Families are dynamic units that are subject to changing times. Even the definition of family has changed over time. Recent events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crises, have significantly affected American families. Here are five ways recent changes have affected families.
1. Changes in How Families Live and Work
In the last 2-3 years, external forces have affected how families live, work, and play. These changes had been precipitating slowly, but events such as COVID-19 hastened the effect. The pandemic forced families to work from home, but the resulting benefits have convinced many that a hybrid/remote working style is more family-friendly.
More people have begun to work remotely away from their offices and homes. People can now travel and immerse in other communities while working, thanks to innovative ideas by travel stakeholders like Airbnb. According to Travel Weekly, Airbnb launched an excursion plan named Trips 2016 in numerous cities, including Detroit. The plan has grown from 12 cities to 50. In the future, companies that desire high employee retention rates will have to think of work options that allow remote working.
2. Changes in Family Structure
Over the last 3-4 decades, the American family structure has changed in form and size. In the 50s and 60s, a family meant two-parent households with children living under one roof. The definition has drastically changed with a rising number of single-parent and childless families.
Increased divorce rates have also changed how families support children, especially financially. According to the U.S Census Bureau, Georgia uses the income-shares model to determine how to award child support after some changes in child support laws in 2007. It’s a model approximating how much each parent would contribute towards the child’s needs if they were still married.
3. Changes in Family Health and Wellbeing
The pandemic and mass economic crises have exposed and exacerbated families’ health issues. For families without insurance, any potential threat to their health only adds anxiety. For some people, health and fitness have a renewed meaning as families try to eat healthy foods, keep fit and stay mentally healthy.
Recent events have changed what families think about their health. For example, technology has made our lives social and visible making people’s vulnerabilities and insecurities felt more strongly. According to Byte, only 7% of Americans are satisfied with their teeth. The role of dentists and any practitioners in the beauty and cosmetic field is more relevant today due to people’s increased online social presence.
4. A Shift in Gender Relations and Roles
America has significantly moved from the traditional definitions of gender relations and roles. Recent changes such as more opportunities for women, the pandemic, and economic crises have forced a shift from the traditional perspective. According to Pew Charitable Trust’s research, 58% of American families had at least one adult member lose employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic by July 2020. In such cases, the family had to depend on the working member of the family, and thus gender is not the first determinant of who becomes the family breadwinner.
5. Increased Financial Strain Because of Economic Crises
Families have had to adapt to lower income streams. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic waned, American households were still battling a dwindling economy, trade stand-offs, and mass lay-offs. Consequently, many families suffer financial strain that may lessen once the economy recovers. Some families respond to financial strain with divorce, while others refrain from preserving scarce resources.
Families throughout history have been subjected to strong external forces such as modernization, economic booms, crises, and diseases. Some families are resilient in such changes, but ultimately these forces affect how families live, work, and play. Putting in the work to understand the impact of these changes is crucial to maintaining a healthy home life. Begin the process of understanding these changes today to prevent them from taking control over your life.
