CHANGES OF THE FAMILY CHANGES OF THE FAMILY

IN THE THIRD MILLENIUMIN THE THIRD MILLENIUM

What we can see in every social structure is a lot of different forms What we can see in every social structure is a lot of different forms of family. These are connected with their symbolic sub-culture but of family. These are connected with their symbolic sub-culture but also to the social classalso to the social class

Any historical and social period is characterized by the presence, at Any historical and social period is characterized by the presence, at the same time, of different forms of family, some of them could be the same time, of different forms of family, some of them could be more numerous and so more incisive than othersmore numerous and so more incisive than others

Today it’s better to speak in the plural: families in spite of family Today it’s better to speak in the plural: families in spite of family “ “assuming a pluralist perspective that has its focus on the assuming a pluralist perspective that has its focus on the multitude of family specificity.”multitude of family specificity.” (Fruggeri, 1998) (Fruggeri, 1998)

In western world the idea of family is tied to the idea of In western world the idea of family is tied to the idea of nuclearity: as a consequence there are no words to describe nuclearity: as a consequence there are no words to describe the members of a family that comes from a second marriage the members of a family that comes from a second marriage union or a fostering.union or a fostering.

As what concerns the structure of the family we can find As what concerns the structure of the family we can find these forms:these forms:

a) One-person family: this is an improper form of family

because it is formed by a person, who lives alone b)b) Couple familyCouple family: this kind of family includes old and young : this kind of family includes old and young

couples without children and the couples who haven’t got couples without children and the couples who haven’t got

married.married. c) Nuclear family: This is a big “container” of families formed

by parents and its children. This structure can present very interesting forms of family (long nuclear family, family on-fact, one-parent family, built up nuclear family)

d). Complex family: this kind of family has fallen but it is still present. It represents the survival of a distant past and also a general strategy for the organization and re-organization of the everyday life. This could be both in multiple or extended form

On addition to the above typologies, the presence of different On addition to the above typologies, the presence of different ethnics groups is a factor which should be taken into account, ethnics groups is a factor which should be taken into account, expecially in the actual context featured by the presence of expecially in the actual context featured by the presence of raising immigration.raising immigration.

In the passage from the traditional to the contemporary In the passage from the traditional to the contemporary society, family relationships have slowly assumed affection society, family relationships have slowly assumed affection and expressive features as a component that characterises and expressive features as a component that characterises both parents-children relationship and relationship between both parents-children relationship and relationship between

partnerspartners ..It could be interesting to outline some of the main It could be interesting to outline some of the main predominant typologies emphasized by the above predominant typologies emphasized by the above analysisanalysis::

a. a. Traditional Parsons’ familyTraditional Parsons’ family in which there is a clear in which there is a clear distinction of tasks among partners’ role that are really distinction of tasks among partners’ role that are really distinguished even regarding power variabledistinguished even regarding power variable

b. b. Symmetrical familySymmetrical family, in which partners’ role are , in which partners’ role are interchangeable, for both family group inner tasks and interchangeable, for both family group inner tasks and outer relationsouter relations

c. Double career family, c. Double career family, in which partners relationship is in which partners relationship is balanced and family is democratic regarding children, and in balanced and family is democratic regarding children, and in which both parents have professional activities outside familywhich both parents have professional activities outside family

d. Family of-factd. Family of-fact, not based on the marriage and strongly , not based on the marriage and strongly stressing on individual self-realisation and equal trend in stressing on individual self-realisation and equal trend in

partners relationshippartners relationship

Situation in Italy Situation in Italy (source istat)(source istat)

To identify the different kinds of families it has been necessary to To identify the different kinds of families it has been necessary to find the average of the number of families in find the average of the number of families in 2000-20012000-2001 – in Italy – in Italy there were about there were about 21 millions and 800 thousand families with the 21 millions and 800 thousand families with the average dimension of about 2,6 components each.average dimension of about 2,6 components each.

Number of single is increasingNumber of single is increasing: almost a quarter of italian families : almost a quarter of italian families (23,9%) consists of single people, as a total of about 5 millions and (23,9%) consists of single people, as a total of about 5 millions and 210 thousand people. It’s an increasing feature210 thousand people. It’s an increasing feature

There is a gradual and continous There is a gradual and continous decreasing in families with decreasing in families with 5 and more components 5 and more components – they were 8,4% in 1994-1995 and – they were 8,4% in 1994-1995 and 7,1% in 2000-2001 (a bit more than 1 million and 500 7,1% in 2000-2001 (a bit more than 1 million and 500 thousand families).thousand families).

There are altogether 16 millions 454 thousand family groups, There are altogether 16 millions 454 thousand family groups, formed by formed by couples or single parentscouples or single parents .They are especially They are especially couples with children that, despite the progressive decrease, couples with children that, despite the progressive decrease, continue representing main family typology in the countrycontinue representing main family typology in the country

Couples with just one kidCouples with just one kid are increasing (from 43,4% in are increasing (from 43,4% in 1994-1995 to 45,8% in 2000-2001)1994-1995 to 45,8% in 2000-2001)

We can observe a little We can observe a little increase in new kinds of familiesincrease in new kinds of families: : free unions, cohabitations and built up familesfree unions, cohabitations and built up familes represent 3,1% represent 3,1% of couples (1,8% in 1994-1995)of couples (1,8% in 1994-1995)

Since 1993 there has been an Since 1993 there has been an increase in children from increase in children from 18 to 34 years old percentage staying home in original 18 to 34 years old percentage staying home in original familyfamily

ECONOMIC SITUATIONECONOMIC SITUATION

From 1993 to 2001 the percentage of families that think From 1993 to 2001 the percentage of families that think their economic situation got worse is very decreased - their economic situation got worse is very decreased - 38% in 1993 to 20,3% in 2001. however this decrease 38% in 1993 to 20,3% in 2001. however this decrease happened in a non-linear way for economic combination happened in a non-linear way for economic combination connected reasons.connected reasons.

Also families that consider their economic resources Also families that consider their economic resources as excellent or appropriate are raising: from 60,1% as excellent or appropriate are raising: from 60,1% in 1993 to 72% in 2001in 1993 to 72% in 2001..

It’s still pretty much strong territorial difference in the It’s still pretty much strong territorial difference in the evaluation of one’s own economic situationevaluation of one’s own economic situation

If we consider the period of time 1997-2001, the first relevant If we consider the period of time 1997-2001, the first relevant note it’s the families’ growth rate higher than the population note it’s the families’ growth rate higher than the population and at the same time the reduction of the average of family and at the same time the reduction of the average of family

components.components.

Fig. 4. 2. trend of the proportion between one-person families and couples (nuclear Fig. 4. 2. trend of the proportion between one-person families and couples (nuclear families) with and without children, married or not married in the 90’s.families) with and without children, married or not married in the 90’s.

Some troublesome knotsSome troublesome knots In the contemporary society some new family structures are In the contemporary society some new family structures are

emerging – they are the result of continuous moving of borders in emerging – they are the result of continuous moving of borders in what is considered “public” or “private”, both in couple relationsihp what is considered “public” or “private”, both in couple relationsihp and in parents-children relationship.and in parents-children relationship.

Couple relationship become more important than the one with Couple relationship become more important than the one with relatives or the community and the research of personal pleasure relatives or the community and the research of personal pleasure and partners satisfaction become the main reason of the unionand partners satisfaction become the main reason of the union ..

““Expressive” pokings, linked to own-self’s realisation even inside Expressive” pokings, linked to own-self’s realisation even inside family borders, gain meaningfamily borders, gain meaning

The family is becoming more and more collective interest The family is becoming more and more collective interest

subject and object of public increasing worriessubject and object of public increasing worries

Today family’s crisis expresses itself through the outcoming Today family’s crisis expresses itself through the outcoming of tensions in of tensions in gender relationshipsgender relationships (for example with (for example with renegotiation of sexual roles) and renegotiation of sexual roles) and intergenerational intergenerational relationships relationships (redefinition of parental relations becoming (redefinition of parental relations becoming more democratic) that lead into unbalance and more democratic) that lead into unbalance and reorganisation of family netsreorganisation of family nets

New legal or welfare devicesNew legal or welfare devices can help and supportcan help and support families, but the organisation of new neighborhood nets, of , but the organisation of new neighborhood nets, of ‘banks of time’ and families association - that create ‘banks of time’ and families association - that create solidarity nets – are becoming very important.solidarity nets – are becoming very important.

Family crisis manifests itself even in changes at an Family crisis manifests itself even in changes at an intergenerational relationshipsintergenerational relationships level, as strongly level, as strongly connected feature of demographic emerging eventsconnected feature of demographic emerging events

Generational roles are extending and this produce confusion Generational roles are extending and this produce confusion and conflicts. Adult son and daughters and over 18 continue and conflicts. Adult son and daughters and over 18 continue living with their original family, with some difficulties in living with their original family, with some difficulties in defining roles borders link to agesdefining roles borders link to ages ..

The family is essentially social relationship that emerges as The family is essentially social relationship that emerges as result of interaction between intersubjective dimensions result of interaction between intersubjective dimensions and and structural relationshipsstructural relationships that found family as a social that found family as a social institutioninstitution

In that relation are included and stranded both sense In that relation are included and stranded both sense dimension’s aspectsdimension’s aspects and mutual link aspectsand mutual link aspects

Even if it’s a hard task, family has to Even if it’s a hard task, family has to revise these relations all together revise these relations all together because its functioning is based on inner because its functioning is based on inner and outer communicationand outer communication

CHILDREN, YOUTH PEOPLE AND CHILDREN, YOUTH PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN EUROPEAN CONTEXTFAMILIES IN EUROPEAN CONTEXT

This volume is the second in a series about social work in Europe

This volume seeks to go a step further by engaging with the specific topics of social work with children, young people and families.

The book comprises three section: section Asection A looks at contextual issues; section Bsection B considers forms of practice with individuals, families and communites; section Csection C concerns itself with professional issues such as demarcations and definitions

CHILDREN

Even though the numbers are dropping not increasing across Europe as populations generally become older, the children of Europe constitute a formidable force.

Estimated at approximately 70 milion under 18 year –old in the Union prior to May 2004, children as a category have been a major focus of legislation and research emanating from the Union since its inception.

However before examining the “European child” in more detail, it might be worth noting from the outset the impossibility of discussing “Children” as a coherent group.

Health, then, is a determinig feature of children’s life trajectories and the level of support welfare State services may need to offer.

Factors such as financial support to families, day care services and social and health services form part of protective environment for children’s health in the face of family pressures such as poverty and adverse circumstance such as isolation and harmful enviroment

Poverty is higlighted as one of the determining factors for poor health and mental health problems in Europe’s children.

Since the 1990s levels of child poverty have increased generally though there is wide variation across Europe

Poverty, physical ill health and mental ill health are some of the primary concerns that sociale work must engage with in relation to children across Europe.

Sexual abuse of children is another important area.

As well as sexual abuse within the family, a concern that has been identified and is worked across European social work in various ways since 1970s, sexual exploitation includin trafficking of children, has also now become a major concern.

Children’s voices should and must be heard

Children should be active partecipants in their lives and changes within them

Social work in many parts of Europe has begun to address the notion of service user inclusion.

These principles also need to be fore – grounded when the service user is a child.

YOUNG PEOPLE

Turning to young people in Europe, it’s apparent that some European legislation is specifically targeted of them

From a European perspective, taking into consideration the principle of subsidiarity, child welfare and youth policy are first of all the task and the responsability of each member- State.

The European Commission(http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth) also higlighted the big 5 challenges for the future in relation to youth as:

a. demographic development b. changing conditionsfor the live world of young people c. involvement of young people in pubblic life d. European integration e. globalization

Young people in Europe constitute an important part of the population.

They may be alienated from extended families or cultural traditions, and /or from the rural or urban communities to which they belong

Within most societies there is some expectation that social services for young people will have a significant role to support, to assist and to empower young people.

In the future it will be important to introduce issues into the social work curriculum which show the consequences of the European integration process for the life of young people

FAMILIES Whether as an insitution, a social network, or a system, the

family has played a fundamental role as provider of support and well – being, mainly in the education and care of children and elderly members.

The demographic changes in Europe have accentuated discussions on the very concept of family, its form, size and newfound connection to socio – economic struggles.

The list of problems facing family life today is long and grows in pace with the demands for economic development and global competition

To tackle these trends social work professionals are exploring new patners of social welfare provision and intervention:

a. family group conferencing and home trainign programmes

b. shift in youth care provisions from semi residential care to home

c. intensive aid for single parents

d. family preservation services

e. national family policies

The importance of the family life across Europe is not really questioned, but its multidimensional character and embeddedness in various areas af welfare, makes it less likely to be addressed on its own merit.

The family question may be nothing else but the quest for ways to encourage members of society to contribute to the quality of life in Europe more fully.

The family becomes not only an additional client for social workers, but also a potential partner for tackling structural inadequacies and that require new ways to entervene