As the world
that human beings live in today evolves through
time, technology has characterizes man’s
greatest transitions in life. The changes that
one experiences are almost unstoppable, and even
though attempts to inhibit change may be set into
action, preservation of life, society and cultural
values cannot be achieved. The same applies to
family life in western countries. Particularly
Canada, which was an Agrarian country more than
a hundred years ago, cannot hold on to its farming
values in family life. This is because of the
fact that much has changed since industrialization
has taken place.
Family life was perhaps more organized and predictable
during the existence of the Agrarian mode of production.
This is because of the fact that people were not
exposed to outside influences easily; they were
more compelled to stick within their limits without
venturing out. As a result of this, they stuck
to their day-to-day tasks of making their living.
Each member in a family had his/her role cut out.
Though this was a period in which roles were expected
of genders, and certainly was a period that reinforced
gender expectations that have caused much of the
problems for women in contemporary times. However,
the battle goes on, and women continue to press
on for their rights . This of course was not the
case in the days of farming life in Canada, as
women worked within their roles in order to help
the family as a unit to function smoothly. Just
as males had their tasks cut out for them, so
did women. This meant that both genders had to
conform to the expected norms, thereby making
family life predictable (Mandell, 1995, 23-27).
In addition to working in order to improve their
lives on their lands, women also had the bulk
of indoor tasks, They had to look after the children
who would grow up to be of use to the family and
carry on managing the whole farming process on
their lands. This means that from all sides, farm
life meant stability to the family as an institution,
as mothers, fathers and children all contributed
to maintain a functional family.
In contrast to the functions of a family in the
agrarian days, industrialization ripped the associated
family values away from the farming family life.
This is because industrialization is responsible
for attracting family members to venture beyond
the limits of the farm land. The incentives were
perhaps greater beyond the farm lands, and so,
either offspring were prepared to venture out
in search of something newer and more rewarding
or whole families themselves wanted to experience
newer lives. Of course, it must be considered
that industrialization provided greater opportunities
for families as well as individuals, and many
did ameliorate their lives through industrialization.
However, this meant a decline in family life,
as individuals were more interested in pursuing
personal goals rather than the common goal of
family life during the days of agrarian life.
The shift in interests resulted in several changes
that are visible today and also magnified. His
is because of the reinforcement and build up of
individual goals through time. As each generation
progressed, they each became more focused on their
personal goals (Stacey, 1990, 14-16).
. Individualism became more important than the
family, and individuals as it is today, became
more concerned with pursuing their own tastes
rather than living up to what families expected
of their offspring before industrialization.
As a result of the transition that has taken place
from the typical family life packed with roles
for each family member to play, contemporary family
life in Canada has certainly declined. Individualized
life styles have guaranteed a decline in family
commitments as well. Not only do younger members
in a family want to move out and be independent
with their own professions, but key family members
such as the mother and father, tend to give their
individual desires priority .
As a result of these individualistic aims, extended
family life as well as nuclear family life has
declined. Today in Canada, there is concern for
family life in general; some are concerned with
the values that used to be maintained in the traditional
agrarian form of family life. Aside from this,
the healthier life that farm life had for individuals
has also disintegrated .
Personally, being Chinese and now living in
Canada, I can observe familiarities with family
life in Canada and family life in China. Though
farming is not one of the influencing factors
where we lived in China, but there are traditional
norms that we tend to stick to while we lived
there. This may be because of the conservative
lifestyle so widely practiced there. However,
in America, we still live as a family together,
but individualism seems to have crept in to our
family. Each of us has his or her personal aims
and desires, which is similar to other Canadian
families today.
References:
Eichler, M. Families in Canada today: Recent changes
and their policy consequences . Toronto: Gage.
Pp 15-20, 1983
Mandell, N. & Duffy, A. Canadian families:
Diversity, conflict and change. Toronto: Harcourt
Brace Canada. Pp 23-27, 1995
Stacey, J. Brave new families: Stories of domestic
conflict in late twentieth century America. New
York: Basic Books. Pp 14-16, 1990
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