Family is the smallest unit based on marriage and blood ties, formed by spouses, children, siblings, and elders. Family is a social structure accepted as the smallest building block of society. At the same time, the family is the first place of learning for individuals; it is primarily here that they gain a sense of respect, love, and responsibility, which shapes the rest of their lives. Family is a concept that has maintained its existence from the past to the present. However, within this period of continuity, the family structure has been shaped quite differently by economic and cultural changes and technology.
First, if we consider the family structure in the past, family held a place so important that it was considered sacred in society. Respect and love were quite important within the family. It was a strong structure where extended families were common, grandfathers and grandmothers were included in the family, everyone provided financial and spiritual support to each other, and traditions and cultures were both kept alive and taught within the family and society. However, as economic, technological, and cultural factors affecting the family came to light over time, the family structure underwent significant changes compared to the past.
To mention some of these changes:
Nowadays, the extended family structure of the past no longer remains and has decreased significantly; instead, we now speak of the nuclear family structure. In addition to this, with the increase in individualism, individuals have started to act with the thought of “I” rather than “we,” and the solidarity that used to exist in abundance has now decreased. With the development of technology, although everyone is under the same roof, communication has decreased, unity has decreased, and all individuals within the family have started to withdraw into their own shells, preoccupied with phones and the internet.
Due to economic difficulties, the struggle for livelihood has increased, and accordingly, the age of marriage has risen; furthermore, the change in roles between men and women has led to the reshaping of the balance within the family. As a result of all these, the family structure has not only changed but has also deteriorated; divorces have increased, and considering these factors, people who do not want to marry or start a family have emerged. In the past family structure, getting a divorce was quite difficult. Especially for women, divorcing was considered a flaw; they could not speak of divorce no matter what happened, but today this mindset has been broken, albeit with difficulty.
In other words, all these changes indicate that the family structure will become even more different in the future. Especially the development of technology, the increase in individualism, and economic conditions have caused the transformation of the family structure and will continue to do so. However, we cannot speak of the complete disappearance of the family institution; no matter what, family is still the most basic institution that maintains its importance and existence in society despite all these transformations. In conclusion, despite all these changes, the family institution will continue to be an indispensable value.
About the Author
