Family is one of basic &
crucial social institutions. Other four institutions of society are education,
politics, economics & religion. Whenever changes came in one institution it will
probably impact other institution and their roles.
Functional theories see two primary roles of family: one is primary
socialization of children & other is personality stabilization of adults/
teenagers. Feminist approaches often focus on the ways in which “traditional”
models of family reinforce our system of gender inequality.
Five important global changes came which are: one is influence of clans & kin
groups are decreasing. Second is expanding rights for women (e.g. education &
economic independence). Third is, we are moving from joint family system to
nuclear family system. Four is decline in birthrates due to women is working as
labor in economic market. Last one is increasing room for children’s rights. Now
youngsters have right to select their mates with in family and out of family.
Family institution and its role basically change due to women empowerment. Women
empowerment is “the process by which women become aware of sex-based unequal
power relationship acquire a greater voice in which to speak out against the
inequality found in the home, workplace & community.”
Today, a woman is economically independent because she is educated. She came
forward as labor in economic market after 2nd world war. Many families lose
their males which were source of finance. At that time there is new ideology
emerge which encourage women and bring them in market for themselves survival &
societal demands. This ideology name is “Feminism.” Still this institution is
working on women rights & laws. This work is going on at global level. Due to
globalization we are too much connected with each other & we unconsciously think
we are living in global village. Where we shared & deal some problems together.
According to David Harvey (1990) globalization is “time space compression”
Now, a woman is playing multiple roles such as working in labor market and same
time she is mother, wife and sister-in-law. Now women as worker in labour
market. And as a result children socialization suffers, because family members
will play an important role in early age socialization. Deal with this problem,
new institutions emerge which name is Day Care Centers. In this institutions
working women can leave his/her baby without any worries. Another option of this
problem is we made kinder garden class for children in schools. Where child will
learn & get education through recreational activities.
Now parents easily send their daughters for higher education in countries, out
of cities & even foreign. Because I.T make possible for them to communicate with
their daughters easily whenever they want. Now we can easily see girls are more
getting education from universities. Therefore today, women are employed in all
sectors of societies,
In Pakistan family system are moving from joint family system to nuclear family
system. Our cultures teach us “collectivism” but after globalization our culture
is now becomes individualistic culture which was exist in America. Now we only
think what we want? What is my need? Therefore clans & kin groups’ influences
are decreasing. Basically globalization is changing our traditional gender
roles.