SOCIAL CHANGE & MEGA PROBLEMS

Part IV Social Change Mega Problems



Part IV Social Change Mega Problems

Ch. 11 The Changing Family

"Reports find fewer couples are getting legally married these days, families are getting smaller and 85% percent of Canadians are satisfied with their lives" (CBC News, Vanier). In reflection to this overview, we can state that people are making decisions merely based on their emotional needs. For instance those who only want to marry, marry. Moreover those who want to have children have them. These ideas are not related to economic necessities which were present in the past. When analyzed, we can assume that the term "family" is changing dramatically with the changes in our society.

The term “economic reasons” means doing something for the benefit of society or for the purpose of achieving something. The term “emotional reasons” means doing something for the benefit of the family or for oneself, to feel happiness. This essay will demonstrate how the family is an institution that has evolved and changed from a social unit that was formed mainly for economic reasons to one that provides for the emotional needs of its members. I will demonstrate my view by discussing the changes in domestic responsibilities, roles of children and oppression of women.

The primary changes in the family can be seen when examining the domestic responsibilities between the husband and wife. In the 1600's and 1700's family units were based merely on patriarchy, the domination of males over females. In clearer terms the male was the head of the family whom made all the decisions and only functioned as the breadwinner; women were liable for all household chores.

Ch. 12 Urbanization and Population Issues

The world is steadily becoming more urban, as people move to cities and towns. They search for employment and educational opportunities and higher standards of living, migrating from rural lands that can no longer support them. Today, almost half of humanity lives in urban areas, and the urban population is growing two and a half times faster than its rural counterpart. By the year 2025 urban areas are expected to be home to more than two thirds of the world's people. Already the world is largely urban, and even in rural areas life is increasingly affected by the changes created by the growth of cities.

The increases of urban population in developing countries far exceed those in the more developed regions. Today there are nearly two urban dwellers in developing regions for each one urban dweller in the more developed regions; by 2015 there will be more than three; by 2025, nearly four.

Rapid rates of urban population growth strain the capacity of national and local governments to provide basic services. Often the resulting inability to keep pace causes human suffering, environmental damage and unsustainable patterns of development.

Concerned by these looming issues, the world's Governments will convene the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul from 3 to 14 June 1996. The Conference is served by a preparatory process that ...