Introduction
Family is an essential part of society as it is the first agent of human socialization. An individual’s status, education, and upbringing depend on their family. However, the structure and the purpose of the family alter with time due to economic and social changes. These alterations are likely to provoke the question of whether family still is a formative factor in human life. However, despite all the significant changes, the family has a central meaning for people.
Changes in Modern Family
Nowadays, families face great change as their members embrace new roles and responsibilities. Since gender roles in society become different, it causes an interchange of functions that previously used to be known as strictly male or female. For example, nowadays, women are possibly to be family providers, and men are expected to be more involved in domestic responsibilities (Oláh et al., 2018). There is a change in the perception of marriage and family as well. It is not considered a necessity anymore, so many people prefer to postpone creating a family or reject the idea of marriage at all.
Digitalization of Communication
Another significant change in the life of the modern family is the digitalization of communication, as it changes family dynamics and relationships. One of the contributing factors to this change was the Covid-19 pandemic. The digitalization of social connections greatly affects the behavior of family members (Schneider & Kreyenfeld, 2021). However, a detailed study of the influence it has on families is yet to be written.
Importance of the Family
Despite new dynamics in modern families, the meaning of family for a person stays the same. A family is a place where an individual learns social skills and practices emotional intelligence. It offers material and emotional support and regulates the behavior of family members (Candelario, 2021). In other words, for many people, it is a source of protection and support they count on in their lives.
Conclusion
Family as a social institution changes with the course of time. Social changes broaden the roles of men and women in the family. The understanding of the purpose of marriage is changing nowadays as well. Digitalization of social interactions leads to different dynamics in family relationships. Still, the family remains the most important community where people are able to satisfy their material and emotional needs.
References
Candelario, S.V. (2021). Family organizational basics: leadership, communication, environment, and culture. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Oláh, L., Kotowska, I.E., & Richter, R. (2018). The new roles of men and women and implications for families and societies. In G. Doblhammer & J. Guma (Eds.), A Demographic Perspective on Gender, Family and Health in Europe (pp.41-65). Springer Open. Web.
Schneider, N.F. & Kreyenfeld, M. (2021). Research handbook on the sociology of the family. Edward Elgar Publishing.