Growing Diversity and Complexity

Question: Explain what is causing the changes in the nature of the family as a social institution according to each political parties. Answer: The structure and functionality of families have been diversifying for the past few decades. In the 1960s, the family structure included parents and their children; presently only 16% of the households paint this picture (Knowles et al. 73). There are societal changes happening in every community due to the continued changes in the family structure and functionality. There are two popular viewpoints of political parties regarding the diversities in family, the first viewpoint supports the idea that the families are changing the society and are the building blocks responsible for maintaining societal structure. The second viewpoint on the other hand regards the family as the product of the society implying that social changes have changed the basic structure of families. People who believe that the changes in the families are deconstructing the societal structure are more alarmed by the significance of the situation. With the huge evolutionary steps taken by families every passing year, the implications on the society could be huge (Walsh et al. 222). According to the first viewpoint discussed, there are several changes in the family diversifying family infrastructure and affecting the society. For example, divorces and polygamy are common. People divorce their spouses and marry more than once. The children resulting from these marriages reside together but are divergent. Children residing together with their stepsiblings are known to be more problematic than the others are. This issue can be addressed by helping couples sort through their marriages with the help of therapy and by offering the same therapeutic opportunities to the children. According to the second viewpoint, societal changes are pressurizing families to change and adapt. For example, interracial marriages are common in this day and time because the society approves of it and even champions it. While the concept is not bad in any way, these marriages are creating confusions in the society; this can be addressed by proper counseling and encouraged social meetings. Reference Knowles, Gianna, and Radhika Holmstrom.Understanding Family Diversity and Home-School Relations: A guide for students and practitioners in early years and primary settings. Routledge, 2013. Walsh, Froma, ed.Normal family processes: Growing diversity and complexity. Guilford Press, 2012.