Contemporary Family Related Issues | Sociology for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

The Quality of Parenting

• The quality of parenting significantly influences children's overall well-being.
• Children's academic success is closely tied to the strength of the parent-child relationship.
• Active parental engagement with their child's school is associated with improved academic performance.
• Reading proficiency in children is influenced by their home environment, including:
  • Availability of reading materials in the household.
  • Parents dedicating time to read with their children.
  • Frequency with which children observe their parents reading.

The quality of the parent-child bond plays a critical role in shaping children's social skills and peer relationships.

• Parental warmth fosters the development of social skills by modeling empathy and supportive behaviors that children can imitate.
• Children's social skill development thrives in environments free from conflict and excessive control, as democratic parenting encourages self-discipline, initiative, motivation, and strong self-esteem.

Relationships Between Teenagers and Adults

• Some parents struggle to manage their teenage children, with delinquent behavior often linked to inadequate socialization into societal norms and values by parents.
• A notable issue is that some teenagers become parents themselves, often unprepared for the responsibilities of parenthood.
• In dual-income households, both parents working full-time may reduce opportunities for direct interaction with their teens, straining relationships.
• Teenagers increasingly engage in social networking and online gaming, which can challenge parents' ability to set and enforce boundaries.
• Parents face conflicting pressures to encourage independence in their teens while also being expected to monitor and protect them, contributing to the rise of helicopter parenting.

Care of Disabled & Elderly People

• According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS, 2014), life expectancy in the UK is 79.3 years for men and 83 years for women.
• Increased life expectancy in the UK is attributed to:
  • Provision of the National Health Service (NHS).
  • Advances in medical care.
  • Improved nutrition.
  • Better living and working conditions.
• This has led to an aging population, with a growing proportion of older individuals and a decreasing percentage of children and young people.
• Women in beanpole families often face significant pressure, as they may be responsible for caring for both younger and older family members.
• These women are part of the "sandwich generation," caught between caregiving responsibilities for multiple generations.
• Factors such as class, gender, and ethnicity impact an older person's independence, well-being, and social life, influenced by access to resources like savings, good health, and in-home care.

Arranged Marriage

• An arranged marriage involves parents or family members selecting a partner they deem suitable for their child, based on mutual consent and the individual's right to accept or reject the choice.
• This differs from forced marriage, where one or both partners do not consent, yet the marriage proceeds against their will.
• Forced marriages are illegal in Britain, with penalties for coercion reaching up to 7 years in prison.