By Sofia Latina,
Throughout most of history, romantic love was not considered a suitable basis for marriage. In traditional societies, people were getting married on the principle of a typical contract and significant negotiations among families that would increase wealth, property, prestige, perks and power. In other words, romantic love and intimacy between couples wasn’t exactly the case and would deviate thoroughly from the individualistic state of mind that has been established gradually in modern societies successfully. But, what does marriage really showcase in terms of a social and a realistic stage?
In most societies, marriage and family are key structures that affect and create the context of a functional or dysfunctional institution. Thus, in modern societies a more-of a liberal way- of thinking leads to contradictory actions among the members of the community. People tend to be independent and aware of their own choices and actions and that fluctuates the family form. Thus, the spontaneity of love and attraction among two different people that happen to get attracted is of paramount importance. This is one sided. Socially speaking, the presence of chemistry is the core aspect of what it takes to be in a romantic affair that might lead to a successful and a happy marriage. This leads to a marital satisfaction and a happy relationship. But what happens after that? Taking into account a variety of angles, there’s a tremendous likelihood of numeral shifts in the participants’ life. The potential and pursuit of a lover comes along with different social backgrounds that come together to build a strong group in the foundation of love and affection. Sociologists claim that the family concept is more diverse and less structured than in the last decades. So, that shows that people can constitute the family that are urging to make, with the subjective design that follows yet families are as important as they were in the past. Alongside that, many families are still bonded, emotionally tied and nurtured in a healthy fashion. So, many people would agree that emotional closeness of the members is higher more than ever in contrast with the last decades no matter the fluidities that come across.
It’s even more acceptable to be a single parent or to be married with a person from a different religious background as it used to be in the past and that’s ok. No person should be judged by his personal choice and that’s a matter of ideology. In Western societies, ‘nuclear families’ are the prominent ones but also other models have been introduced in the society such as the single parenting pattern, which proves that the family circle is altering, changeable and dynamic. Even a single family can occur changes within time and stage and that points different achievements, goals and visions a family can hand down from the past into present. Of course, problems might vary from the childhood of the off-springs till the adulthood. That transition is challenging and unique. Studies focusing on marital stability and satisfaction surprisingly display that the so called “empty nesters’ the parents whom their kids have entered adulthood are the ones who strive from balance the most. Some people interpret it as a lack of disenchantment or disappointments but the most successful factor of all should be the adaptation a couple might show throughout the upbringing of their children.
Pointing out some characteristics of modern families doesn’t mean that is a guarantee for every single family and parent in this world. Generalizing families and their relationship is never the case. The family life course never ceases but develops again and again according to multiple conditions and circumstances.
References
- Κοινωνιολογία της Οικογένειας. eclass.upatras.gr. Available here
