Changing Relationships in the Family: Men & Children (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Revision Note

The changing role of men in the family

• In the past, especially during the 1950s, men were expected to be breadwinners and heads of the household

• Many worked in manual industries such as coal mining and steelwork, which required physical strength

• Men had authority and status in the home because they provided financially

• Boys were socialised to see themselves as future providers and protectors

• Men were often absent from childcare and domestic work, as these were considered women’s responsibilities

• Changes within UK society have challenged this traditional masculine role

Reasons for the changing masculine role

Economic factors

• Many traditional industries (e.g., coal, steel) have declined, leading to male unemployment and a loss of the traditional breadwinner role

• Newer service-sector jobs often require communication and emotional skills, which can be done by both men and women

• More women are now educated and employed, meaning men are no longer the main financial providers in many families

• The feminist movement has challenged male dominance at home and at work, promoting gender equality

Cultural and media influences

• Media portrayals of masculinity can be confusing and contradictory

  • Traditional male heroes (e.g. in action films) are shown as strong and assertive

  • While modern expectations emphasise being emotionally open, caring, and sensitive

• These mixed messages create uncertainty about what it means to 'be a man' today

Crisis of masculinity

• Sociologists and mental health organisations (e.g., CALM, Men’s Health Forum) argue that there is a crisis of masculinity

• Many men feel they have lost their traditional roles and are unsure of their identity or purpose

• This crisis has been linked to:

  • higher rates of suicide and depression among men

  • lower educational achievement compared to women

  • higher rates of homelessness among men

• Men are often less likely to talk about mental health problems or seek help

Changing male identities

• Some men are adapting positively by redefining masculinity

• Sociologist Esther Dermott found that many men now value being ‘intimate fathers’ — closely involved with childcare and family life

• These men find identity and pride in emotional connection and active parenting, rather than just financial provision

The changing role of children

• Over time, there have been major changes in how childhood is viewed and how parent–child relationships are experienced

• Sociologists argue that childhood is a social construction — it varies across time, place, and culture and continues to evolve

Pre-industrial parent-child relationships

• In pre-industrial times, children were treated as ‘mini-adults’, expected to take on the same work, responsibilities, and skills as adults

• Many children worked alongside their parents in farming, factories, or as domestic servants

• Parental attitudes were often indifferent or neglectful, partly due to high infant mortality rates — parents avoided forming close attachments in case a child died

• Sociologist Philippe Ariès argued that in this period, childhood did not exist and that the idea of childhood developed much later with industrialisation

Industrial parent-child relationships

• In the 19th century, childhood began to be recognised as a distinct stage of life, though experiences differed sharply by social class

  • Middle-class children were often cared for by nannies and received formal education

  • Working-class children, especially boys, were expected to work in factories such as coal mines and textile mills, while many girls did unpaid domestic work at home

• The state began to intervene through education reforms, but poverty meant many children still worked

• The Education Act (1918) made schooling compulsory up to age 14, which sociologists Willmott and Young see as marking the formal recognition of childhood as a separate life stage

Changes over the decades

• Since the Victorian era, children’s lives have improved due to laws protecting their welfare and ensuring access to free, compulsory education

• The 1989 Children’s Act gave children specific legal rights and protection

• Sociologists highlight that Britain has become increasingly child-centred, with smaller families allowing parents to devote more time, money, and attention to their children

Modern parent-child relationships

• Families today are more child-centred — parents are more attentive and emotionally involved, often consulting children in family decisions (e.g. holidays or moving house)

• Middle-class families are more likely to have democratic relationships, valuing children’s opinions

• There is less emphasis on obedience and discipline, and more focus on individual freedom and emotional support

Inequality among children

• Not all children experience childhood equally — social class, gender, and ethnicity still shape their experiences

• UNICEF (2013) ranked the UK 16th out of 29 developed countries for child well-being, citing high rates of teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, and infant mortality

• Poorer children are more likely to face neglect or underachievement, showing that childhood remains unequal across social groups

• Whilst some sociologists argue that modern children are better protected and valued than ever before, others claim they are pressured, over-monitored, and losing innocence

Parental relationships with teenagers

• In some dual-earner families, both parents may be engaged in full-time work, leaving less time for direct interaction with their teenage children, leading to strained relationships

• Teenagers are increasingly spending more time social networking and online gaming, which parents may find difficult to regulate and set boundaries for

• Parents often experience conflicting expectations as they are encouraged to foster independence in their children, but they are also expected to protect and monitor them, leading to a rise in helicopter parenting

Financial dependence

• Young people are financially dependent for longer due to extended education and rising living costs

• The school-leaving age was raised to 18 in 2015, keeping young people in education longer

• Many return home after university or a breakup

• Limited work opportunities and high housing costs can cause family tension

• However, children also contribute to family life:

  • Caring for siblings or elderly relatives (young carers)

  • Helping in family businesses or with translation in immigrant families

  • Sociologist Scott (2004) argues that children play an important economic and emotional role in family life