Changing Relationships in the Family: Older People (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Revision Note

The changing role of the extended family

• Young and Willmott (1957) studied family life in Bethnal Green in 1950s London and found that:

  • the extended family flourished among working-class families as many young married couples lived with one set of parents

  • family ties were strong and 43% of daughters had seen their mothers within the previous 24 hours

• In their later study, Willmott and Young (1973) found that the nuclear family had become more separated from the extended family because of:

  • increasing geographical mobility (moving to another area of the UK or country)

  • women's increasing involvement in paid work and growing financial independence reduced the need for a supportive extended family

• It could be argued that the wider, extended family is becoming less important in Britain and that family ties are weakening

• However, due to cultural diversity, there is a relatively high percentage of extended families found in the British Asian community

The modified extended family

• Charles et al. (2008) studied families in Swansea between 1960 and 2002 and found that family members continue to depend on each other

• There were high rates of in-person interactions between family members:

  • Grandparents regularly cared for their grandchildren, enabling young women to continue paid employment

  • Fathers helped adult children with home improvements

  • Adult children looked after their parents

  • Older grandchildren were involved in caring for their grandparents

• Geographical mobility impacted the support family members received, but it came in the form of telephone calls, visits and financial support

Changing intergenerational relationships

Increasing life expectancy

• Data from the Office for National Statistics (opens in a new tab) (ONS, 2014) shows that the average life expectancy in the UK is 79.3 years for men and 83 years for women

• Life expectancy has risen due to:

  • improvements in healthcare and NHS provision

  • better nutrition and living standards

  • safer working conditions and improved housing

• As a result, the UK now has an ageing population, with a higher proportion of elderly people and a declining proportion of children and young people

Beanpole families

• The ageing population has contributed to the growth of beanpole families — families with several living generations but fewer members in each generation

• A beanpole family may include great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and children, but with fewer siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles than in previous generations

• These families are the result of people living longer and having fewer children

• The bonds between generations often need to be stronger since there are fewer relatives to rely on for support

The sandwich generation

• Many middle-aged or older women find themselves caring for both their elderly parents and their own children or grandchildren

• Sociologists refer to this as the 'sandwich generation' — individuals who are ‘sandwiched’ between caring for older and younger family members at the same time

• This can place women under significant pressure, especially those in beanpole families with fewer relatives to share the burden of care

Boomerang children

• Some adults, often after a relationship breakdown, financial difficulties, or housing costs, return to live with their parents

• These are known as boomerang children

• This can increase the emotional and financial pressure on elderly or middle-aged parents, particularly women

Poverty and dependency in old age

• Although many older people are active and independent, some, particularly those over 80, may live in poverty or suffer health problems that make them dependent on others

• These individuals often rely on informal care from their family members, particularly daughters, for help and support

• The government’s decision to delay retirement age to 67 may also affect how families provide care, as many middle-aged carers are still in paid employment

• Elderly women are more likely to live alone because they tend to outlive men and often experience loneliness and isolation

Class, gender and ethnicity

• Class, gender, and ethnicity influence an older person’s independence, health, and quality of life

• These differences are linked to access to:

  • financial resources such as pensions or savings

  • good health and medical care

  • social support and community networks

• Middle-class elderly people are generally more likely to live comfortably and independently, while those from working-class or minority ethnic backgrounds may experience greater vulnerability and barriers to accessing support