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"What's
Happening to the Family?"
Joseph
Chamie
Director Population Division, DESA United Nations
Despite
its recognized centrality to humankind, increasing numbers of
governments, non-governmental organizations as well as individuals
have been raising serious concerns regarding the family. Are such
concerns justified? Does the family need additional government
protection and assistance? Should the family be at the very top of
the list of political priorities? To address these and related
critical and pressing questions, this paper considers the issue of:
What*s happening to the family?
Irrespective
of ones position or views concerning the current status of the
family, there is wide spread agreement that the family has gone
through a significant transition that is still well underway. After
examining definitional issues relating to the family, this paper
highlights the views and policies of the international community of
nations towards 'the family. Seven major trends are identified as
greatly affecting the status and well being of the family around the
world: 1. increased urbanization; 2. changing living arrangements;
3. more formal education, especially among girls; 4. greater
participation of Women in labor force; 5, changing marriage
patterns; 6. changing fertility behavior;
and
7. ageing of population. Also examined are government policies and
programs aimed at assisting the family.
Common
to the concerns of governments and non-governmental organizations as
well as individuals to the status and future of the family are three
fundamental issues: 1. mate selection, marriage, unions and
partnerships; 2. parenthood and childrearing; and 3. care for aged
family members. How governments and other relevant
organizations choose to relate to these three vital issues will have
profound consequences not only on the future of the family, but also
on the well being of society itself.
Read
The Papers' Abstract:
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