Family size
- Families in many countries are not as large as they used to be
- We tend to live in small nuclear families rather than large extended families
- Parents tend to have fewer children
- Young children are no longer expected to work
- Nowadays both parents often work
- It costs so much to bring children up
- It is more difficult to raise a large family
Working Parents (also see ‘Gender’ Topic)
- Children and their parents seem to be less close nowadays
- Parents spend less time with their children
- Women traditionally stayed at home to cook, clean and look after children
- Nowadays both parents often work full time
- Children may be left alone, or with nannies or babysitters
- Busy parents have less contact with their children
- Many families no longer eat meals together
- Children spend more time with friends or surfing the Internet
Negative Effects on Children
- The lack of closeness in families can have a negative effect on children
- Many parents have no idea how their children spend their time
- Friends, television and the Internet become the main influence on children’s behavior
- Teenagers are influenced by peer pressure
- Some of them join gangs
- Juvenile delinquency is on the increase
- Parents should be more involved with their children’s upbringing
- Young people need positive role models
Divorce
- In the past, divorce was unacceptable
- It was considered to be embarrassing for a family
- People stayed together for religious or family reasons
- Divorce is more socially acceptable nowadays
- It has become much more common
- Divorce can be extremely stressful
- Lone parents may face financial difficulties
- Many single parents have to rely on benefits paid by the state
- Divorce can have a negative effect on children
- Children from single-parent families are more likely to get lower grades or drop out of
- The rise in divorce rates may be connected to some social problems
Care for Old people
- Caring for elderly people was traditionally the responsibility of families
- Adults had to look after their elderly parents
- A woman’s job was to stay at home taking care of her family
- Nowadays, fewer elderly people are looked after by their relatives
- Residential homes provide care for large number of elderly people
- Nursing homes can provide professional medical care
- Some families are unable to look after elderly relatives
- Families tend to be smaller these days, and women often have full-time jobs
- Cares homes provide a professional service for senior citizens
- Nurses are better trained than family members
Care for Old People: Opinion
- The best form of care for the elderly depends on the family situation
- It depends on whether family members have the time resources
- We all have a responsibility towards the older people in our society
- Governments should invest money in facilities and training for care workers or social service workers
