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

Cultural and media influences

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

• 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

    • E.g. in 2025 the suicide rate in England and Wales was 17.5 per 100,000 males, compared with 5.5 per 100,000 females (ONS)

  • 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, cottage industries 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 emerged gradually from around the 13th to the 17th centuries, starting with the upper classes

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 mines and factories such as 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 helped mark 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 Children Act 1989 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 (2026) ranked the UK 24th out of 37 rich countries for child wellbeing, with a low score for children’s mental wellbeing (28th)

• 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

  • In response, since July 2025 the Online Safety Act 2023 has required many websites and apps to use age checks to protect children from harmful content

• 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

• In 2015, the participation age in England rose to 18, so young people must stay in education or training for longer (the school-leaving age is still 16)

• 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