Family Role In Society

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The Role of Family in Todays Society Throughout history, the definition of the family has evolved and changed to adapt to the political, economical, and social pressures of society. For this very reason, it is difficult to establish specific criteria that must be met in order to be considered a family. A broader definition is often used, however to define the term family is what many would consider a matter of personal experience and opinion. This opinion varies depending on your experiences as a child and your lifestyle. The reasons for the changes throughout history are vast, but routinely prove that the family is a solid institution that can adapt to any sort of change. As we study our ancestors and world history, it becomes evident…show more content…
The Hunter-Gatherers were the earliest human families, which consisted of a group of men and women raising children together. The men were often away hunting for the family, while the women stayed with the children gathering other edibles. Once agriculture was established, monogamy became the preferred marital arrangement. Now that one man and one women were able to settle in one place and farm, they could not only afford to have larger families but were required to so the children could help work the land and tend to the animals. As the pre-industrial era came about, it was not uncommon for men and women to marry out of economic necessity and not on the basis of romantic love. Children were still an economic necessity during this time as less than 50% of children reached adulthood. By age 7 or 8, children were expected to work with the adults. This meant there was no time of play or innocence during childhood. During the urban industrial era, men worked in factories while women established their homes. Compulsory education was also implemented during this time and the notion of childhood as a time of innocence was born. Most recently, the last 50 years have been the most significant in terms of changes to the family institution. This is due to economical, political, and social pressures. For example, women were given more legal rights and the Divorce Act of 1968 was established to reflect the changing status of women in our society. Women were also working outside the home now and were less dependent on the men for financial support, therefore giving them greater independence. These changes to society throughout history have had a large impact on the functions of the family and what each members role
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