Contemporary Family Issues

As society and the world changes, it is no surprise that family relationships and dynamics also change. We will be focusing on contemporary social issues relating to families.

• We will first consider the issue of the disagreements on parenting quality, particularly among teenage mothers.

• Next, we will look at how relationships between teenagers and adults has changed.

• Lastly, we will look at the issue of caring for elderly people.

What is a 'contemporary family'?

The term 'contemporary family' can apply to various configurations that exist in contemporary society, including, for instance, same-sex civil partnerships, married couples with or without children, single-parent families, cohabiting partners, and voluntary social groupings (such as communes).

Contemporary family issues: a summary

When we consider contemporary family issues, we look at current social issues relating to families and children. As this is quite a broad scope, this can include many things, from education and health to economics and employment.

Let's look at a summary of contemporary family issues.

Why do we study contemporary family issues?

It is important to stay on top of and understand contemporary family issues, especially for politicians and policymakers. This is because social policies need to be created and/or updated to address any potential social issues that families and children may be facing.

We will be addressing and understanding such matters from a sociological perspective, so that we can see how research into these issues may inform social policies.

Let's move on to the first contemporary family issue.

Fig. 1 - Contemporary family issues help policymakers adjust social policies.

Disagreements on parenting quality

There are disagreements on parenting quality based on the structure of the household.

Typically, nuclear families with two adult parents have been favoured, and teenage motherhood, in particular has been seen as a 'problem' for policymakers and wider society. However, sociologists have looked into why teenage pregnancies may happen and how they actually impact people in society.

Sociologist Simon Duncan (2006) found, contrary to general belief, that teenage parenthood may not always be disastrous for young mothers or their children. He suggested that teenage parenthood may, in fact, open up opportunities.

One example as to how this is possible is the suggestion that having a baby increases the parents' duties and makes them feel more responsible. Therefore, they may be more inclined to obtain employment, training, or study further to provide for both themselves and their baby.

Such sociological research helps inform us about the nature of social issues and their true nature.

Divorce as a family issue

Roughly half of all marriages end in divorce, so naturally, divorce has become a significant issue for many contemporary families. Divorce is a very tough time for married couples and can lead to emotional and behavioural issues in their children, as well as general instability and uncomfortable change.

This can lead to conflict between parents and children, increased conflict between married partners, and cause long-term social and psychological consequences.

However, it must be noted that sometimes divorce can be the best solution to unsolvable conflicts and issues. While complicated and difficult, it can also bring peace, freedom, and new opportunities to all involved.

Relationships between teenagers and adults: communication issues

There are several family issues present between teenagers and adults in contemporary families. Many of them are concerned with relationship dynamics and communication issues. Let's go over some of these in turn.

• Can parents control their teenage children? Should they be able to? If so, how? This may also bring in the issue of physical punishments, such as slapping or otherwise physically abusing the child, which is common in some communities.

• How should teenagers be socialised into society's norms and values? Have delinquent children simply not been socialised correctly?

• How should teenage parents be expected to raise children if they are teenagers themselves?

Contemporary family issues: domestic abuse

In recent decades, there have been increased conversations about the issue of domestic abuse within contemporary families. For instance, abuse can be faced in multiple ways: physical, sexual, emotional, and financial, to name a few.

Also, it is not always straightforward - the abused person cannot always leave the situation and may not always be physically weaker/smaller/more 'likely' to be abused.

It is vital to have these conversations to raise awareness about domestic abuse and protect as many people as possible.

Caring for the elderly

When we think of elderly people, we may consider them to be weak or dependent on others. However, sociologists have found that our understanding of the elderly may be overly simplistic.

Ginn and Arber (1992) found that the experience of being elderly varies greatly depending on an individual's social class, gender, and ethnicity. Such factors affect an older person's social life, independence, and health and well-being.

Let's consider how an elderly person's identity and background can shape their lifestyles and experiences in the contemporary family.

Social class

An older person from a working-class background may rely on government pensions and/or housing to live off when they retire. They are less likely to be homeowners. If their family is also working-class, they may be unable to support elderly family members or house/take care of them.

A working-class person may also be more likely to suffer from more health conditions that worsen with age.

In contrast, an elderly person from an upper-class background may have their own property and/or savings to live off during retirement, as well as pension payments. They may also be able to live in private care homes, which generally have better facilities and care.

Fig. 2 - The experience of old age can depend on social class, gender and ethnicity.

Gender

Older women are more likely than older men to look after other relatives that need care and support, such as their spouse or ill relatives. In this way, elderly women may have very different experiences of old age.

Moreover, in the UK, women typically live longer than men. As a result, many elderly women may find themselves alone after their male partner dies.

Ethnicity

Some ethnic minorities may have different approaches to older populations. For example, it is common in South Asian households for family members to take care of the elderly out of cultural expectations and traditions.

Such minority groups are less likely to put their parents or grandparents into care homes, for example. Instead, they may have their older family members move in with them and either see to their needs themselves or hire carers for them.