How the family changed over time Essay

How the family has changed over time? The institution of the family has changed dramatically over last 50 years and the main sociological perspectives, functionalism, Marxism, feminism and interactionism have described this changes in terms of family structure, divorce rates, marriage rate and gender roles. Defining family in Britain is problematic as until 1960’s few sociologists questioned the importance of the benefits of the family. Family is a group of people living together related by blood or marriage who support themselves economically and emotionally. It was assumed that the family was evolving with the change in Britain. From the 1960’s , with increasing divorce rates, living together before marriage, single parent families, one person households , separation and migration, family traditionally seen as nuclear (based on two adults and children) became harder to define. Sociologists have concluded that the family has become harder to define in the more traditional sense. A family can now consist of any group of people living together and/or bringing up children. This could separate due to divorce and another family created through remarriage or cohabitation, with the introduction of step children or children born to the new parentage resulting in another family unit although the first one still technically exists. There are two basic types of family structure: extended and nuclear. Functionalists say industrialization changed the function of the family. In pre-industrial society the extended family was most prevalent. Families lived and collaborated in engendering goods and crops to live from, taking the surplus to market. In industrial society, the nuclear family becomes ascendant. Status for an individual in pre-industrial society was ascribed. Talcott Parsons (1956) presumed that in industrial society an individual’s status is achieved by their prosperity. The nuclear family is the best way to achieve prosperity as individuals. Family structure adapts to the changing circumstances. Changes in economic, political, and moral approach led to the transformation of the family structure. Postmodern times in which we live in a time of tolerance, emancipation of women, legalization and acceptance of homosexual relationships. All these changes meant that more and more people moved away from the traditional model of the family, universal fifty years ago. Statistics indicate an increasing number of households about 9. 2 million since 1961 but that is due to the increase amount of the divorce, migration, remarried people, single people and increase in length of life. At the same time the increase amount of households decreased their size and the average number of children due to widespread access to the contraception, abortion, aging population and costs associated with children’s maintenance. More women are also delaying having children because they focusing on work and education seeing role of the mother as a barrier. It is related to ‘child centric’ model of the family, which learn society to treat children’s as the most ‘precious’ , whom one must completely conform their lives to them . Most mothers deciding to give a birth at age 30-34. Although, life style changes have also caused decrease in married couples amount which is also related to religious approach, because from 1981, when only 49% of all marriages were civil marriages, at 2010, already 68,2 % of all marriages where civil marriages. However, married couple are still the most common type of the family. The functionalist view of the role of the family in society is that it maintains social order for benefits of all. The family is a tool for primary socialization and a key social institution in sustaining the value consensus (Harambolos 2008).Murdock (1949) claimed that family was universal. It is defined as a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. A family lives in the same home, has economic co-operation usually through the division of labour where the man will take on the instrumental role and provide for the family while the woman will adopt the expressive role and take care of the home and family members. Unfortunately, that’s the most common image of division of labour for as much, men, are more likely to help at housework or child care presently, it still seen as a responsibility of women. Marxists would contest this viewpoint, arguing that the division of labour is capitalist dogma used to control the labour force and stop them from developing class consciousness. Marxism looks at the methods of control of the ruling class (bourgeoisie) in determining the way society is organised. The family is seen as part of the structure of society and is one of a number of social institutions which helps maintain the capitalists system. Marxists state that it is the requirements of the system that has come to shape the family in modern societies. From this perspective view, society revolves around the infrastructure and social superstructure. The family helps to maintain this system. Friedrich Engels (1884) provides a basis for the Marxist view of the family were strongly linked to the evolution of the capitalist system. He also explored the concept of monogamy and argued that the monogamous nuclear family developed with the emergence of private ownership of the ‘means of production’. Engels stated that this system is maintained by the socialisation of capitalist social norms and values. Marxists do not see this as benefitting the family at all, only the system, and therefore this helps support their theory that family exists as a largely negative institution. Both of these sociological perspective see the role of the family in the opposite way, but in the meantime both of them describing family as a unit of socialization. On the other hand functionalists assume that the family is a positive and beneficial institution in which family members receive nurturing, care and unconditional love which helps keep society functioning well. However, this is not always the case, when it comes to domestic violence, divorce and child abuse. All couples and families who were nuclear families or had potential to be were being ruined each day, providing that the functionalist’s view of a beneficial family was much overestimated. In comparison, Marxists state that family helps to maintain class differences in society as the rich can afford to give their children a better start in life than the poor, such as. pay for a better education, and get them a good job either in their own business or their friends business. Marxists believe the family socializes the working class to accept that it is fair that the classes are unequal. A different view on the family, presented by Feminists, focuses also on socialization but sees its effects in division of labour and gender role stereotyping. They states that family is bad for women. Girls and boys learn their different gender roles within the family through socialization. Girls copy their mothers, doing housework, whilst boys copy their fathers, doing DIY. They then learn that this is how male and female roles should be. Feminists believe that the family is male dominated- the term for this is patriarchal. Their theory is still relevant nowadays, because although more women are having careers it’s still expected from them to take care of children’s and home. Perceptions of roles is so deeply rooted in society that, despising the false image of a woman liberated, having range of capabilities which can freely pursue her dreams when in the end ,is still required from her to perform, in the meantime, the role of housewife. In contrast, interactionist state that the family assists in the construction of the identity for the social individual and looks at the society at a micro scale. In this perspective the family, through interaction helps the social individual to understand ‘self’ when feminists could argue that vision of how one should look like and behave originates from socialization. They also believe that family helps the social individual identify her/his social role without considering how institutions, class conflict and gender stereotyping influence on creation of those roles. In Great Britain the family is built on the concept of marriage with children had a very well-established position but during last century divorce rates increased 200%. Which is also reflected in the number of separations reported annually by 150,000 to 200,000 pairs per year. Some researchers place the cause of increased divorce on higher expectations (Fletcher, 1966). And given the rates of remarriage it is not the institution of marriage, or the ideology picturing lifelong happiness that is rejected, but an insufficient partner. (Denny1984) regards western style marriages based on romantic love as fragile because they are only held together by emotional ties. Another reason why divorce rates increased is that now considerably less social stigma and blame is attached to divorce. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon are changes in divorce law making it much easier to divorce now then for example 50 years ago. Statistics show that the number of children in divorcing couples declined from 153,000 to 104,000. However, this data does not take into account cohabitating couples whose separation is not recorded. The amount of cohabiting couples has increased significantly in recent years. In the majority of relationships still the most important are children’s. The average time spent with children nowadays by mothers is 2h 32 minutes and by fathers 2h 16 minutes when 50 years ago that that was only 25 minutes per day for both parent. Currently fathers are more involved in bringing up children, and the belief in the society that children are an extension of us and their success is our success modernized power image of the families. Is widely spread on the increasing number of single fathers to 178,000 from  60,000 from 1670. This shows how evolved the role of the father in the family. Increasingly, we find also reconstituted families where the connection partners cohabitation or marriage jointly raise children from a previous relationship. That happens because of the increased amounts of divorce and remarriage trends. Humans as far didn’t create any more successful structure t han family. But is nowadays family a well-functioning institution ? Very big influence on how present family looks like has mass media which are creating image how does family should look like which society is fallowing. Traditional family model become a consumption unit which glorifies children and parents are responsibility to make them happy and fulfill their all desires. All values and norms changed dramatically over time and people lost respect to institution like marriage. In conclusion family is still a basic part of the society but it evolved creating new forms of it. References: Haramolos, M & Holborn, M (2008) 7th Ed. Sociology, themes and perspectives, Harper Collins: London Scott,J. & Marshall, G (2009) Oxford dictionary of sociology , Oxford University Press: Oxford

Postpartum depression: The mother, child and partner involvement Essay

Traditionally, postpartum psychiatric disorders have been divided into three categories depending on increasing degrees of severity: postpartum blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum Depression (PPD) is thought to affect between 4 and 28% of all mothers. Despite its prevalence, it is not well understood.   It is the duration, severity and complexity of the symptoms that distinguishes PPD from the baby blues and postpartum psychosis (Romm, 2002). PPD can affect any woman, no matter what her age, economic status, or cultural background. Symptoms include madness, irritability, apathy, and intense anxiety, crying spells, worthlessness, and inability to make decisions or to concentrate. It can begin anytime during the first few days, weeks, or months after delivery. The specific cause is unknown but fluctuating hormone levels, exhaustion and stress may trigger. PPD, if left untreated could lead to postpartum psychosis characterized by delusions and hallucinations; they may become suicidal or have thoughts of hurting their baby. There are a lot of possible causes of PPD which include: doubt about the pregnancy, lack of support system, breast-feeding problems, sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone levels after childbirth, unresolved issues and any other stressful events. Signs and symptoms that may indicate that postpartum blues are actually PPD include: worsening insomnia, changes in appetite (poor intake), poor interaction with the neonate; views the neonate as a burden or problem, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming the neonate, feelings of isolation from social contacts and support systems, inability to care for self or neonate due to lack of energy or desire (Springhouse, 2007). A range of risk factors have been identified with the development of PPD, including a history of depression, difficult infant temperament, marital or partner relationship problems, child care stress, low self-esteem and poor social support. Postpartum depression is very treatable with counseling and/or antidepressant medications that are safe for nursing mothers (Riley, 2006). The child of a PPD mother Researchers have extended examination of PPD to include samples from various cultures and countries around the world. PPD disrupts maternal-infant interactions and children’s cognitive and emotional development. Withdrawn, disengaged, and intrusive maternal behavior patterns may result in fussy, aggressive, less affectionate and less responsive infants. Reduced vocalization and slower neurological growth and motor skills development have been documented among infants of depressed mothers. In response to growing incidence of PPD’s negative effect on infant development, investigators have begun to focus evaluating interventions to promote improved mother-infant relationships. Nurse investigators are also involved in testing better tools for early detection of PPD. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) is a promising, 35-item self-report instrument to identify women who are at risk for PPD. Given the importance of PPD as a clinical problem, mental health evaluation of all postpartum women should be standard care (Fitzpatrick & Wallace, 2006). This depression often interferes with a woman’s ability to function. One of the major challenges in dealing with PPD has been early recognition. Undiagnosed PPD can result in tragedy, sometimes in a form of maternal suicide or infanticide that makes headlines. Early intervention is essential. In screening, it is important to recognize that women who have experienced a high-risk pregnancy, previous infertility, previous post-partum depression, and stressful labor and birth are at risks of PPD. A non-supportive partner or stress related to family, marriage, occupation, housing, or other events during pregnancy can also contribute to the risk of PPD. Also, women with past history of depression not related to pregnancy are at risk. Screening for PPD begins with prenatally with identification of potential risks. it is important that the woman at risk and/or diagnosed with PPD receive appropriate counseling, treatment, and support (Phillips, 2003). One clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of an interactive coaching approach delivered by trained home visiting nurse produced promising findings. The intervention had a positive effect on maternal-infant responsiveness among mothers. Subsequent research is needed with diverse samples to test additional interventions to reduce negative effects of maternal depression on child development. Inclusion of partners to examine family processes related to maternal depression was also recommended (Fitzpatrick & Wallace, 2006). The treatment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Treatment is available for people suffering from depression, the most effective for moderate-to-severe cases generally being combination of biological and non-biological therapies. This usually means making use of both medication and psychotherapy. One key factor in the success if antidepressant medication is the willingness of patients to take it as prescribed. Compliance with prescribed medications is also important. Psychotherapy is educational in nature and involves helping patients develop an understanding of various problems, as well as new beliefs and behaviors, which can ultimately lead to more successful adjustments. Psychotherapy may be supportive in nature or crisis-oriented (Ainsworth, 2000). The high rate of depression and anxiety disorders in women of childbearing age should alert the primary care physician to consider PPD in the routine care of young and middle-aged women (Robinson & Yates, 1999). The partner of a PPD mother   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research suggests that women’s relationships with their male partners are crucial to understanding PPD. According to studies, male partners are the primary sources of support in mother’s lives, and one of the main causes of PPD is seen as a poor relationship in which a woman’s partner fails to be sympathetic, understanding, or supportive in practical or emotional terms (Mauthner, 2002). The partner’s positive response to this problem could result to faster recovery of the mother and the safety of the child as well. References Ainsworth, P. (2000). Understanding Depression: Univ. Press of Mississippi. Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Wallace, M. (2006). Encyclopedia of Nursing Research: Springer Publishing Company. Mauthner, N. S. (2002). The Darkest Days of My Life: Stories of Postpartum Depression: Harvard University Press. Phillips, C. R. (2003). Family-Centered Maternity Care: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Riley, L. (2006). Pregnancy: The Ultimate Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide: Meredith Books. Robinson, R. G., & Yates, W. R. (1999). Psychiatric Treatment of the Medically Ill: Informa Health Care. Romm, A. J. (2002). Natural Health After Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness: Inner Traditions / Bear & Company. Springhouse. (2007). Maternal-Neonatal Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.   

Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay example -- Great Expectations

Dickens through Great Expectations seemed to have depiction of women and according to Martin Chilton should not be surprising that he did. Charles Dickens stated in 1842 â€Å"Catherine is as near being a donkey as one of her sex can be† (Chilton). Catherine was Dickens wife from 1836 to 1858; they had many kids together. Many believe Dickens terrified and depressed his wife of many years. Dickens had trouble depicting a mature female. Chilton states, "his own relations with women were all damaged, incomplete or destructive" (Chilton). There is obviously a connection between his personal experience and they way he depicts Mrs. Joe and others. Dickens relationship with women gave him many feelings to draw upon to display in his writing. Martin Chilton thought Miss Havisham was Dickens himself. The women in Great Expectations live under year’s of oppression. The cast of characters we saw were not educated and were in difficult personal situations. Peter Scheckner says, â€Å" the genealogies in this work show that virtually every female in the novel is a victim of oppressive circumstances, if not of economics then of a sex... ... middle of paper ... ...trated with the large majority of the female characters most of the time but evidently he would struggle without them. I truly, believe though if he had a more supportive stepmother, he would have ended up in a better situation and would be able to sustain his success. Charles Dickens was a novelist who wrote intense stories about the journey of Pip to fulfill his expectations. He was a man who had a difficult family situation. It was evident he was cruel to his wife Catherine and the fact that he did not even communicate to his ex wife that their son had died, he later sent a letter after the fact. These deplorable behaviors led to his depiction of many evil female characters in Great Expectations. Men in the novel were portrayed in a far better light and the depictions of women were disturbing to many has most Victorian women of the time were the total opposite.

Irans Refusal to Release Iranian Americans Essay

Irans Refusal to Release Iranian Americans - Essay Example It involved the detention of dual citizenship holders, Haleh Esfandiari, Kian Tajbakhsh, Ali Shakeri and Parnaz Azima. This paper will recount the issues involved in this detention and the charges levied against these four Iranian-Americans based on newspaper accounts. It will also detail the reaction of US President George Bush and the rebuttals of Iranian officials. The purpose of this investigation is to determine if the detention is actually an Iranian act of terrorism against the US. According to news reports, the detention of the first of the Iranian-Americans occurred in May 8, 2007 when Haleh Esfandiari was incarcerated in Evin Prison, followed by the arrest of Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh on May 11, 2007, who was also remanded to the same facility. Two other Iranian-Americans were also charged, after having been prevented from leaving Iran for an undisclosed period of time. Ali Shakeri, on his way to Europe, was detained on May 8 as well while Parnaz Azima was prevented from leaving Iran when authorities confiscated her passport in January 2007. A brief description of the four detainees follows. "Haleh Esfandiari is the director for the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, in Washington". ("Haleh Esfandiari") She is an expert on Middle Eastern women's issues and democratic development as well as contemporary Iranian politics. She has published numerous papers on the contemporary issues concerning Iran, focusing on the plight of Iranian women. She has a doctorate degree from the University of Vienna and is the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Grant. She has been prevented from leaving Iran since December 2006 when her luggage and passport were stolen while on her way out of Iran to the airport. ("Haleh Esfandiari") As a social scientist, Dr. Kian Tajbakhsh has published two books, received his Master's degree from University College in London and his doctoral degree from Columbia University. "He is also associated with the Open Society Institute, a non-profit organization promoting public health, humanitarian relief, culture, and local government". ("KIAN TAJBAKHSH, PhD"). Dr. Tajbakhsh worked with the Iranian government on issues of public health in rebuilding communities in the aftermath of the Bam earthquake ("KIAN TAJBAKHSH, PhD"). Ali Shakeri is an Iranian-American businessman connected with Global Estate Funding from Irvine, California who graduated from the University of Texas. He served in the University of California's Center for Citizen Peacebuilding as part of the Community Advisory Board. He is also an active member of the Ettehade Jomhourikhahan-e Iran (EJI) which is working for a democratic and secular republic Iran. Parnaz Azima is a journalist for US government-funded Radio Farda. Not much is available on the career of Parnaz Azima, but Radio Farda has long been a thorn on the side of Iran. A joint project of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA), it is a 24/7 radio service broadcasting news about Iran as well as popular Persian and Western music. The radio station's website, in which users can red and interact, had been blocked from access by the

The Concept of Culture in the Translation Studies Coursework

The Concept of Culture in the Translation Studies - Coursework Example Each approach to translation attempts to trace in detail the actual process of translation and to describe how translators actually translate. One of the most important methods to emerge today in translation studies is the cultural approach. This paper will explore the merit of this method in translation studies. It was the Romans who first introduced the use of the concept of culture as an indispensable aspect in translation studies. According to Rainer Schulte and John Biguenet, during their period translation meant incorporating subject matters of foreign culture into the language of one’s own culture. For critics, this could mean looting those elements from Greek culture that would enhance the aesthetic dimensions of the Roman culture. However, as what Cicero proclaimed, he was translating ideas and their forms and was therefore setting the word-for-word rendering of the original-language text secondary or of no import at all. Culture, hence, was pivotal here even if its a spects were used to enhance another. Saint Jerome, the famous translator of the Greek Bible into Latin, favoured this method, arguing that translation meant expropriating ideas and insights from another culture to enrich one’s own language. Saint Jerome in fact improved on this, contributing to the definition of the history of the discipline. One of the authors who would credit Saint Jerome as their influence is Rufinus of Aquilea, one of the most important translators of Greek texts into Latin in late antiquity.

Hospital Administartion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hospital Administartion - Essay Example Within the context of what was previously mentioned, Sentara offers a variety of services, for patients ranging from newborn to elderly, and in almost every field. Sentara has also focused on providing first aid, as it pioneered the first air ambulance service in the region called Nightingale, as well as implementing new protocols in 2000 that dramatically improved the survival rate and lowered the effects of stroke. Also, in 2006, it implemented the 12-Lead EKG system that enabled doctors in Sentara hospitals to receive EKG's from paramedics on route to the hospital. While providing both inpatient and outpatient services, it should be mentioned that Sentara has focused the past years on several fields, improving their methods and technology. These fields include oncology, cardiology and urology. Oncology is an ever developing field, and Sentara managed to develop their methods and expand the scope of their treatments to provide the best care for its customers. In 2000, it implemented a computer-aided detection system for breast cancer, revealing cancers earlier, and therefore improving the effectiveness of treatments. It also implemented several systems in 2002 for a better effectiveness of radiation treatments, such as stereotactic radio surgery, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and brain wafers, all with the purpose of effectively delivering chemotherapy and radiation treatments to tumors without damaging surrounding tissue. In addition, in 2005 it is the first healthcare network in the region to use the recently approved FDA chemotherapy ViaCirqO method for treating abdominal cancers. Sentara also implemented certain revolutionary surgical techniques in treating cancers. In 2002, the Zeus surgical robot was used to treat prostate cancer, making small incisions and m inimizing scars. From 2004-2007 has been implementing the Da Vinci surgical robotic system that has been implemented in several aspects of thoracic, urinary and oncologic surgery, reaching the number of 500 surgeries performed in 2007 since its implementation. As cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, Sentara has also focused on perfecting the procedures and machinery involved in treatment of such diseases. Procedures like transmyocardial revacscularization that increases the blood flow to the heart is beating-heart bypass surgery is one of the many techniques utilized by the physicians. In 2002, Sentara performed the first adult congenital atrial septal defect interventional repair. In 2004, this procedure was improved even further, by pioneering a new transcatheter technique, reducing patient's recovery time from 6 weeks to 2-3 days. It also pioneered several new devices in the region, such as the HeartMate II, which is a device assisting in transplants in 2005, and a latest in CT and MRI technology in 2007 in order to better detect cardiac tumors, septal defects and the percent of damage after a heart attack. Urology is also one of the more prominent areas of healthcare that Sentara focuses on. They provide the InterStim therapy, which is a rare procedure throughout the hospitals in US, and just recently made available for patients. It is also the healthcare

Extreme sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Extreme sports - Essay Example Hatfield (2011) uses the analogy of triathlon to explain the difference between those perceived to be elites and non-elites by explaining that their distinct differences stem the fact that goal is vital after which being competitive follows. Mountain (2006) argues why these individuals live on the edge. Extreme sports are usually perceived by the public as acts of taking risks in an irresponsible manner. Mountain (2006) claims that they often burden the public especially the taxpayers in the event that an individual taking irresponsible risk is injured or even in need of being rescued. Interestingly, in public debates and discussion, rarely will you find individuals incorporating the negative implications of limiting accessibility to risky sports. Mountain (2006) further asserts that suppose these sporting activities are suppressed, these persons are likely to find outlet of their energy in a way that may even be more burdensome to the society. Despite the fact that extreme sports do not appeal to majority of the public, there are quite a number of persons who these activities fulfill part of their lives. Mountain (2006) points out that differences between people in the society makes the society interesting besides contributing to the diversity of cultures across the globe. It is indeed true that every person needs some level of adventure for the purpose of fulfillment. However, others need more to do so for their life excitement. According to Mountain (2006), these individuals have a personality trait referred to as Type T. Amazingly, these type of personality are not only risk takers but also the best in various fields such as entrepreneurship, innovation, management et cetera. The progress of the society can hugely be attributed to these individuals who are always willing to take risks. Unfortunately, person possessing such traits