Changes in the Family Institution

Changes in the Family Institution approximate the imp comprise changes to the family have in a social and political mountIn order to discuss the changes the family as an institution has gone by means of and the impact that these changes have had, it is necessary to define the family. The term family is often utilise to mean a nuclear family, for example two p arnts, normally marry with one plus children. This definition however, in no longer pertinent to twenty first century Britain. Factors including ageing populations which result in kinsfolks containing no children the delay in having children repayable to the increase in popularity of c atomic number 18er disposed(p) independent women case-by-case p atomic number 18nthood caused by disjoint/separation single women conceiving and finally household division, in other linguistic communication separated parents remarrying or cohabiting with other partners and their children, k immediatelyn as the reconstituted family. Polic ies are viewed by some as trying to reinforce this normal view of the family. Many policy makers make the assumption, as doyen points give away the traditional family consisted of a breadwinning husband who could abide to enjoy life-long full- beat employment, earning a wage sufficientto support a dependant wife (2001268). They argue that this model never did fit alliances reality and as a result, many families who do non fill this mould could have cause to feel estranged from corporation and its ideology. Kiernan points out that few developments in family life have been quite as dramatic as the recent rises in unmarried cohabitation and having children outside of mating (20023). She also states that we should celebrate the family in all its diverse forms and match regulation to support this.Explain the relationship between family structure and Social Issues. teenage pregnancies, often portrayed as a socially deviant act are currently on the decline. Lisa Aria puts forward re asons why constitution makers are explaining the occurrence of teenage pregnancies. With contraception and abortion readily available, they suggest that early childbearing must caused by low expectations of mothers. In other words due to poor didacticsal opportunities they see no reason not to get pregnant (Aria, 2003200). Aria however, puts a unconditional spin on this guess when she states that many young mothers have a weak attachment to the education system or paid work before pregnancy, and mothering, for them, is a householdificant vocation and that it should not be read as a sign of immaturity, buts its reverse (212-213).State Intervention.The introduction of the welfare state was originally intentional to support a small group of single mothers who were either throw away or widowed. As Primus and Beeson point out welfare has evolved to serve broadly families headed by divorce, separated, or never married mothers (2002191). The rise of leadants in these categories, and the gain of cohabitation as an alternative to marriage, has caused policymakers and researchers to question whether welfare and tax policies influence a range of decisions about family, including decisions to marry, have children, or cohabit (Primus and Beeson, 2002121). This concern everyplace whether means-tested arrive ats are subconsciously persuading single parent families is reflected in new principle. mayhap in a attempt to distance means-tested benefits from single parent families, Dean remarks on how the government has only just stopped short of at once compelling mothers to work (2001271) with the implementation of compulsory work-focused interviews for single parents on income support. evaluate the impact of key family legislation onMothers.The main legislation to set mothers is related to the National Childcare Strategy put forward in 1998. Jane Lewis points out the aims were linked to the attack on poverty and social elision and this included subsidised chi ldcare (2003219). As Dean points out, these policies can be fuelling personal moral dilemmas (2001274) as policy makers are sending out mixed messages. For example, the government proposed that we place greater responsibility on parents for the behavior of their children (Kroll and Barrett, quoted in Dean 2001), however the pressure on parents, especially mothers to amaze involved with paid employment is persistent. Deans qualitative accept entitled Working Parenthood and agnatic Responsibility, found that due to this pressure to find employment encouraged by means-tested benefits such as the Working Tax Credit and the notion of family friendly companies, cause women to hold back up employment that is temporary, most often part-time and poorly paid. As Bryson and Marsh point out recipients of in-work benefits seldom move on to high paid jobs (1996272) and often are unable to dedicate more(prenominal) time and effort into the paid position due to familial responsibilities. Dea n does claim however, that some mothers stated that they viewed their lack of responsibility as a positive advantage in so far that their employmentdid not intervene with those commitments that are for them of greater ontological significance (2001276).Fathers.Dean summarizes his research on working parenthood by stating, men (should) have the same incentives as women to combine employment and parental responsibilities (2001283). In 2005, the government announced the proposals of a plan to extend Paternity allowance as a tactic in this direction. As Susan Smillie (2005) states in the Guardian, fathers could receive up to three months statutory paternity pay if their partner returns to work after six months, on top of the two weeks paid conk known as statutory Paternity Leave. This is a move in the right direction from a fathers perspective. While this would suit many career-minded women who earn more than their partners do, many mothers would perhaps not be so willing to leave th eir four/five month old baby with their partner if this was a first child. It has been noted by Dean however, that further developments in pregnancy allowances could seek to disadvantage women in the workplace if they are not matched by paternity allowances for men, as employers might otherwise become increasingly loath(p) to engage women (2001282).Children.The Child alimentation Act (1991) is another major legislation that has affected families and their wellbeing. This legislation affects fathers and mothers, however it is the child(ren) at the centre. The aim of the Child Support Act is to recover maintenance from the father, which is then paid to the mother. The Family Law rectify Act (1987) and The Childrens Act (1989) make a clear link between a fathers obligation to make a financial contribution for his childrens care and his right to have fall into place with them (Burghes, Clarke and Cronin, 1997). However, as Bagilhole points out, where the Child Support Agency retriev ed money from absentee fathersit did not benefit many lone mothers and their children because if they were dependent on benefits the child support they receive was deducted pound for pound from income support (1997124).Analyse the effect of the media on family set and family structures.William Douglas has outlined the re placeation of the family and the values it promotes in his study cited in telecasting Families. He states that Post-War television portrayed a family consisting of women who were sexual but preponderantly domestic. May (quoted in Douglas) points out that motherhood was the ultimate fulfilment of egg-producing(prenominal) sexuality (1988140). Douglas states that this could have influenced the rebellion against familial constraints in the 1960s as after the war there were numerous women in work, which did not hold with the family ideology portrayed in the media. He states that the domestic roles within the household portrayed in contemporary television with regar d to chores and child rearing, are more equally weighted that in prior decades. Women are usually portrayed as being in paid employment and that spouses are more openly intimate. He does state however, that unlike modern society, divorce is rare as spouses simply do not divorce, even when relative and/or economic stress appears acute (2003112). He states that the ideology present in contemporary media has altered dramatically from the past as it now emphasises personal ambition and achievement rather than family life and family relations (2003134). plant CitedAria, L. (2003) Low Expectations, Sexual Attitudes and Knowledge Explaining Teenage Pregnancy and Fertility in English Communities, The Sociological Review, vol. 51, May, pp.199-215.Bagilhole, B. (1997) Equal Opportunities and Social Policy, Essex Longman Ltd.Dean, H. (2001) Working Parenthood and Parental Obligation, Critical Social Policy, vol. 21, pp 267-286.Douglas, W. (2003) Television Families Is There Something Wrong wi th Suburbia, Mahwah, NJ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.Kiernan, K. (2002) Cohabitation in Western Europe Trends, Issues, and Implications, in Booth, A. and Crouter, A (ed.) Just animateness Together Implications of Cohabitation on Families Children, and Social Policy, Mahwah, NJ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.Lewis, J. (2003) Developing Early historic period Childcare in England, 1997-2002 The Choices for (Working) Mothers, Social Policy and Administration, vol. 37, June, pp 219-238.Primus, W. and Beeson, J (2002) Safety interlock Programs, Marriage and Cohabitation in Booth, A. and Crouter, A (ed.) Just Living Together Implications of Cohabitation on Families Children, and Social Policy, Mahwah, NJ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.Smillie, S. (2005) Paternity Leave, The Guardian, 19 October.Internet ResourcesBurghes, L., Clarke, L., Cronin, N. (1997) Fathers and fatherhood in Britain.www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/sp120.aspUnknown Author, An Introduction on Soci al Policy Welfare and Society.http//www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/society.htm