Sarah (mom) + Jamie (son) = the perfect family

Introduction

Throughout history, the evolution of the family has been one of the most dramatically changing elements of human life. Dating back from the Hunter- Gatherer era, to the current Contemporary family. The many changing roles of males, females and children have seem to fluctuate due to numerous factors such as the environment, society and technology. As evolution is at constant change, we cannot help to wonder what will happen in the future. In this blog we will further asses the functions of the family within a hundred years from now. Focusing on the triggering effect of the advancement of technology which leads towards different forms of conception. We will predict the future outcome of the family based on this topic.

Introducing:the Full Time Mother(Future Family Forms)

The family structure has undergone defining changes throughout the twenty first century. From having multiple children as an asset, to settling within the nuclear family. The many roles of members of the family have been re-arranged. It was not until the late Urban Industrial Family time period that husband and wife chose not to have multiple children. Today, represented as the Contemporary Family era, we can see a diverse composite of blended, transitional, and dual-income families. The formation of the family is highly dependent of the society. Whichever way society leans towards the family will slowly create change to keep up within the needs of society. In the Contemporary era we find many families struggling to make financial matters meet, even with a dual-income family (both parents are working). Families not only support their immediate family, but what we call a sandwich family (supporting extended relatives and their own parents).Throughout the evolution of the family, It is also wise to consider the advancement we have created with technology and how it effects the outcome with the immediate form of the family. In my personal opinion I predict that since our society today is now very computerized and technologically based, that the techno structure of society will continue to grow exponentially.Due to the numerous methods of conception (Drug therapy, In Vitro Fertilization, GIFT, Donor eggs etc)a women will no longer need a male partner for procreation. In my opinion I believe that in the next one hundred years that a family will consist of a mother being the full time breadwinner, as well full time care giver for one to two children. Families will be organized in a technological structure. This meaning that a majority of society will worked based on technical efficiency and have no need for a male partner for insemination. The advancement of of technology is also the meaning for who creates the functions of the family.

Technical Conception Leads to ''Gene Picking''



In Vitro Fertilization Process

  We can also hypothesis that with the advancement of the technology within the medical field we can now specialize in the type of children mothers want to conceive. As the sperm of male donors code for specific functions within their DNA, it is now easily accessible due to in Vitro Fertilization. This new technology rises many heated questions on ethical decisions and morals. Parents can now pick what genes they choose their children to poses. Features like, having more of a academic background, being more sport based and preventing sickness and health are just a few of the options parents can choose from. After reading the Designer Babies article (Agar, Nicholas) it raised my view of what technology has left a families. I predict that with the new generation of children our society creates more of a demand in competition. Institutions, academic levels and the industry will lead to entropy until being able to find equilibrium once again. The norm within society will change. For example the norm within a current household is for both parents to work to support the family, but predictions for the future could consist of even children working to help support a family due to the increase of competition. Currently, as the technology for this process is still under work the success rates are still low. Women ages 35 and below have a success rate of 30-35%, 25% for women ages 35-37, and 15 to 20% with women of the ages 38-40 (In Vitro Fertilization: IVF : American Pregnancy Association). I believe that within the next one hundred years that with the increase of technology that the birth rates will increase and this will method of conception will be the future norm.



An example of a Systems Theory

 The Loss of a System Theory 

Within the structure of a family, certain characteristics of subsystems occur. The Systems Theory explains how individuals within a family or different parts try to work together to influence another within a set amount of time. Since a family system is known to be a complex or larger organization, this leads to the family being a sequential system. There are numerous relationships that arise within these subsystems. The first can be those of an immediate family(like sharing a household, the second can be between personal relationships of (mother and son) and lastly a relationship between yourself and another individual of the family line (Carter & McGoldrick.With the process of in Vitro fertilization the donation of the sperm creates a disconnection within a family branch. The missing linkage of a biological father or mother contradicts the System Theory. Humans will loose their humanity and ancestral roots. Take for example, if a single mother were to have in Vitro fertilization there would be a missing linkage of to the biological father of the child. The loss of connection between society also occurs. Future generations will have problems with their own identification (Agar,Nicholas).This problem within the system theory will appeal towards the sociologists as it deals with the key concepts of families.Since it appeals to their behaviours and influence of the work that is undergone sociologists will take appeal within this study.

Technological Conception & the Feminist Theory

In a feminist theory sociologist try to explain and understand the point of behaviour throughout a woman's point of view. The bias that all human experience was morally based on the male behaviours (androcentricity) was seen as in equal as it excluded a woman's perspective. As women had limited rights and had no social status, an outbreak occurred as they started to enter the work force.More and more women started appearing again within a social class. This lead to the rise of woman advocates and voices starting to occur. Rights within marriage, sexual harassment , and domestic violence (Women’s Rights — Global Issues) started to gain way.The adoption of contraceptives like birth control created a new perspective within children. Sociologists will have to further research feminist views within technology as now woman will be able to gain more ''power'' as they will not need to physically have a male partner to procreate.