👋 Welcome to Social Change and Changing Families!
Welcome to this exciting chapter! This topic is crucial because it helps us understand not only how families are structured today but also *why* they look the way they do. We will be exploring the biggest historical shifts—like moving from farms to factories—and seeing how these massive changes have completely reshaped the lives and roles of people within families.
Don't worry if 'social change' sounds complicated; we will break it down into easy, digestible steps. Let's get started!
🧐 Section 1: What is Social Change?
In simple terms, Social Change means significant alterations over time in behavior patterns and cultural norms in society. It’s about how society transforms itself, often slowly, over decades.
Key Features of Social Change
- It is usually unplanned, although government laws (like changes to divorce) can accelerate it.
- It happens over a long period (e.g., the shift from extended to nuclear families took over a century).
- It affects fundamental parts of life, especially work, relationships, and the home.
💡 Analogy: Think of social change like the evolution of music. You started with vinyl, moved to CDs, then MP3s, and now streaming. Each shift changed how we *consumed* music (and how musicians earned money)—just like social change alters how we live and organize our families.
Quick Review: Social Change
Social change is simply the fundamental transformation of social structures and norms over time. It is the engine that drives changes in family life.
🏗️ Section 2: Major Drivers of Social Change Affecting Families
The family has been profoundly affected by three main historical processes:
1. The Impact of Industrialisation (The Shift to Factories)
The Industrial Revolution (starting around the 18th century) saw the massive shift from working primarily on land/farms (agriculture) to working in factories in urban areas. This had enormous consequences for family structure:
- Need for Geographic Mobility: Factories were in cities. Families needed to move away from their extended kinship networks to find work.
- Decline of the Extended Family: The Extended Family (three or more generations living together or nearby) was crucial for farming, where many hands were needed. In the city, smaller, cheaper homes required a smaller unit—the Nuclear Family (parents and dependent children only).
- Loss of Economic Function: Before industrialization, the family was the unit of production (they made things/farmed together). After industrialization, family members earned wages individually, weakening their reliance on each other for survival.
2. The Impact of Urbanisation (Moving to Cities)
Urbanisation is the process where a large proportion of the population moves from rural areas (the countryside) to urban areas (cities). This further pushed family change:
- Cities offered more anonymity and fewer controls from neighbours or extended kin.
- The emphasis shifted towards individual choice rather than traditional community expectations.
- Smaller housing units in cities made the nuclear family structure more practical.
3. Changing Social Norms and Values
Modern societies increasingly value individualism and equality, which directly impacts marriage and family life:
- Secularisation: The declining influence of religion means people are less bound by traditional religious rules regarding marriage, sex, and divorce.
- Increased Individualism: People prioritize their personal happiness and career over conforming to traditional family structures. This can lead to higher rates of divorce or choosing to remain single.
- Changing Attitudes towards Marriage: There is less pressure to marry young, leading to delayed marriage, increased cohabitation (living together unmarried), and choosing to have fewer or no children.
🔄 Section 3: How Family Structures Have Changed
As society changed, so did the common family types we see today. The nuclear family is no longer the only (or even the most common) structure.
A. The Rise of the Lone Parent Family
A Lone Parent Family consists of one parent and their dependent child/children. This type has significantly increased due to social change, mainly because:
- Easier Divorce: Legal changes (like the Divorce Reform Act) made dissolving a marriage simpler and cheaper.
- Less Stigma: Societal norms have shifted; being divorced or having children outside of marriage is far less stigmatised than it was 50 years ago.
- Women’s Economic Independence: Women are increasingly able to support themselves and their children financially without needing a male partner.
B. The Increase in Reconstituted Families
A Reconstituted Family (or step-family) forms when two adults remarry or cohabit, and at least one of them has children from a previous relationship.
- This is a direct result of increased divorce and subsequent remarriage.
- They are often complex, involving half-siblings, step-parents, and shared custody arrangements.
C. The Growth of Cohabitation
Cohabitation is defined as two people living together in an intimate relationship without being legally married. This reflects changing attitudes towards marriage itself:
- It is often used as a 'trial run' before marriage.
- It is an increasingly acceptable alternative to marriage for those who feel marriage is outdated or too expensive.
Common Mistake to Avoid!
Do not confuse cohabitation (unmarried partners living together) with reconstituted families (which involve children from a previous relationship). A cohabiting couple might form a reconstituted family if they both have children.
👩🔧 Section 4: Changing Roles and the Symmetrical Family
One of the most dramatic forms of social change has occurred within the family itself, particularly regarding the roles of men and women.
Traditional Roles (Pre-Industrial)
- Men (Instrumental Role): The breadwinner, responsible for earning money and representing the family outside the home.
- Women (Expressive Role): The homemaker, responsible for emotional care, childcare, and housework.
The Shift: Factors Enabling Women’s Independence
The movement away from rigid gender roles was driven by several key factors:
- Economic Changes: Increased access to paid employment and better wages allowed women to become less financially dependent on men.
- Educational Attainment: Girls now often outperform boys in education, leading to better career prospects and delaying motherhood.
- Legal Changes: Laws relating to equal pay, sex discrimination, and easier access to contraception/abortion gave women greater control over their lives and fertility.
The Concept of the Symmetrical Family
Sociologists Willmott and Young argued that family life was evolving into the Symmetrical Family, particularly among working-class families in the late 20th century.
- What Symmetrical Means: It means balanced or shared. Roles are not strictly segregated, although they are rarely perfectly equal.
- Key Characteristics:
- Husbands help with childcare and some domestic tasks.
- Wives participate in paid employment.
- Couples spend leisure time together.
Willmott and Young saw this symmetry as a natural evolution of industrial society. It represents a move towards equality and shared responsibilities.
⚠️ Critical Note: Many sociologists (especially feminists) argue that the symmetrical family is a myth. They point out that women still carry the 'dual burden'—working a paid job AND doing the majority of the housework and childcare. So, while things are more balanced, they are often still unequal.
The Impact of Technology and Globalisation
Technology also speeds up social change related to the family:
- Contraception: Allows couples to plan family size and timing, separating sex from reproduction.
- Domestic Technology: Items like washing machines and vacuum cleaners reduce the sheer physical labour of housework, though feminists argue it raises standards of cleanliness rather than reducing women's time spent on the tasks.
- Globalisation: Increased migration creates transnational families, where members live in different countries but maintain strong links through technology (video calls, instant messaging).
🔑 Key Takeaway: Social Change and the Family
The core message is that families are not fixed; they are flexible institutions that adapt to external forces like economics and laws. We have seen a shift from large, economically dependent extended families to diverse family structures based on choice, mobility, and increasing gender equality (even if that equality is not yet perfect!).
Good luck with your studying!