Major_Changes_in_Family_That_Occured_with_Process_of_Modernity

Introduction According to UN, cited in Donohoe J. (2003) “The family is any combination of two or more persons who are bound together by ties of mutual consent, birth and/or adoption or placement and who, together, assume responsibility for, inter alia, the care and maintenance of group members through procreation or adoption, the socialisation of children and the social control of members”. In this essay, the author will be exploring some of the changes that have occurred in the family through pre-modern (traditional) society to industrial (modern) society. In during this, the author will be looking at the concept of family, different types of families, family structures and changes that occur in Europe and Irish society. Family has under gone series of transformation. During pre-modern era, families lived in rural areas. There were close family ties among the members of the family. The main source of livelihood was agriculture, families working in the farm to survive. Children as early as seven had started engaging in farm works, some of them went into apprenticeship or serving other families in their homes, Gidden’s (2005). There were larger connection and communal communication within the community. As the world began to experience economic changes through industrialisation, family ties also began to experience changes. When people began to move from rural areas to cities, the family ties and neighbours began to break. Society began to experience different types of family. Economic change also brought about changes in the values and norms of the family and community. Different definitions and meanings being attached to family, kinship and marriage. According to Gidden’s (2006), family is a group of persons who are closely related to each other and this include adults who looks after the children, while Kinship is referred to as attachment that exist among people through marriage or chains of descent that has blood connection. Looking at both definitions, the author observed massive changes in the family structure. At pre-modern society, families were larger in number and connected. The author realised that in the pre-industrial period, families were taking to be people living together and working to survive, regardless of how they were connected for example, slaves, adopted and servants were regarded as family. The traditional family in Ireland had undergone major changes in its structure and nature for many years now. Industrialisation is the key factors for these changes which include family relationship, kinships and conjugal relationship (Ipa1992:35: cited in McDonald 2006). Before industrialisation, Irish family were characterised by a strong community and kinship network with a domestic means of livelihood. There were rigid roles which were attached with the type of duty one perform. Respect was always given to the father by children and wife and was seen as provider and owner of the family farm (Ibid.36: cited in McDonald 2006 ). In the 1930s, marriages in Ireland were in the hands of the parents of the couples and kinsfolk. It was believed that the essence of marriages were to create roles in transferring property and making new kin networks (IPA 1992:26; cited in McDonald 2006). The perception now is that individuals can freely make choice of whom they desire to engage marriage with. Again modernity has seen a lot of lone parents, most come from non- marital child bearing (CSO, 2003b; cited in abbey Hyde 2007). Ireland of modern society has also experienced an increase in marital breakdown (divorce) (CSO, 2004b cited in Abbey Hyde 2007). This wasn’t the case in the pre- industrial era. Economic changes have been pin pointed as being the major influence in the family changes. This being that change in economy brought with it political ideas and values which in many ways affect how people relate to each other, Abbey Hyde (2007). In Ireland, Religion was used as yardstick in regulating conduct at that time, which is no longer the case now. Before industrialization, home and workplace were often joined, while child training were responsibility of everyone regardless of group. In modern society, the functions and roles of traditional families were transferred to other social institutions. Social institutions like crèche, nurseries and pre-school took-over childcare and offers range of services to families. In the area of relationships and marriages, it has moved from traditional roles to relatively modern westernised notion of romantic love Donohoe & Gaynor (2003:243; cited in McDonald 2006). Conclusion The modern society has changed family from its traditional role to more characterised modern society. Industrialisation is the key factor to these changes. Ireland is not an exception to these changing; however, Ireland experience was not till 1930s. References Abbey Hyde, Maria Lohan & Orla McDonnell. (2007) Sociology for Health professionals in Ireland. CSO (2003b) Report on vital statistics. Dublin: The statistics office (cited in Abbey Hyde 2007) CSO (2004b) 2002 Census of Population: Principal Demographic results www.cso.ie/pressreleases/pre/cenpdr2002.html. (Downloaded April 20th 2004) (Cited in Abbey Hyde 2007). Giddens, (2006) sociology Cambridge, UK: polity press. Institute of public Administration (1992) sociology, IPA, Dublin (cited in McDonald (2006) An Introduction to sociology in Ireland. UN, (cited in Donohoe J. & Gaynor, F. (2003:243).