SOCIOLOGY

Non-Traditional Families



Non-Traditional Families

Introduction

When one tends to perceive of the term household one tends to create a mental image whereby there is a family living under one roof and that family constitutes a wife and a husband along with one offspring. This tradition is present since the very start and hence has become a norm which is the acceptable criteria in the society. But today the statistics tend to communicate something different something that is unexpected. Besides the traditional concept of mother and father along with a kid, has emerged the non-traditional structure of families. The number of non-traditional family structure is said to be increasing and are currently more in number then the traditional. The various forms of non-traditional family structures that are prevalent today are:

Single Father Family

Single Mother Family

Gay Parent Family

Lesbian Parent Family

A nationwide survey was conducted and it was also noticed that around thirty to sixty percent of the youth of districts of urban school is currently living with the caregivers and not their parents. In Alabama, for instance, 29 percent of the children are cared for by single parents.

Single Father Family

The concept of single parent families is said to be the most recognized and common form of non-traditional families. Only one parent is said to be home supporting the child throughout. Initially it was the female who was playing the role of a single parent but recently it is also the males who have said to take responsible roles of single parent. There are programs of the US department of human and health services for Fatherhood initiative that is said to promote fatherhood and at the same time has facilitated in the improvement and understanding of the positive role of the fathers in the lives of the children. Currently higher attention has been given to single parent families involving mothers but now focused has said to be shifted to single parent families involving fathers. Single Father Family is a small confined segment of the society which is said to be increasing in number. There have been several factors that have said to contribute towards the increase in the single father families. The factors that have said to be behind the increase in the single father families is the fact that the divorce rates have been sky high. There have also been the initiation of the of no fault divorce laws along with the changing perspective with respect to the decrease in the cultural biasness with respect to mothers being the only provider of care and nurture. There has also been an increase of joint custody. There have also been changes in the perception of females with respect to women having a career orientation and focusing on improving their life styles. The court or the justice system has also said to focus on the wishes of the children. More and more fathers have been opting for sole custody and more of mothers are choosing not to take responsibility of the ...