This paper is written for the seminar “Family Sociology”. The theme of “Family History” I chose, covers the main topics of marriage patterns and a comparison of family and childhood issues of the past, to those of the present.
In this work I will point out the historical changes and regional differences on that what is called a “family”:
First up I will shortly illustrate the development of the European pattern from Greco-Roman times until now, and I will introduce the main marriage patterns which are spread worldwide, namely the European pattern, the Eastern European pattern and the Non-European pattern.
Then I will show how the meaning of family has changed. Not only is the structure another one compared to former times, but also has something new been created: a period called “childhood” which is different from the rest of the life course, regarding children no longer as smaller adults, but as something special.
The developments on family history go hand in hand to changes of society like the industrialization or the creation of a welfare state.
Since normative standards declined marriage is just one possibility to live together, still the most common, but steadily loosing importance. Meanwhile divorce rates have been increasing since the end of the nineteenth century and contraceptive measures have been introduced.
So obviously this, what is called a family is more flexible than ever, creating the so called “patchwork-family”, which may consist of one single parent and children, two spouses with children they have from a former relationship with another person, or even a homosexual couple with children. Nowadays there is a new tolerance for what is called a “family”. Usually talking about “family” today means referring to the “nuclear family”.
According to Berger (2002, 6) the nuclear family consisting of a married couple and a child (or children), was taken for granted in all societies of the West for the central institution of modern life, held to be superior to any other family form long into the early decades of the twentieth century.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Marriage patterns
2.1 Marriage patterns from the past to the present
2.2 Regional differences between marriage habits
2.2.1 The European pattern
2.2.2 The Eastern European pattern
2.2.3 The Non-European pattern
2.3 Recent data on marriage
3. The Family
3.1 Changes of family life
3.2 The “invention of childhood”
4. Conclusion
5. Literature
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the historical evolution and regional variations of marriage patterns and the concept of the family. It specifically investigates the transition from historical communal living to the modern understanding of the nuclear family and the social construction of childhood.
- Analysis of global marriage patterns (European, Eastern European, and Non-European).
- Historical transformation of family structures from antiquity to the present.
- The impact of industrialization and the welfare state on family life.
- The conceptual "invention of childhood" and its historical emergence.
- Comparative view of marriage data and demographic shifts.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The “invention of childhood”
“In the Middle Ages, at the beginning of modern times, and for a long time after that in the lower classes, children were mixed with adults as soon as they were capable of doing without their mothers or nannies, not long after a tardy weaning (in other words, at about the age of seven). They immediately went straight into the great community of men, sharing in the work and play of their companions, old and young alike. The movement of collective life carried along in a single torrent all ages and classes, leaving nobody any time for solitude and privacy. In these crowded, collective existences there was no room for a private sector. The family fulfilled a function; it ensured the transmission of life, property and names; but it did not penetrate very far into human sensibility. Myths such as courtly and precious love denigrated marriage, while realities such as the apprenticeship of children loosened the emotional bond between parents and children. Medieval civilization hat forgotten the paideia of the ancients and knew nothing as yet of modern education.” (Ariès 1979, 395).
So in medieval civilization there was no separation between children’s world and the world of the grown-ups. The word “child” was used in a context which had rather the meaning of “lad” nowadays. In the seventeenth century a change took place and in the middle classes the word “child” appeared in its modern meaning. The idea of childhood was bound up with the idea of dependence: the words “son”, “valets” and “boys” were also words in the vocabulary of feudal subordination. One could leave childhood only by leaving the state of dependence (Ariès 1979, 24).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the seminar context of "Family Sociology" and defines the scope of investigating historical and regional family changes.
2. Marriage patterns: This chapter categorizes global marriage habits into three distinct patterns and explores their historical development from the Greco-Roman world to contemporary times.
2.1 Marriage patterns from the past to the present: A chronological overview of marriage practices, highlighting how socio-economic changes have influenced marriage age and prevalence.
2.2 Regional differences between marriage habits: This section differentiates between European, Eastern European, and Non-European marriage models based on socio-cultural variables.
2.2.1 The European pattern: Describes the characteristics of late marriage and the acceptance of unmarried life in Western societies.
2.2.2 The Eastern European pattern: Explains the prevalence of early, almost universal marriage in Eastern and South-eastern European contexts.
2.2.3 The Non-European pattern: Discusses early marriage norms and the prevalence of extended family systems in various Asian and African societies.
2.3 Recent data on marriage: Presents statistical data from the "World Marriage Patterns 2000" wall chart, discussing global trends in marriage timing and prevalence.
3. The Family: Defines the nuclear family as a key component of modernization and introduces the concept of childhood as a distinct life phase.
3.1 Changes of family life: Analyzes the transition of the family from a production unit to a consumption unit and the influence of industrialization.
3.2 The “invention of childhood”: Examines the historical lack of a concept of childhood in the Middle Ages and its subsequent development in the seventeenth century.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes that despite the modernization of family forms, the family remains a central and important institution.
5. Literature: Provides a comprehensive list of the academic sources used throughout the paper.
Keywords
Family History, Family Sociology, Marriage Patterns, European Pattern, Eastern European Pattern, Non-European Pattern, Nuclear Family, Childhood, Industrialization, Social History, Modernization, Demographic Trends, Welfare State, Extended Family, Bourgeoisie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
This work explores the sociological history of the family, focusing on marriage patterns and the shifting cultural perception of childhood over centuries.
What are the central thematic areas?
The paper covers the typology of marriage (European vs. Non-European), the evolution of the nuclear family, and the social construction of childhood.
What is the main objective of the research?
The objective is to point out historical changes and regional differences in what is defined as a "family," demonstrating how these shifts correlate with broader societal developments.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author uses a historical-comparative approach, analyzing existing literature and statistical data from sources like Hajnal and the United Nations to trace demographic and social trends.
What does the main body address?
The main body is divided into marriage patterns (categorized by region and history) and the transformation of the family unit, including the emergence of "childhood" as a segregated life category.
Which keywords define this study?
Keywords include family history, marriage patterns, nuclear family, childhood invention, and sociological modernization.
How is the "European pattern" of marriage defined in the text?
It is characterized by a higher age at first marriage and a significant proportion of the population that remains unmarried throughout their lives.
What does the "invention of childhood" refer to?
It refers to the historical transition in the seventeenth century where children were no longer viewed simply as "small adults," but as a special group requiring education and protection.
What is Hajnal’s line?
Hajnal’s line is a geographical division from St. Petersburg to Trieste that historically separates the European pattern of marriage in the West from the different patterns found in Eastern Europe.
- Quote paper
- Ursula Ebenhöh (Author), 2004, Familiy history, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86008
