Promoting Unity in the Family Unit in the twenty First century Essay

Promoting Unity in the Family Unit in the twenty First century - Essay Example   Accepting the changes in the family unit that have occurred during the twentieth century can be one of the best methods of achieving harmony in the family. An acceptance on the part of the parents of the changed social codes regarding the manner in which men and women are to conduct themselves in society, an help bridge distances between the two parents in case any clash happens. On many occasions, conflicts arise as a result of the inability on the part of either parent to accept that the gender roles that the other is supposed to adhere to have changed from previous generations. Parents who have grown up seeing earlier models of manhood and womanhood may not be able to adjust to modern lifestyles that demand different definitions of either category of genders. During the twentieth century, the notions of differences between sex and gender that came about primarily due to feminist movements have also caused changes in the structure of the family. The establishment of the differe nces in the sexual and gender roles, that a person is supposed to perform, was explained at length by the French feminist, Simone De Beauvoir in her book, The Second Sex (Beauvoir). A redistribution of jobs within the family may enable different members, whichever sex they are, to feel themselves more a part of the family. This would follow from the fact that they would be able to see themselves not just as members of a family as a result of their crudely reproductive functions but also because of the characteristics as individuals.      Contrary to popular perception gay and lesbian families can actually strengthen family structures since the reproductive aspect of relations that is present in heterosexual families is less a part of homosexual families. The structuring of such families can function as models for units that are distinct from conventional standards of the family. Such standards may enable people of any orientation to bring in more of their individuality into family units as a positive change. To be a part of a united group of individuals that form a unit within a society, one needs to feel accepted within that group. Unconventional models can be the next step in the evolution of the family unit in the twenty first century. Such a process of evolution may lead to models of the family that are stronger and more united than those which were a feature of the past. Strict patriarchal authority that was the driving force of earlier models of