Change is an inevitable aspect that is impossible to prevent in the social sphere. As the environment, culture, and social-economic elements evolve, the interaction between individuals also changes. Based on an interview with my grandmother, different family traditions have changed over time, mostly because of socialization and changes in love and intimacy, family patterns, and cohabitation, and domestic partnership concepts. As an African American family, the change has also been influenced by individuals’ understanding of their identity and the need for self-empowerment. From the interview, it is evident that initially, women in the family were not allowed to get married with children or have children before marriage. Today, one can have a child from a different relationship and get married or get into a relationship while having custody of the child.
The changes in culture have been mostly because of socialization and the adoption of norms that were not initially acceptable. Initially, kinship was an important aspect that controlled marriage, sex, and children’s upbringing (Kendall, 2016). Today, the family unit and, more so, individuals are charged with such responsibilities. In addition, gender roles have significantly changed, and more women are today empowered. Although there are still patriarchal systems that control women’s actions and undertakings, this has changed in many places, particularly in my family. Women today can decide who they cohabit with, when to get children and how to bring them up.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Another aspect that explains the shift is how globalization has influenced culture. Today, westernization is a common phenomenon that has been significantly influenced by easier communication and interactions online. More people are dropping off their traditions, and the freedom to do so is increasingly being realized in different spaces. This is evidenced in our family in that people are more open-minded and are not bound by traditions. Intimate relationships are now more common and acceptable. Adoption is also an option that most individuals have in the case they cannot raise a child because they are young and not economically stable or because of other dynamics. Most importantly, people are now less judgmental about being married with a child or getting pregnant before marriage. Just as cultural changes have impacted these traditions, individual and societal attitudes have significantly changed as well.
References
Kendall, D. (2016). Sociology in our times . Cengage Learning.
