Essay: Examining the Evolution of Australian Families (70 Years)

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformations in Australian families over the past 70 years, employing sociological perspectives such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. It examines key trends including marriage rates, cohabitation, fertility, and family structures, highlighting the impact of societal changes, economic factors, and technological advancements. The functional perspective explores relationship trends, family characteristics, and parental employment, while the conflict theory addresses issues of inequality and economic disparities. Symbolic interactionism focuses on how individual interactions shape family dynamics and societal values. The essay also discusses the rise of multicultural marriages, single-parent families, and the evolving roles of family members, concluding with an overview of the major factors contributing to these changes and their implications for Australian society. The analysis incorporates various research studies and statistical data to support its arguments, offering a detailed and nuanced understanding of the evolving Australian family.

To what extent has
the Australian
family changed in
the last 70 years

Australian families have changed significantly over the years but at the same time they
remain basic units remaining within the society raising their children and care for each other
Altman, Hunter & Biddle, (2018). Nostalgia is a known as the powerful force when it comes to
think about our family. Present Paper will focus on the three social Paradigms such as functional
perspective, conflict as well as symbolic interactionism and how these theories relates to the
Australian families changes over the last 70 years. First one highlights on the functional
perspective. The issues focus on Relationship trends, Family characteristics, having children,
fertility trends and also the parental employment trends
and child care. Sometimes it's very hard to adapt the rapid changes Falcous & Booth, (2017).
Earlier families live happily without mobile phones, E-book, tablets, social sites as well as voices
which emanating from the car dashboard to helps to determine the road navigation.
Relationship trends such as Marriages were earlier declined and cohabitation rate
enhancing Beauchaine & Haines, (2019). Traditionally, registered marriages becomes a path
chosen by the couples to form a partnership. According to the reports it is estimated that median
age at first marriage declined in the 1940s,1950s as well as 1960s and then suddenly increased in
the 1970s. In the 1940s the age fir the marriage for the bridegrooms was 26.5 while 23.5 for
brides. Through 1974 it had fallen from 23.3 for bridegrooms ans 20.9 for brides. These changes
occurred by the post -wars years Boulding, (2018). Between 1991 and 2016 the median age of
men for marriage raise from 26.7 to 29.7 as well as women jumped from 24.5 years to 28 years.
Simultaneously multicultural marriages also increased and also the partners who had already
married before is also decreased. People are more focused on the higher education rather than the
marriage. In 1980 only 23 % couples loved together before marriage as compared to 78 % in
2008.may of the people believe that the couples lived together before marriage means that the
divorce rate must also increases but it had been dropped from 26.2 % to 2 % within the last
decades Dixon & Scheurell, (2016) . Family characteristics such as the families which are
dependent on the Children fallen and also the couples lives together and also couples who have
no children has been increased rapidly. In 1976 Lonely parents families were enhanced from 7 %
in 1976 to 11% in 2006. 48 % families in 1976 were families lived with their dependent children
and 28 % people lived with no children. In the year 2006 the couples families with dependent
children as well a couple with no children becomes equal in numbers. While in 2006 to 2007
families with at least one child were called as intact families Falcous & Booth, (2017).17 %

families have lone others and 4 % were step families and also called blended families.3% were
called as lone parents families headed by their father.
From a functional aspect the role of Australian families from last 70 years in increasing
multicultural nation standards as well as values of society and also the people now depend on
their higher level of studies instead of focused on marriages but at the same time single parents
family also enhanced and no children families were increased Fiske, Hodge & Turner, (2016).
Conflict theory depends on the factors people are looking at now in present sense. good reasons also
associate with the conflict theory .Although Australia has community of Same sex couples as it is a part
of Official Australian statics since 1996. The estimated Information tells us that there is high range of
cohabitation relationship were enhanced in 1980 but today these are the kinds of the relationship which
are more common. In 1986 couplers have cohabitation marriage is upto 5.7 % which is merely double in
the year 2001 that is 12.4 %.there is a proof that the cohabitation relationship are more likely to breakup
within the six years of commencement. These are the relationship establish in 1970 until today Jeong,
(2017). This is more vital as it shows that the children grow in the more solo family and also surveys
shows that they after 1986 there were enhanced in the solo parents as it is estimated that the growth in
the solo families children was arisen in June 2003 up to 2,068,800. Also since 1980 men's labour forcer
participation levels was also decreased. it is estimated that the when the women entered within the
labour force market in numbers then the men have dropped out of the labour force Lang & Moleski,
(2016). Also, the full-time employment also declined from 86.7 % in 1983 to 83.4% in 2003.Economic
changes was also considered as there was high unemployment as well as high inflation is one of the
most characterised in the 1980s Lang & Moleski, (2016). In 1983 trend of unemployment peaked at
11.3 %and it undulated peaking at 11.9% in the year 1992 and 1993.it also reaches to the 5.2 % in
January 2005.inflation level in the 1980 was on average higher ad also the consumer Price index also
rose from am average of 9.6 % from June 1980 to July 1985 and also 3.4 % to average per year from
July 2001 to 2005.here economic growth also ,Measured in GRP per year from 1981 to 1985.fertility
Trends also increases Lee & et.al., (2016).
Fertility rate in the Australia by 1980 had declined from 3.4 babies to 1.8 which is below the
replacement level of 2.2 .With the continual decline of the fertility rate in the late 1990s was
become the issue of fertility crises and it becomes apparent. This generated the alarm bells of the
social as well as economic policy of ageing as well as combination of population concerns about

the diminishing fertility. By the year 2002 the fertility rate had decrease to 1.6 % but enhanced to
just under the 2.0 Okely & et.al., (2017).
survey search that arise perception of class tension within the Australia between rich as well as
poor leads to the rose of the conflict. Friction between the migrants and native born in the
Australia is become the greatest source of conflict in the Australian society. About two third of
the Australia believes that the string conflicts arises between rich and poor is a sign of the
income inequality. Since 1992 there s about 52 % increases from 2009 survey Ralph, Birks &
Chapman, (2015). 48% polled that there is a rise of the strong conflict. Income inequality is not
for only economist of the Australia. According to the latest survey the 27 % of households
experienced an income drop such as job security, underemployment. Household earning Such as
annual income $300,00 reported a rapid increase of the financial comfort. When the rich as well
as poor people lived in two separate world then one result onto the tax revot Shanas & et.al.,
(2017). In comparison to other countries Australia has become the more targeted programs in
terms of redistribution but over the time this becomes the less effective within the recent years. It
also leads to the wealth disparates. The long term of the economic growth leads to the global
financial crisis among both public and policymakers .This is particular in the Australia in 2014
study the international Monterary fund shows that the countries with the lower inequality trends
causes fast as well as more durable economic growth Stephan & Stephan, (2017). The conflict
theory also determines abut the rich and poor. it argues that the rich and poor people of
Australia argues about the inequality system which creates the income disparities as it includes
the humiliation because people generally don't like the unfairness. Even if the generation
becomes wealthy with their own efforts as well as creativity then there is a strong possibility
that the generation can blow their inheritance Wagner & et.al., (2018).
The social interactionism theory focuses on relationship of an individual among the different
people of the society Wolter & et.al., (2016). holds the view that people play an important role in
shaping the society. This theory also lay emphasis on thinking pattern of individual in the
society. It lay emphasis on focusing on relationship of an individual with other people in the
society. Therefore this theory suggests that community has played an important role in changing
the lifestyle of the people living in Australia. Similarly as per the views fo Vygotsky, social
interaction plays a very crucial role in process of learning where learner interact with other
people and develop skills and knowledge. The interconnection of people impacts thinking

process of an individual. As symbolic interactionism is a way by which one person interprets and
give meaning to the rest of the world while interacting with others. The communication of people
with others has significantly change their way of living Yap & Biddle, (2017). With the advent
of technology it has become easy for the people to communicate with each other. Social
interaction leads to change in way people think and behave. The way people interact with each
other has been changed significantly which also create impact on the type of life people lives.
About 70 years ago the families of Australia used to live together, everyone is aware about other
as they interact with each other also social skills among people were very good at that time
Wolter & at.al., (2016). It can be seen that from last 70 years the Australian family has
experienced a many changes. It has been seen that nuclear family no longer exist in Australia.
The traditional family has now been transformed to couple family. It has been observed that now
the families are becoming more blended which means couple dissolve and form new families.
The size of an Australian family has changed across years Stephan & Stephan, (2017).
There are many factors which contributes to all the changes which has been discussed above
such as increase in ageing population, technological advances, increase of family mobility etc.,
are some factors. The family values has been changed. However it can be seen that nuclear
family is the major barrier or building block in society. It has also been observed that size of
households has been fallen by the 20th century to 21st century. The ratio of household families
which is couple families who have been living with their dependent children has also been
decrease gradually. Also, the marital status of lone parents has also been changed Ralph, Birks &
Chapman, (2015). The ratio of lone parents has been increased significantly. This theory lay
emphasis on exploring changing meaning which is attached to family.
The Australian families have changed in a significant way. Also trend of fertility has also
leads to change in people conception. But technological advancement has also played a positive
role in communication process. The new media with various services such as chat, mobile phone,
e mail has however resulted in interpersonal communication which however has separated the
families of we can say has created a distance in families but also helps family members to remain
in touch with each other Fiske, Hodge & Turner, (2016). The interaction of people with their
surrounding people lead to change in their way of thinking and lifestyle.
In conclusion ,certain evidence has been presented that focuses the Australin families
changes over the 70 years .it highlighted on the relationship trend and also the single parenting

can increases with the years. Cohabitation rate increase over the years, also the Multicultural
marriages increases. With the evolution of time people also focuses on the same sex couples and
children grow within the alone parents family or other partner's family . it also highlighted the
inequality differences due to the rich and poor differences and at last t As symbolic
interactionism is a way by one person interprets and give meaning to world while
communicating with others. As communication leads to a significant change in their way of
living of Australia.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Altman, J., Hunter, B., & Biddle, N. (2018). How realistic are the prospects for'closing the gaps'
in socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians?. Canberra, ACT: Centre for
Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), The Australian National University.
Beauchaine, T. P., & Haines, N. (2019). Functionalist and constructionist perspectives on
emotion dysregulation. In The Oxford Handbook of Emotion Dysregulation.
Boulding, K. E. (2018). Conflict and defense: A general theory. Pickle Partners Publishing.
Dixon, J. & Scheurell, R.P., (2016). Social welfare in developed market countries. Routledge.
Falcous, M., & Booth, D. (2017). Contested epistemology: theory and method of international
sport studies. Sport in Society.20(12). 1821-1837.
Fiske, J., Hodge, B., & Turner, G. (2016). Myths of Oz: reading Australian popular culture.
Routledge.
Jeong, H. W. (2017). Peace and conflict studies: An introduction. Routledge.
Lang, J., & Moleski, W. (2016). Functionalism revisited: Architectural theory and practice and
the behavioral sciences. Routledge.
Lee, A. J., & et.al., (2016). Testing the price and affordability of healthy and current (unhealthy)
diets and the potential impacts of policy change in Australia. BMC Public Health. 16(1).
315.
Okely, A. D., & et.al., (2017). A collaborative approach to adopting/adapting guidelines-The
Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the early years (Birth to 5 years): an
integration of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. BMC Public Health. 17(5).
869.
Ralph, N., Birks, M., & Chapman, Y. (2015). The methodological dynamism of grounded
theory. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 14(4). 1609406915611576.
Shanas, E., & et.al., (2017). Old people in three industrial societies. Routledge.
Stephan, W. G., & Stephan, C. W. (2017). Intergroup threat theory. The International
Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication. 1-12.
Wagner, F., & et.al., (2018). The bulletin of symbolic logic.

Wolter, J. S., & at.al., (2016). Symbolic drivers of consumer–brand identification and
disidentification. Journal of Business Research. 69(2). 785-793.
Yap, M., & Biddle, N. (2017). Indigenous fertility and family formation.