Globalisation involves the growing inter-connectedness between countries through increased travel opportunities. It enables more freedom of choice in terms of lifestyles and personal relationships. Globalisation may influence families and households.Applying material from Item C, analyse two ways in which globalisation may influence families and households.
AQA
A Level
2024
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Globalisation and its Impact on Families and Households
This essay will explore two ways in which globalisation may influence families and households, drawing upon insights from Item C. The first is the increase in migration, which can lead to families living in different parts of the world and the creation of more complex family structures. The second is the growth of freedom of choice associated with globalisation, leading to a wider variety of family forms and relationships.
The Impact of Migration on Families
Item C highlights the increased interconnectedness between countries through travel, which facilitates migration. This can result in families being dispersed across the globe. One way in which this affects families is the creation of transnational families, where family members live in different countries. This can lead to challenges in maintaining close relationships and supporting each other, due to geographical distance and cultural differences. Another consequence is the potential for separation and loneliness, especially for children who may be left behind while parents migrate for work or opportunity. The impact of separation on child development and well-being is a significant concern.
The Influence of Freedom of Choice on Family Structures
Globalisation also creates a wider range of choices in personal relationships and lifestyles. This increased freedom may lead to more complex family structures, including:
- Divorce and Remarriage: Globalisation may contribute to higher divorce rates through the introduction of new ideas about individual happiness and the right to choose partners. Remarriage can then lead to blended families with complex relationships and dynamics.
- Extended Families: Globalisation allows for greater contact with extended family members, even if they reside in other countries. This can lead to a resurgence in extended family support networks.
- Negotiated Families: The freedom of choice leads to the emergence of negotiated families, where individuals choose to create family units based on shared values and goals, rather than traditional expectations. This may include same-sex partnerships, cohabiting couples, and single-parent families.
These changes in family structures can be seen as both positive and negative. While they allow for greater individual autonomy and choice, they also challenge traditional family norms and can lead to social and cultural tensions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, globalisation has a significant impact on families and households, both through the increased migration of family members and the widening choices available in personal relationships. The consequences of these changes are complex and multifaceted, creating both opportunities and challenges for individuals and families.
Globalisation and its Influence on Families and Households
Globalisation, characterised by the increasing interconnectedness of nations, has profoundly impacted the dynamics of families and households. This essay will analyse two key ways in which globalisation influences these fundamental social units, drawing on the insights provided in Item C.
Increased Migration and Transnational Families
Item C highlights how globalisation facilitates increased travel opportunities, leading to a surge in migration. This movement of people across national borders has significant implications for families. Firstly, it can result in transnational families, where members reside in different countries while maintaining strong familial bonds. For instance, parents may migrate for work, leaving children in the care of relatives back home. This physical separation can strain relationships and create emotional challenges for families.
Secondly, migration can alter family structures. Individuals may choose to relocate permanently, leading to the formation of new families in their adopted countries. This can result in more culturally diverse societies but may also lead to tensions due to differing values and norms surrounding family life. Furthermore, the decision to migrate, particularly for economic reasons, can impact traditional gender roles within families. For example, women migrating to take on care work may find themselves with increased responsibilities both within their own families and in their roles as paid carers.
Freedom of Choice and Diversification of Family Forms
Item C also suggests that globalisation fosters a wider range of lifestyle choices and relationship models. This has contributed to the diversification of family forms beyond the traditional nuclear family. Increased acceptance of divorce is evident in many societies, often fuelled by changing economic realities and greater individual autonomy. Globalised media and cultural exchange play a role in shifting attitudes towards marriage, cohabitation, and single parenthood, leading to greater acceptance of these choices.
Moreover, globalisation allows for the emergence of negotiated families, where individuals actively shape their family structures and relationships to suit their personal needs and desires. This might involve blended families, same-sex partnerships, or extended family arrangements that challenge traditional norms. While this freedom of choice allows for greater individual fulfilment, it can also create challenges for social policy and legal frameworks that struggle to adapt to these evolving family forms.
Conclusion
Globalisation's impact on families and households is multifaceted and complex. Increased migration patterns contribute to transnational families and the diversification of family structures. The freedom of choice afforded by globalisation enables individuals to pursue a wider array of lifestyles, leading to the emergence of non-traditional family forms. While these changes present challenges, they also offer opportunities for greater individual autonomy and more diverse and inclusive societies.
Globalisation involves the growing inter-connectedness between countries through increased travel opportunities. It enables more freedom of choice in terms of lifestyles and personal relationships. Globalisation may influence families and households.Applying material from Item C, analyse two ways in which globalisation may influence families and households.
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Changing Family Structures
An increase in migration may mean families live in different parts of the world. Freedom of choice is creating more complex family and household structures, such as divorce, extended families, and negotiated families.
Wider choice of partners is also contributing to these changes.