In general, traditional family ties are weakening. What effects is this trend likely to have on your society?
Though the human family has differed at different time in its organisation and social role, its purpose has been procreation and rearing of children. The long period of infancy natural to the human offspring and love and guidance which are indispensable for the growth of the child necessitate a solid union between father and mother— a family that is knit together, by the bonds of love, care, understanding and filial piety. The weakening of family ties will amount to the disappearance of some of these bonds which can have a detrimental effect not only on children but also on society at large. Whereas the past extended family was based on cooperation, love and respect for elders, the modern nuclear family tends to be individualistic with a marked desire for personal independence. The role of the elders in guiding and nurturing children is much diminished. Many of the functions which the old families performed will, in the not too distant future, have to be performed by social agencies. The question is: Is the development of personality possible if family solidarity is lost?
The family, the first and most ideal example of primary groups that nurtures human nature and creates the finest sentiments known to man, is today under pressure. To Confucius, the state was a family writ large. Increasing affluence, the 'generation gap’, estranged parents, the erosion of parental authority, and the new problems faced by children that were unheard of a generation or two ago weaken traditional family ties and threaten the cohesion of the family unit which has been the ‘nursery of human nature’.
In many societies, the emergence of the nuclear or restricted conjugal family has dealt a heavy blow to the extended family in which the patriarch imposed his will on others. This has altered the relations between members of the family. The nuclear family, consisting of the father, mother and children, is , not necessarily guided by traditions and customs. The parents are often guided by the knowledge they have gained from books about husband-wife relationships and bringing up children. Financial well-being tends to be the primary motive of the parents and other considerations, like the role of the parents and the imparting of traditional values, assume only secondary importance. Such a family is less familial in its orientation and can have harmful effects on society.
Society is likely to have a large proportion ct maiaujuoiou ermarerr,oiusing concern to agencies and institutions concerned with the proper, balanced development of the individual. When the number of members of the family j§ reduced considerably, the family’s role as an institution for socialising children may be diminished. Whereas in the past children had the opportunity of interacting with many others and developing their socially acceptable qualities, now, with the parents away at work, children will be left to fend for themselves. They are likely to become withdrawn and will be more inclined to live as individuals than as members of a group. This problem can inhibit their personality development and children who may have been social assets may turn out to be social liabilities.
The weakening of family ties results in the patriarch’s loss of his position of pre-eminence in the family. If the family becomes egocentric, both parents would experience a loss of their traditional position. The family becomes reduced to a group of disparate individuals without the opportunity of imbibing traditional values and the social norms and mores. It is to be remembered that a strong family unit acted as an institution for transmitting these values. Children growing without the benefit of the experience of parents and elders see things through their adolescent eyes. Their constricted vision can create problems for others. The growing child needs emotional support and guidance. If children are to be taken care of by institutions, they will be denied the opportunity of growing up in an atmosphere of love. Children become self-centred and will be denied the opportunity of imbibing moral values so necessary for social cohesion. The egocentric children who grow up outside the traditional family are likely to question the time-honoured values, and society is bound to undergo a change.
well-knit, kinship-oriented family makes possible considerable marital stability. In societies where families were united by kinship ties, divorces were uncommon. One of the problems, therefore, that may be created by this disintegration of family ties is the increase in divorce rate. A sociologist observes that marriage based on sudden glow of passion and short acquaintance or romance has a tendency towards divorce, the total disappearance of conjugal family ties. Children of such families where the husband and wife are divorced are apt to feel insecure and be uncertain of the future. Divorce shocks children and the problem of living without parental love becomes severe.
The family, the first and most ideal example of primary groups that nurtures human nature and creates the finest sentiments known to man, is today under pressure. To Confucius, the state was a family writ large. Increasing affluence, the 'generation gap’, estranged parents, the erosion of parental authority, and the new problems faced by children that were unheard of a generation or two ago weaken traditional family ties and threaten the cohesion of the family unit which has been the ‘nursery of human nature’.
In many societies, the emergence of the nuclear or restricted conjugal family has dealt a heavy blow to the extended family in which the patriarch imposed his will on others. This has altered the relations between members of the family. The nuclear family, consisting of the father, mother and children, is , not necessarily guided by traditions and customs. The parents are often guided by the knowledge they have gained from books about husband-wife relationships and bringing up children. Financial well-being tends to be the primary motive of the parents and other considerations, like the role of the parents and the imparting of traditional values, assume only secondary importance. Such a family is less familial in its orientation and can have harmful effects on society.
Society is likely to have a large proportion ct maiaujuoiou ermarerr,oiusing concern to agencies and institutions concerned with the proper, balanced development of the individual. When the number of members of the family j§ reduced considerably, the family’s role as an institution for socialising children may be diminished. Whereas in the past children had the opportunity of interacting with many others and developing their socially acceptable qualities, now, with the parents away at work, children will be left to fend for themselves. They are likely to become withdrawn and will be more inclined to live as individuals than as members of a group. This problem can inhibit their personality development and children who may have been social assets may turn out to be social liabilities.
The weakening of family ties results in the patriarch’s loss of his position of pre-eminence in the family. If the family becomes egocentric, both parents would experience a loss of their traditional position. The family becomes reduced to a group of disparate individuals without the opportunity of imbibing traditional values and the social norms and mores. It is to be remembered that a strong family unit acted as an institution for transmitting these values. Children growing without the benefit of the experience of parents and elders see things through their adolescent eyes. Their constricted vision can create problems for others. The growing child needs emotional support and guidance. If children are to be taken care of by institutions, they will be denied the opportunity of growing up in an atmosphere of love. Children become self-centred and will be denied the opportunity of imbibing moral values so necessary for social cohesion. The egocentric children who grow up outside the traditional family are likely to question the time-honoured values, and society is bound to undergo a change.
well-knit, kinship-oriented family makes possible considerable marital stability. In societies where families were united by kinship ties, divorces were uncommon. One of the problems, therefore, that may be created by this disintegration of family ties is the increase in divorce rate. A sociologist observes that marriage based on sudden glow of passion and short acquaintance or romance has a tendency towards divorce, the total disappearance of conjugal family ties. Children of such families where the husband and wife are divorced are apt to feel insecure and be uncertain of the future. Divorce shocks children and the problem of living without parental love becomes severe.
In general, traditional family ties are weakening. What effects is this trend likely to have on your society?
Reviewed by Jame Collins
on
1:20 AM
Rating:

No comments: