Families in the New Millennium

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses some of the most pertinent and important issues relating to the modern family. The paper illustrates how many of the forces and factors that shape modern society are seen at play within the social dynamic of the family. The paper looks at predictions about the future of the family. The paper also considers the difference between families in developed and less developed regions of the world. The paper concludes that the future will bring alternative styles of the family and possibly even the eventual demise of the traditional and nuclear family structures.

Outline:
Brief Overview and History
Theoretical Perspectives
Beyond the Nuclear Family
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There is little doubt that the nature, shape and form of the modern family has changed and is still changing in new and radical ways. The family has in the last few hundred years changed from the traditional and extended structure to the nuclear family unit and into various permutations and variations in the postmodern world."
"There are also many theorists and researchers who have already announced the end or demise of the family as a relevant structure in contemporary society. Others on the other hand assert that in the spite of compromises and experimentation, there has been resurgence among many cultures towards the maintenance of the family as a viable and essential part of the social and cultural matrix."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, G. L. (Ed.).1997, The Family in Global Transition. St. Paul, MN: Professors World Peace Academy.
• Baker, M. 2003, 'Reinventing the Family: In Search of New Lifestyles', Journal of Sociology, Vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 178+.
• Constructivist epistemology. [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_constructivism
• Coulter, G. 2001, 'Cohabitation: An Alternative Form of Family Living', Canadian Journal of Sociology, Vol.26, no. 2. p. 245.
• Doyle R. 1999, The Decline of Marriage. ( Scientific American, Dec. 1999) [Online] Available at: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000068B7-1673-1C74-9B81809EC588EF21

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