units were going through.
The show was a true representation of the happenings in American families where there was a breadwinner father, a homemaker mother, and their children. The traditional family unit that was made up of father, mother, and children has today degenerated into smaller families that comprise single mothers and their children, and unmarried couples who have chosen to cohabitate (Peterson, 1998).
The rates at which divorces are witnessed have doubled with the number of divorcees currently being twice as much as it was in 1966 and thrice as high as it was in the 50’s. Divorce is the sole cause of upsurge of single parent family. Families run by single mothers have tripled from 1960’s. This is also thought to be the reason behind the rise in numbers of couples cohabiting outside marriages. There has been a sharp increase in the number of unmarried couples since 1970.
Causes of these changes
Sexual revolution is one of the major contributing factors to changes that have been witnessed in families across America. It has been occasioned by revolution in manners and morals. In the contemporary American society, many take to postponing marriages, choosing to live alone.
A similar number has also undertaken to engage in sex before marriage hence the large number of women who confess that they got married when they were not actually married. There is also a sharp increase in the number of people who engage in extramarital sex contrasted to 1940’s when the number of married women below 25 years who engaged in extramarital sex was just 8 per cent. Today, the number has risen to 24 per cent.
The percentage of children born to unmarried mothers is presently standing at over 20 per cent compared to 1960’s five per cent. The rise of advertising, revolution in movie industries, and the rise of fashion have also contributed to change in family unit. With the introduction of birth pills in 1960’s, many took it to be a highly effective contraceptive. Simulated sexual acts started featuring in the screens hence ushering in of public sexuality. Sex life could now be attained outside marriage.
A decision by courts and legislatures to liberalize laws that govern sex and contraception has also contributed to change in family units. This is anchored on decision by Supreme Court in 1957 to narrow legal definition of obscenity.
A decision by mothers to join workforce has reshaped family life. The reason behind this was the rise in cost of living. Because of their desire not to interrupt their jobs these women took to contraception to have control over their fertility.
Families becoming weaker
Clearly, the family unit in America is increasingly becoming weaker. The issue of single parenting and multiple families at childhood is now a reality that Americans have to contend with. Issues touching on teen sex and pregnancy, drug and substance abuse, and improper education of parents are all attributed to changes in family life (Azulic, 1999).
Addressing the issue of changes
Public policies that are pro-family can be formulated to help strengthen the family unit. Current tax laws like marriage tax can be refined to reduce tax burden on families as this tends to discourage the existence of families, especially low income families. Policies formulated should give credence to the role of marriage and family as financial stress on families lead to family disunity (Ku et al, 1998). Finally, tax policies that penalize married couples should be discouraged as they contribute to family breakups.
Reference List
Azulic, T. (1999). The fastest growing minority in America. Parade Magazine, January 3, 3-7
Ku, L., Sonenstein, F.L., Lindberg, L.D., Bradner, C. H., Boggess, S., & Pleck, J.H. (1998). Understanding changes in young metropolitan men’s sexual activity: 1979-1995. Family Planning Perspectives, 30 (6), 256-262.
Peterson, K. (1998). Family behavior: Two trends to watch. USA Today, December, 29, 6D.
Humanity has embraced the family as an ideal basic structure for various reasons. The need to have a sense of belonging is regarded as the core reason why families have emerged and become accepted as legal social setups. However, it may not be possible to have a single, defining structure of the family since individuals have a wide range of perspectives.
Each person’s view of the family is affected by the environment to which the individual is subjected. Consequently, a personal opinion by an individual regarding the family cannot be separated from one’s beliefs and feelings. Through analysis of various facts, one may be able to determine the general societal opinion of the family.
Individual values, whether natural or acquired always have an impact on a person’s viewpoint of the family. In addition, the personal experiences with family members also influence an individual’s perspective on the family structure.
Values such as belief in family cohesion may determine the level of commitment of family members to the stability of the family unit. A child grows in some kind of family set up. With time, the child’s belief and understanding of the meaning of a family is determined by the model of the family that nurtured him or her.
If an individual works in an environment away from his or her family, and interacts with people from different backgrounds, that person’s perspective of the family is likely to become altered. Moreover, the amount of time that a parent spends with a child moulds the child’s expectation of the parent’s role in a family. Children who spend most of their childhood with their parents grow up to believe that spending time with one’s children is a parental obligation.
People, who subject their children to a hostile environment, force them to develop a negative perspective of the family and may harbour the notion that the family is an unnecessary creation of the society. Similarly, growing up in a single parent family could possibly influence into believing that marriage, which is a common feature of the family, is unnecessary (Coontz, 2005).
When studying family life, to get the true picture of the all the factors concerned, a broad spectrum of issues has to be evaluated. An individual’s opinion of the family has to be accompanied by an analysis of his past experiences to evidently make any conclusions in the study. Social values, which include religious values, are an important consideration when analysing a family set up. People may have different suggestions regarding the minimum requirements to create a family unit (Glossop, 1979).
No incontrovertible truth regarding the exact and precise definition of the family structure can be obtained. However, it is possible to obtain helpful data regarding the opinion of the members of the society, their attitude, and perspective regarding the idea of a family. An aggregate of repeated results from studies of the family set up may give the general perspective of the society on the matters of family.
Although 100 percent accurate results may not be obtained, they can provide an overview of the general opinion of the members of the society. With numerous differences in the society regarding the definition of the family, the societal changes that families should embrace, and whether these changes are appropriate or detrimental to the family institution, it is difficult to conclude categorically on the meaning of the family.
References
Coontz, S. (2005). Marriage, a history: from obedience to intimacy or how love conquered marriage. New York: Viking.
Glossop, R. (1979). Trends in family studies: toward an appropriate discourse. Ottawa: Vanier Institute of the Family.
