The Secret of FAMILY HAPPINESS/Is There a Secret to Family Happiness?

THE FAMILY UNDER STRESS

Today the family is changing-sad to say, not for the better. An example is seen in India, where a wife may live with the family of her husband and work in the home under the direction of her in-laws. Nowadays, though, it is not uncommon for Indian wives to seek employment outside the home. Yet, they are apparently still expected to fulfill their traditional roles in the home.  The question raised in many lands is, Compared with other members of the family, how much work should a woman with an outside job be expected to do in the home? 

In oriental societies, strong extended family ties are traditional.  However, under the influenced of western-style individualism and the stress of economic  problems, the traditional extended family is weakening. Many, therefore, view care of the aged family members as a burden rather than as a duty or a privilege.  Some elderly parents are abused. Indeed, abuse and neglect of the aged are found in many countries today.  

Divorce is becoming increasingly common. In Spain the divorce rate rose to 1 out of 8 marriages by the beginning of the final decade of the 20th century-a big jump from 1 out of 100 just 25 years before.  Britain, with reportedly  the highest divorce rate in Europe (4 out of 10 marriages are expected to fail), has seen a surge in the number of single-parent families.  

Many in Germany seem to be abandoning the traditional family altogether.   The  1990's saw 35 percent of all German households made up of a single person and 31 percent made up of just two individuals. The French too are marrying less often, and those who do marry divorce more often and earlier than to used to be the case. Growing numbers prefer to live together without the responsibilities of marriage. Comparable trends are seen worldwide. 

Next time: Conclusion of THE FAMILY UNDER STRESS

From the book The Secret of FAMILY HAPPINESS