Sociology for Optimists by Mary Holmes

Author:Mary Holmes [Holmes, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Self-Help, Motivational & Inspirational, Social Science, Sociology, General
ISBN: 9781473934276
Google: xqVmDAAAQBAJ
Publisher: SAGE
Published: 2016-09-10T04:38:18+00:00

Conclusion

As intimate relationships diversify, a range of trends have been identified as causes for concern. This chapter has endeavoured to evaluate some of these trends with the aid of a critical optimism. Thus, although more people are living alone, evidence suggests that most are not without social ties, they are not lonely. In fact, living alone indicates that people are able to enjoy some independence from their families while continuing to enjoy support. This may be especially significant for women, as they are able to exercise greater autonomy over their lives. This improvement in women’s status is also reflected in the fact that fewer people are marrying. For women this indicates less financial dependence on men. Declines in marriage rates do not, however, indicate that there is less intimacy, but that different ways of doing intimacy are now possible. One is cohabitation, the rise of which in part explains why more people delay or forego marriage. Unmarried cohabitation remains a largely minority world practice, but versions of it are said to have had a history and continued presence in parts of Africa and in Latin America. The lure of cohabitation may be its promise of more egalitarian relationships, especially for heterosexuals, although that is not always what will occur. The rise may simply be one indicator of the wider diversification of intimate life.

Other areas of concern about families may also indicate improved economic and social freedoms, especially for women. Higher divorce rates for example, may indicate that more women may enjoy the means to escape unsatisfying or even violent relationships. In the majority world there may be similar improvements, although sometimes (neo)colonialism has fettered people to, rather than freed them from, restrictive marriage ties. Neither is it obvious that lower fertility is inevitably disastrous. Having fewer children may be better for women’s health and well-being, it can improve standards of living and perhaps aid environmental sustainability. In considering how this might be, it is important to understand reflexivity around fertility as emotional and relational, rather than as an individual choice. Further research on this is needed in order to see how lower fertility might be crucial to creating a more sustainable society that respects social and political freedoms. In relational terms, there is evidence that an ageing population connected to lower fertility will not necessarily mean a burden of care. Older people are increasingly likely to go on contributing to society longer and to stay in good health. For those who do have children, many more now do so outside of marriage. A reduction in stigma is evident and unmarried childbearing could signal women’s ability to exercise more control over the conditions under which they have, or do not have children. However, gendered relationships have shifted in a patchy fashion, so that although choices around intimate relationships have expanded, gendered divisions of labour within them still typically entrench men’s privilege.

Although most families are still couple families, it is clear that a much wider range of intimate practices exist than in

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