Changes in Parenting Essay Example

Parenting is a very crucial and vital practice to every child. The three primary goals of parenting are ensuring the safety and health of children, molding children for the adult life that is productive and passing on cultural values. Parenting is, therefore, a big task in the family institution and the society at large. In the most obvious case, parenting involves the biological parent or parents of a child. Parenting could also involve guardians who are not necessarily the biological parents of a child. In some societies, parenting is even a communal role of every adult. (Kawinska, 2017)

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Over time, the ways and styles of parenting have changed. Parenting today is not the same parenting that existed 60 years ago (Me et al., 2018).The article is brings out some of the changes that have occurred in parenting over the tears. It has become different. It is important to note that there has been both positive changes and cynical, but the negative ones stand out. Back then, Parents gave a lot of attention to how they watched over their children grow. Today, most of the parents do not seem to be concerned with the behavior of their children and how they do things. The roles between parents have also changed. Children grew up knowing that the breadwinner of the family was the father. Mothers had no jobs, and their primary duty was to take care of the children. Today, both parents may be working, and in some cases, the mother may have a job whereas the father. ("The Family | W. W. Norton & Company", 2018)

The change in household functions by parents has disrupted the normal parenting routine, which involved the father being a breadwinner and the mother a homemaker. The father was also the supreme parent and was more respected or "feared" by the children. Today, a father will wake the children up and prepare them for school. Fathers also change diapers, and cook do the kitchen chores such as washing dishes and cooking. Mothers, on the other hand, go out to work to provide for the family. Mothers also make decisions such as selection of schools for their children, a function that was in the past left for the fathers.

The interaction behavior between the parent and the child has also changed. The better-refined line between a child and parent relationship that the parent was the overall authority and not an elder friend that existed in the past has faded away. Parents had the final word and were not afraid of hurting a child's feelings or upsetting him or her. Today, parents are concerned with nurturing the children's feelings and improving their self-esteem. Consequently, their authority is corrupted. They can no longer enforce what is right but what their children think is right for them. Parents do not understand that dealing with disappointments from their children is part of proper upbringing rather than showing them mercy. When their decision making is oriented by the happiness of their children, adequate parenting does not happen. (Me et al., 2018)

Another big change to note is that provisions are not considered "privileges" but "rights." In the past, besides the known basic needs, the rest were considered privileges, for example, a television set for entertainment. Most children today believe that a television set is their right. The list stretches to computer games and numerous gifts that are meant to entice them. In the past, a child wouldn't just ask or something, unless they are given the opportunity. The feeling of entitlement also occurs in parents who also believe that they have the responsibility to give their children whatever they want. The sense of hard work goes away from children when all that they desire for enticement is provided. (Me et al., 2018)

Today, as opposed to the past, the child does not belong to the community. A random adult will not just discipline a child misbehaving in the public. A neighbor will see a child lives next door misbehaving but will not be bothered at all. Extended families are now further apart hence the role of advising children and also the parents is no longer there. All adults took the responsibility of parenting. Children do not spend time with their relatives who have an essential role in their upbringing. Topics like menstruation and adolescence are best discussed by elder relatives and not parents. Parents are now left with the task of addressing all matters, some of which compromise their relationship with their children.

Parenting has also seen a significant change in the area of discipline. In the past, caning was the primary method of addressing an undisciplined child or stringent measures like heavy manual work. These days, the cane is almost done away with completely. Parents now focus on less severe means such as withdrawal of phones and the television. Kind words such as unacceptable instead o naughty are currently used. Parents also explain the necessity of the punishment to the children as well.

These Changes in parenting have led to high levels of indiscipline among kids with many of them being able to get away with bad behavior. Parents do not give their children the attention and time they should. Children are left to learn most of the life aspects by themselves. They are left with television sets and other electronics to guide them. The only time they see their parents is at night, and no important parent-child talks happen. The effect stretches to the children's education. They become troublesome in schools. Some of them are already spoilt by the time they start education, making the matter worse. The results are irresponsible adults whose turn into irresponsible parents later in life. The cycle continues, and the world can only expect generations of irresponsible parents. ("The Family | W. W. Norton & Company", 2018)

Sociological Perspectives

Structural-functional perspective. According to the functionalist perspective, each aspect of the society lies interdependent and is significant to the functioning of the society as a whole. In other words, consensus and coming to harmony is the basis of a society. Viewing parenting from this perspective, it means that children do what they are directed and asked to do and are never punished for misbehavior. It may go ahead to bring out the meaning that instead of children being punished for wrongdoing in the family, they are given a talk explaining to them why their doings are termed unacceptable. They are then taught how to correct the doings in future. According to this perspective, the parents also have no negativity on their children whatsoever, including when the children misbehave and when they sit them down to correct them. (Davis & Robinson, 2009)

Conflict perspective. According to this perspective, social change, even when it translates to social revolution is encouraged. Under the conflict theory, conflict and opposition are necessities for a social evolution besides defining the society. Viewing parenting from this perspective, one has to believe that the conflict here is the behavior of the children and the opposition is the discipline from parents. Parenting is translated to action and reaction between the children and the parents. The theory means that conflicts should be the way to solve differences between the parents and the children. In a family, parents are expected to punish the children who rebel. This should happen for parenting to be succeed.

Symbolic Interactionism perspective. This perspective dictates that every symbol and detail in life should be considered. One should put themselves in other people's shoes and relate with their life experiences. Viewing parenting from this perspective, one should put themselves in the situations of a child and that of a parent. One should imagine the feeling of a parent when the child does wrong, and when the parent punishes the child. One should also imagine how the child feels when they are punished by the parent. They should imagine how the situations feel, whether right or wrong. This means that a parent should consider the feelings of a child before giving them the punishment. The acts of the child may be reasonable, a case where punishment should be left out in handling the behavior.

It is essential to admit that parenting has indeed changed, and the main results are higher levels of indiscipline among children. But the fact that the changes are attributed to the technology and modernization of the world at large should not be ignored. With people getting working and children going to schools for most of their times, it wouldn't be expected that children find enough time to hear from their grandparents. Social evils are also increasing day by day; therefore, no one will allow their child to get disciplined or even get guidance from a stranger.

With children being exposed to a lot especially in the internet and televisions, parents have no other choice but to be open with their children in all issues. Matters such as adolescence should not be shied away from by parents. The best sociological perspective to view this matter from is the structural functionalism perspective. It is the method I would advocate for, to be used by every parent. A child must not be caned for every mistake they commit. Parents can yell at them, tell them what wrong they have done. A spanking is also enough at times instead of caning so hard. Harmony should be established within the dynamic o the family, for a happier family.

Socialization has taught me that the best way to ensure a happier life within the society is to understand situations, even those that do not affect us directly and to embrace change. Parents should ensure a happier and the best life for their children.

References

Davis, N., & Robinson, R. (2009). Sociological perspectives. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Pub.

Kawinska, M. (2017). Contemporary Parenting in the Face of Social Changes: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis. Socialinis Ugdymas, 47(3), 77-88. doi: 10.15823/su.2017.23

Me, W., Shop, M., Here, S., Training, C., Kids, H., & Living, B. et al. (2018). How parenting has changed in the last century and why progress isn't always positive. Retrieved from https://amotherfarfromhome.com/howhasparentingchangedinthelastcentury/

The Family | W. W. Norton & Company. (2018). Retrieved from http://books.wwnorton.com/books/webad.aspx?id=4294986077