Applying the Sociological Imagination to Sole-parent Familes

1346 Words3 Pages

There is much debate on what constitutes as a family today. However, Ball (2002) states, “The concept of the traditional family…is not an immutable one. It is a social construct that varies from culture to culture and, over time, the definition changes within a culture” (pp. 68). There is a growing diversity of families today including the commonality of sole-parenting. In order to explore aspects of sole-parenthood objectively, I need to reflect and put aside my personal experience of growing up in sole-parent household. Furthermore, this essay will explore the historical origins, cultural aspects discussing the influences and implications of gender identity, and social structures of sole-parent families, as well as consider the implications in midwifery by applying the sociological imagination. Mills (2000/1959) describes the sociological imagination as “…a quality of mind that seems most dramatically to promise an understanding of the intimate realities of ourselves in connection with larger social realities” (pp.15). In other words, the sociological imagination involves the ability to consider the relationships between personal experiences and those within society as a whole. Families are becoming more diverse and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some people consider families to be strictly biological, while others consider people they love to be their family. Although two-parent families, also known as a nuclear family are the majority, one-parent families are becoming more common in today’s society. A sole-parent is considered to be a parent without a partner or spouse who is the primary care giver of one or more children in a household (Ministry of Social Development, 2010). From the age of 14 onward I was raised by m... ... middle of paper ... .../publications-resources/research/sole-parenting/sole-parenting-in-nz-an-update-on-key-trends-and-what-helps-reduce-disadvantage.pdf New Zealand College of Midwives. (2014). Philosophy and code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.midwife.org.nz/quality-practice/philosophy-and-code-of-ethics Pairman,S., Tracy, S., Thorogood, C., & Pincombe, J. (2013). Theoretical frameworks for midwifery practice. Midwifery: Preparation for practice.(2nd ed, pp. 313-336). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia Statistics New Zealand. (1999, June). Key statistics: New Zealand’s children. Retrieved from http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/Children/nzs-children.aspx Statistics New Zealand. (2005, June). Focusing on women 2005. (Catalogue No. 16.001). Retrieved from http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/Women/focusing-on-women.aspx

Show More
Related

  • Sociology Of Families Chapter Summaries

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chapter 10 of Teresa Ciabattari book Sociology of families talks about the social policy and the future of families. The chapter starts by giving the readers a brief review of what we have learned so far in chapters 1-9. The chapter discusses the different approaches to what a family is and the changes of what the meaning of family is in the united states. The propose of the chapter is to get a better understanding of the book’s ideas yet to also see what the types of impacts they’ll have in our future society. The chapter is spilt into many categories such as Defining family, family change, family continuity, family diversity, inequality and social policy; housing policy and family inequality, state welfare policy and family, and so forth.

    Read More

  • The Struggles of Single-Parent Households

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the core of every marriage is family, family structure, and family values. These values are passed down from generation to generation. However in recent years the standard North American family has shifted. One of the most striking changes in family structure over the last twenty years has been the increase in single-parent families. With the increase in children being born out of marriage, teen parenting, and other social dilemmas, more children are being raised in single parent household. Single mothers are prevalent in minority groups, especially in the African American community. The African American youth has a stigma of high cases of teen pregnancy, high cases of sexually transmitted diseases, and are more likely to participate in risky behavior when compared to their White counterparts. Studies have shown that children born into single parent households tend to live less healthy lives, participate in risky behavior, and demonstrate behavior problems in the class room.

    Read More

  • Family Structure During The Shakespearean Era

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    The nuclear family throughout history is consistent. Each home is comprised of parents and children. Today, the gender roles have changed and been accepted by many. For instance, recently it has been made possibly for two men or women to marry and have a family, where in history this was frowned upon. Also, women have become stronger individuals who ordinarily have jobs the same as men. Childhood nowadays is looked at as a time to enjoy yourself with no worries, where in the past this was the beginning of your whole life. Children are not expected to get jobs and learn how to run a house; they are supposed to play and not have a worry on their mind. Family relationships have continued to be a crucial part of every person’s life. From Shakespearean Time to the 21st Century, a nuclear family subsists of parents and their children, but fortunately their roles and identities have changed. Thankfully, family’s uphold to be a unit working together, with roles that have amended to keep equality, and a positive existence for all

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Single Parent Family

    1247 Words  | 3 Pages

    For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents? Does a young boy need a father figure around? Does the government provide help for single parents? What role do step-parents and step-siblings play? With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process

    Read More

  • Egalitarianism: Single Parenting In The United States

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although the gold standard in child rearing has traditionally been a dual family unit, being a single parent is now a major norm in a county that once referred to it as a sin. Our society is shifting away from the bonds of matrimony, and having a child with wedlock. There various poverty and emotional issues children struggle with living in such a household. In many cases, they tend to struggle through life. However, single parenting is seen through a selective perspective to those outside the home. It can also enlightening and rewarding for a child to watch a single parent take on the jobs of either an absent mother or a father. Living in a single parent household teaches a child that they can survive on their own no matter what obstacles thrown in their life, because the child and the parent are a team.

    Read More

  • Statement Of Purpose For B2study Midwifery

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    I have always known that I wanted to be an active part of society, supporting people and having a true impact on their lives is initially what led me into teaching. Life’s journey has brought me to this point, my own experiences of 4 very different pregnancies, labours and births as well as supporting friends and family through this special time in their lives, has made me realise how much I desire a career in midwifery. Expectant women are encouraged to make informed decisions and it is my belief that this can only be done if the woman is provided with accessible information in a way that she can fully understand it; educating women and their families can help build the supportive and trusting relationship between themselves and the midwife as well as creating a sense of control over how the woman and her baby are cared for. I believe this is one of my strongest skill sets, as the ability to adapt information and form relationships with my students was essential in my teaching career.

    Read More

  • Sociological Perspective Analysis

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    Being raised in a single parent family home, has opened my eyes to many perspectives discussed in family society class. [opting out, choice gap, second shift roles, separate spheres, and plan b] perspectives have taught me different ways to look at families in society today. When I examined these perspectives, not only did it put me in a situation to think of different outcomes to better families, but it also made me brainstorm on how these perspectives play an important role in careers, and how sometimes they are not really discussed amongst society today. Within this paper I will explain and display sociological perspective examples that lead to relation stories within my life period.

    Read More

  • Social Hardships of Single Mothers

    2054 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nonetheless, the study will still cover economic hardships since the two are closely related. The study will attempt to prove that single mothers are disadvantaged socially and economically. The study is segmented into two main sections; firstly, a background depicting researches in this field. Secondly, the study will present an argumentative literature attempting to clarify that single mothers do have a genuine problem not only economically, but as well socially in upbringing their children. To achieve this, the essay appoints Langston Hughes Poem ‘Mother to Son’ as a derivative reference point in developing this study. Research has traditionally focused in examining the emancipation of the female gender during their development. However, few researchers have intrinsically examined on the adult-life of single parents, more so in relation to women. The few efforts relating to this field like Williams (179) exemplifies that women suffer the greatest menace while trying support their single-parented families...

    Read More

  • Non Traditional Family

    1528 Words  | 4 Pages

    A traditional family consists of two heterosexual parents and their children residing together as one social family unit. However, a non-traditional social family unit can consist of one or more of the following: LGBT parents, single parents, foster parents, teenage parents, polygamist, extended family members, blended families, multiracial families and cohabiting individuals. Before I accepted the responsibility of raising my niece, I thought I would become a parent the traditional route by giving birth to my own child as a result of a marriage union; however, that is not how parenthood chose me. My parents divorced when I was eight years old. This experience allows me to empathetically relate to single parent families who form as a result of either voluntarily or involuntarily circumstances such as death or divorce amongst other factors.

    Read More

  • Single Parenting In The United States

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a traditional family, a mother and father live in the same home raising their children together. In the United the States, modern families are deviating from these traditional views. In particular, single parent households are becoming more prevalent. Since the 1970s, the percentage of single parent families has steadily increased. One in three families with children under the age of eighteen consisted of only one parent in 2013. The increasing rate of single parenting raised public concern and is recognized as a social problem. Consequently, sociologists study the rising trend of single parenting and the many social problems that contribute to its growth. The number of single parent families is increasing because of the growing number of

    Read More

  • Development of My Personal Core Values

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    The family is the main agent of socialisation and an institution. (Giddens, 2013:339). As children, we rely on our family to fulfil basic needs. We all need guidance, and more importantly we also require nurturing to become healthy adults. The definition of family varies across cultures. However, the family is sensitive to change and, therefore, not static. The structure of the family has changed, and culture and society are now more accepting of the fact that people now choose to cohabit, rather than marry. (Haralambos & Holborn 2009:3). In 2013, there were nearly 1.9 million lone parent households with dependent children in the United Kingdom; a figure which has steadily increased over the years (Office of National Statistics 2013). The rise in lone parents has brought about greater acceptance of pregnancies that do not have to involve marriage although acceptance is not the concern. A study suggests that….

    Read More

  • Single Parent Households

    690 Words  | 2 Pages

    Family values have always been fundamental for a growing child. The child learns at a young age the importance of family, the meaning of family and how significant value systems help their perception, instincts, and understanding of the world all can originate and come from family. Children see their parents as guides. With that they provide it helps to discover these life characteristics. Parenting is a life time job that requires a lot of support coming from two caring parents. Many kids come from a traditional two parent family home; however, in contrast a vast majority of kids come from a single parent home. There are multiple circumstances that lead to a single parent home. Some of which include divorce,death, and one parent walking

    Read More

  • Partnership Between Midwives and Their Clients

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the fundamental principles of midwifery is the relationship that is developed and nurtured between a midwife and the woman she is caring for (Guilliland & Pairman, 2010; Kirkman,...

    Read More

  • Single Parenting Theory

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    Current family issue is single mother parenting because it refers to a lot of women including myself that have to deal with single parenting. Single parent families, mostly women have increased in a poverty level outcome. In many instances, a single mother must take on and consist of role expectations, developmental task, and labor inequalities. Problems of single parent families are compounded by economic difficulties. By approaching this topic with the use of Feminist Perspective theory and The Family Development Perspective, I will provide points to why this is a family issue in today’s society.

    Read More

  • The Family as an Agent of Socialization

    1399 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyone is born into some form of family, with the family taking the responsibility of nurturing, teaching the norms or accepted behaviors within the family structure and within society. There are many types of families, which can be described as a set of relationships including parents and children and can include anyone related by blood or adoption. Family is the most important, “for it is within the family that the child is first socialized to serve the needs of the society and not only its own needs” (Goode, 1982).

    Read More

More about Applying the Sociological Imagination to Sole-parent Familes

Open Document