HHS4U Review Expanding Families PDF

HHS4U Review Expanding Families Introduction · ​ Deciding to have children, looking back at expanding families - role of children throughout history Historical Role of Children: -​ Children’s roles have evolved: from economic assets (helping on farms or contributing to hous...

HHS4U Review Expanding Families Introduction · ​ Deciding to have children, looking back at expanding families - role of children throughout history Historical Role of Children: -​ Children’s roles have evolved: from economic assets (helping on farms or contributing to household income) to being seen as emotionally and financially dependent. -​ Consider societal changes, industrialization, and how these shifts altered family dynamics. Having Children in Canada Today · ​ Fewer children, older moms article -​ Stats Canada indicates declining fertility rates and increasing maternal age due to career prioritization, economic concerns, and access to family planning. First Nations: ​ Traditionally nomadic with egalitarian division of labor; all contributions valued. ​ Boys hunted with men; girls tended plants, animals, and children with women. ​ Children’s labor was essential for family survival but required years of learning. ​ Colonization reduced nomadic lifestyles and introduced blended cultures. ​ European patriarchal values devalued women’s and children’s roles. ​ Role confusion and family conflict arose in First Nations communities. European Immigration: ​ Marriage and family practices varied by class. ​ Middle/upper-class families: ○​ Women valued for dowries and childbearing abilities. ○​ Men prioritized lineage, wealth, and biological ties. ○​ Children are seen as essential for securing family interests. ​ Farming/peasant families: ○​ Marriage and children were economic necessities. ○​ Children contributed labor from a young age. ​ Gender roles were distinct, following parental division of labor. Key Definitions: ​ Total Fertility Rate: Average number of children a woman would have based on age-specific fertility rates. ​ Replacement-Level Fertility: Number of children needed per woman to maintain population levels, accounting for mortality. · ​ Fertility trends, Stats Canada article review -​ Review data on fertility rates and factors influencing them (e.g., cultural norms, economic conditions). -​ Explore how government policies (e.g., parental leave, childcare benefits) affect birth rates. Deciding to Have Children (pages 304 – 317) ​ Factors Influencing Decision: ○​ Divorce: Risk of instability may influence family planning. ○​ Financial Considerations: Cost of raising a child in Canada, including housing, childcare, and education. ○​ Health Concerns: Fertility challenges and risks associated with older pregnancies. ○​ Societal Influence: Expectations from family, friends, and culture. ○​ Social Policies: Government incentives like tax breaks and family allowances. ​ Childless vs. Childfree: ○​ Distinction between involuntary childlessness and the choice to remain childfree. ○​ Societal perceptions and stigma surrounding both choices. Changes in the couple relationship ​Stress that may come from role overload (too many new roles to be filled) must be managed by renegotiating their relationship roles parents take on with the addition of a child? Disciplinarian, Caregiver, Friend but not too friendly, Teacher ​Many couples experience a decrease in marital satisfaction after the birth of a child – best predictor of marital satisfaction during the transition to parenthood is marital satisfaction before it ​Lack of time – couple time, personal time, time with extended family, time with friends, time commitments at work – often cited as a major concern Systems Theory ​Accept new member and alter their relationship they established as a couple to allow time and space for the new relationships each will form with their children Family Life Cycle Perspective ​ Couples transition from a dyadic (partner-focused) relationship to a triadic system (partner + child). ​ Emphasis on how roles and expectations evolve during parenthood as part of the family development stages. ​ Challenges include adapting to new routines, managing time for intimacy, and balancing work-family commitments. Systems Theory ​ Family is seen as a system where changes in one member (e.g., the arrival of a child) affect the entire system. ​ Role overload and stress are common as partners renegotiate responsibilities. ​ Emphasize interdependence and how effective communication can buffer stress. Symbolic Interactionism ​ Focuses on how partners interpret and assign meaning to their new roles. ​ Role strain might emerge from conflicting societal expectations (e.g., gender roles). ​ Communication and shared definitions of parenthood are crucial to maintaining harmony. Role Overload and Stress ​ Increased responsibilities (childcare, work, household management) may lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. ​ Unequal division of labor often contributes to resentment or conflict. Time and Negotiation of Roles ​ Balancing time between work, parenting, and personal relationships requires constant negotiation. ​ Flexibility and mutual support are vital in managing time constraints. Related Article: "More Men Opting to Be Stay-at-Home Dads" ○​ Reflects the renegotiation of traditional gender responsibilities. ○​ Symbolic interactionism explains how this shift challenges societal norms and redefines fatherhood. ○​ Systems theory highlights the ripple effects on family dynamics and social networks. Changing Relationships with Others (Pages 327–328): ​ Systems theory explains the ripple effects of parenthood on extended family and social networks. Transition to parenthood shifts family dynamics: -​ Parents become grandparents; siblings become aunts/uncles. -​ New strategies for child care and responsibilities are required. Relationships within the extended family must adapt: -​ Grandparents need opportunities to develop their roles. -​ Clear hierarchies help avoid conflict over the child’s care. Friendships are also affected: -​ New parents’ focus on family and baby-related interests may strain old friendships. -​ Some relationships resist change, while new ones may form. Adapting to these changes is a key developmental task for new parents. Parent Child Relationships (pages 328 – 330) · ​ Attachment – Harlow’s experiment with monkeys / secure and insecure attachment/ impact on adult relationships / Erikson stage 1 and 7 / mother and father attachment Attachment theory-Harlow’s Experiment: Importance of comfort and bonding (monkeys clinging to cloth mothers). ​ Secure vs. Insecure Attachment: Secure bonds lead to healthier adult relationships. ​ Erikson’s Stages: ○​ Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust – Importance of nurturing in infancy. ○​ Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation – Parental role in guiding the next generation. Mother and Father Attachment: Both play distinct but complementary roles in a child’s emotional development. Parental Roles (pages 332 – 342) · ​ Parenting Styles and influence on children · ​ Roles – mother’s / father’s / single parent / same sex parents; textbook reading Parenting Styles: ​ Authoritarian: Strict rules, less emotional warmth. ​ Permissive: High warmth, low discipline. ​ Authoritative: Balance of warmth and structure (most beneficial). ​ Neglectful: Low warmth and discipline. Parental Roles:  ​ Explore traditional vs. evolving roles (e.g., single parents, same-sex parents). Sharing Parenthood with the Larger Society (pages 345 – 351) · ​ Who provides care for children? – Grandparents’ and their roles / skip generation families trends and impact / Noreen’s story / ​ Caregiving Roles: ○​ Grandparents: Often act as caregivers, particularly in skip-generation families (grandparents raising grandchildren). ○​ Community and Social Support: Availability of daycare, after-school programs, etc. ​ Case Study – Noreen’s Story: ○​ Highlights the challenges and rewards of multigenerational caregiving. Case Studies (pages 316-317 / 352 – 353) · ​ Emma and Sanjay, Grant Enjoys Being a Father-The case studies of Emma and Sanjay and Grant Enjoys Being a Father highlight the evolving dynamics of parenting and family roles. Emma and Sanjay navigate the challenges of balancing dual careers, shared responsibilities, and maintaining their relationship, emphasizing role negotiation and adaptability. Grant's active involvement in caregiving illustrates the benefits of secure attachment, evolving gender roles, and achieving a fulfilling work-life balance. Perspectives · ​ Use theoretical perspectives to analyze and decision to have children and adjusting to parenting Symbolic interactionism: Individuals base their perceptions of self on the feedback of others; experience the social world and define and interpret these experiences to give them meaning ​Couples who are surrounded by others with children may influence the couple to have children ​Feedback received from their reference groups may support their perception that they should have children Conflict theory: Looks at how societies are held together by power; conflict exists between groups in society fighting for power; competition for scarce resources ​Couple may argue over whether or not to have children (power in the relationship) ​Couple may decide that there are not enough resources to go around; not add a child to the mix Systems theory: The family is a complex organization; within the family individuals interact as a system, working with and influencing one another; change in one member causes change in the rest of the system; strive for balance (homeostasis) ​ Feedback; strategies; boundaries; subsystems  ​Couples believe that they can work together and can use strategies to add a child to their system and creating a new subsystem; new member requires adaptation to find a sense of balance Developmental theories: Predictable changes in behaviour of individual family member over time through various stages; rites of passage; societal expectations ​Can be applied to the family (newly married; with young children etc.) Having children is viewed as the last marker in the transition to adulthood. It is seen as a lifelong commitment that should not be taken lightly. Social exchange theory: Decisions are made on a cost-benefit analysis; maximize benefits and minimize costs; reciprocity (give and take) Parents look for emotional fulfillment and love from the child in exchange for the care-giving they provide. Feminist theory: Examines the impact of sex and gender on behaviour; social inequality between men and women from female perspective Females are paid less than males and taking time off can have an impact on that salary gap Males may want their family name to be passed on