Issues faced by the 21st century families.
Focus question: - What are the issues faced by the 21st century families?
Family is a group of individuals loving and caring for each other. They are the
reason why we are present and able to live perfectly in this world. Some families
may not be capable of having a grand lifestyle, after all love builds a family and a
home that is priceless. Family should not be taken for granted, we are lucky
enough as we have one unlike others who even look for miles and spend fortunes
just to get a family they ever wanted.
The 21st century is one of the fascinating and interesting years in the world yet.
Some of the inventions took place in the present century are YouTube, Facebook,
Bluetooth, IPods and IPads and game consoles like Wii and Xbox. The world is
obsessed with such devices and technologies. We find them fun, smart and
entertaining but most don’t know that the use of these gadgets have limitations.
It can affect relationships like family and friendship, change the behavior of the
child and be violent, and being exposed to unethical acts.
Issues faced by the families in the present century are the following. The possible
solutions are also given in each case: -
1. Lack of communication within the family -
Families nowadays, have less quality time, it is difficult to achieve it because,
each family is engaged with another task independently. This the common
problem in a family with children ages from 13 to 18 due to development of brain.
These type of people are not yet adult, to understand the circumstances in life. It
is expected for teen’s behavior but this also takes place with adults. These results
to absence of communication, interactions and bonding between the family.
Remedy: - The family can have a dinner together at least every day so that their
communication can develop bit by bit.
One family member can start the conversation and include their family in the talk.
They should be sharing what they’ve done during the day, so that each one will
reply and chat and maybe feel comfortable with them again. Make it a habit to
dine together and have conversations often.
2. Distrust –
It is a feeling of someone or to something that cannot be relied upon. This is the
same thing happens between family members. They often doubt with someone in
particular, with business or personal matters, they then be suspicious with the
person and try to avoid him/her. At the point where one is feared with someone
due to suspicious mind, he/she becomes intensely aggressive and be uneasy with
the person. It turns the person to rebel and a big problem could be its result such
as, separation or divorce.
Remedy: - If you sense that a person in your family is starting to be suspicious or
being quiet the whole time, and not even showing or letting you feel that he/she
is present, even if you know that he/she is there, that is the start of mistrust. This
case may take time but this can be solved. If it is in that case, go to the person and
talk to him/her. Ask him/her if he/she want to say or desire something. Try to
make the person feel comfortable around you and have some bonding together.
3. Lack of concern / Sacrifice-
The youths nowadays, is careless and laid-back with their social and gaming
lifestyle. They are lacking of dedication to their studies, determination to succeed
in life and get a decent job in the future. In fact, children in today’s world, they
lack of sacrifice in many things such as, doing projects and homework, family
bonding, religious events like fasting and family occasions. Sacrifice is done with
no hesitation or be nagged by parents. It is not taken for granted but taking it
with whole hearted. But kids don’t think like that. They do it because they are
forced to or will be receiving a reward if they accomplish the task given by their
parents. This is really wrong as it will spoil the child and will grow naughty and
demanding. If children’s wants are not given, they’ll get angry and answer back to
their parents. This can lead to extreme physical and verbal fights.
Remedy: - The parents should give limitations of the use of gadgets by their
child/children and take actions whenever if their children disobeys the rule set by
their parents. They should not pamper or spoil them. Children need discipline, not
in the way of physical beatings, but being strict and firm so they will follow the
rules that was set for them by their parents and grow into a good individual.
4. Lack of responsibility-
Children in the 21st century are being irresponsible because of what they see with
other families how they bring up their children. Kids when growing up, they
should be taught well manners and handling basic responsibilities when growing
up like household chores. At an early age, they should be responsible to succeed
in life. Yet, many parents worry about growing trends of irresponsible behavior.
Parents see their kids failing to take care of basic responsibilities. They take their
blessings for granted and refuse to help in household chores. Instead of becoming
more responsible as they get older, many parents observe their kids becoming
more dependent…rather than more independent.
Remedy: - The parents should give tasks to their child/children everyday so that
they will be used with it. Limitation of use of gadgets should be brought up
because, it will seriously affect the education and behavior of the child. In this
way, they will learn to follow their parent’s rule and grow up obedient. If children
are being spoiled, and letting them what they want to do even if it’s wrong is bad
for the future of the child.
5. Divorce-
Divorce is common in United States and England and many other countries, 40 to
50 percent of married couples end up in divorce. This is one of the biggest
problem faced by families in this century. Divorce is legal in many countries
except for two, Vatican City and the Philippines. This major problem is caused by
various reasons like lack of commitment, infidelity, early marriages, arguing,
unrealistic expectations and abuse. Some partners find that it will be better for
their child/children if one separates from each other and live separately. If
partners are divorced, it is legal now for a partner to be in a new relationship. The
court approves their divorce but then there are laws and commitment of
supporting his/her child/children financially. He/she should contribute and give
everything what their child needs. Children are mostly affected in a divorce
between both parents. Firstly, children have hard time during the divorce
transitions and experience anger and misery. Secondly, they suffer from
psychological and behavioral problems. They develop disobedience and violate
rules in school and at home. They become sad, anxious and depressed and it
affects school achievements. Serious incidents can happen like suicide and
committing of violence and illegal habits.
Remedy: - Divorce can be saved by the family or the partners itself. If you notice
that your parents are not talking or avoiding each other, go and talk to them. Say
whatever what you really wanted to tell, make them feel that the problem can be
fixed. Go out and spend time together, leaving any device or anything that can
interrupt them to talk. Lock them in a room plan a date for them.
6. Misunderstanding-
Both partners and siblings can have misunderstandings in fact, everyone does! All
relationships consist of misunderstandings; it happens in everyday life. For
example, when you talk to your friend over the phone and the next day, you had
an unexpected quiz that you have misunderstood with your friend that was
supposed to be next week. This is just a common misunderstanding between
friends but it’s impact is big especially in serious relationships. If partners have
misunderstandings, and if it gets repeated continually, then they’ll get mad and
might separate from each other. This can be simple or serious misunderstanding.
Some of the frequent misunderstandings are financial (amount of money spent or
misused) and relationship problems (unexpected moment like infidelity but
miscommunicated). Misunderstanding should not be taken in a joke because it is
one of the factors that lead to divorce and separation with just a wrong word or
term used by the person.
Remedy: - The remedy for misunderstanding between partners or friends etc. is
simple. Go and talk to the person you have misunderstood with and have a
productive communication. Make sure that don’t prove that your opinion is way
superior than the person talking to, this done so that you gain a new
understanding in the issue. Let them share their point of view and share your
perspective as well. Tackle the issue and be open minded in both opinions and
suggestions. Value their strengths, don’t be selfish with your friends, let them feel
that you are in good terms.
7. Abuse-
There are different types of people and each of us have different personalities
and behaviors. We can’t deny the fact that, if two or more people do not agree at
a particular subject, they usually fight. It can be physical or verbal fight. Even if its
verbal or physical, they feel the same thing, people get hurt emotionally and
spiritually. No one can hurt a person even they run in the same blood or not. Child
and women abuse is an ordinary case in every country. It is also one of the cases
why partners are having separated due to physical abuse and threat of life of the
rest of the family. It is very common that the wife and her children are separated
from his husband but it could be vice-versa too. If a person is treated with cruelty
or physically hurt repeatedly then it is called abuse.
Remedy: - If someone is being abused, it can be sorted out. Talk and ask him/her
if why he/she is being aggressive or if something what he/she wanted. Ask advice
to friends or family and share whatever happened, they will understand and help
the person out. If he/she does it again, call a lawyer and a police to help the
person out. This problem is really serious and some families are being secretive as
their life is threatened or just for their child/children.
8. Strength of marriage-
Married couples are getting bigger and it means that the next generations are
soon to come and our population will rise too. In United States about 60 million
people are married and it is expected to double in the next decades. Many are
married less than 37 up to 83. The difference of marriages between 1920’s till
now is that before, marriage is sacred, they are wed because of love but in
today’s era, they are married without family planning or because of financial crisis
and married at an early age without knowing how to earn money to support
his/her family. That is the common issue why married couples end up in divorce
or legal separation. As I have told earlier, 40 to 50 percent of couples in America
ends up in divorce. This is maybe because of lack of family planning due to early
marriages and poverty.
Remedy: - To strengthen marriages, steps should be followed. Before marrying
someone, try to imagine the future of the family that you would want to have.
Figure how to achieve it and make a family plan with your partner. Ask yourself
and your partner if the relationship is serious and can lasts forever. Consult
married couples who are older than you, and ask advices from them in order to
have an idea how a family works. Think before entering marriages, it should not
be taken for granted. Marriage is a commitment, not a roleplay or a joke.
9. Social media-
The last and the most important issue that family faces in this era is social media.
Social media and gadgets are the technologies that everyone is crazy about. Each
and everyone of us is indulged with something as a past time hobby or activity.
Facebook has 1.59 billion users in a month who often opens his/her account and
at least spend more than an hour with it. But, some are really addicted and
