Globalization and Family

3979 Words16 Pages
Оглавление Introduction 3 Chapter 1: What is Globalization? 5 Chapter 2: Globalization and families 7 2.1 Defining Families 7 2.2 Linking Globalization and Families Through Family Policies 8 2.3 Globalization and Concurrent Social Transformations Affecting Families. 9 2.4 Demographic Trends 9 2.5 Gender Role Trends 10 Conclusion 14 References 16 Introduction Globalization is associated with the spread of specific ideologies that are realized and negotiated in the intimate sphere of the family. Families are integrated into the global economy through formal and informal work, through production and consumption, and through their relationship with nation-states. Moreover, constantly evolving communication and information technologies allow families and individuals to have access to others in an unprecedented manner. These relationships are accompanied by new conceptualizations of appropriate lifestyles, identities, and ideologies even among those who may never be able to access them. In the West we are witnessing an increasing emphasis on individualism, a democratization of family life, the decreasing authority of men, the growing acceptance of alternative lifestyles such cohabitation, divorce, and same-sex couples, and more varied life course trajectories. These depictions of family life have also spread to the developing world. However, due to a complex set of interrelated factors, the acceptance of varied family forms has not taken hold in the same manner. Instead, developing countries have been faced with their own unique challenges with respect to family life. In particular, economic concerns such as labor force participation, rising inequalities within and between countries, and fears about ‘Westernization’ have elicited, in some cases, nationalistic responses. Globalization is closely related to all of these social phenomena.
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