Introduction
The role of the institution of family in present-day society is one of the major subjects which evokes the concerns of scholars. Meanwhile, there is no explicit definition of the problem, which they attempt to formulate on the grounds of their analyses of current trends. From this point of view, the difference in standpoints is conditional upon selecting either a positive or a negative outlook on the changes in this respect. Therefore, the debates on the effects of the shifting significance of families are based on the conflict of conservatism and liberalism and underlying values, whereas the only clear aspect is their long-term influence on children.
Main body
The importance of a researcher’s viewpoint when examining the evolution of marriage and childbearing seems to be the only circumstance determining the results of such studies. This outcome is confirmed by the lack of universal truths in this area. It is reflected by the presence of ideological disputes, which are not resolved to date, as it was mentioned by David Popenoe (1993) in “The National Family Wars.” Hence, the varying expectations of the scholars who attempt to evaluate the situation in modern families by applying their values to them. This practice is demonstrated by Judith Stacey (1993), whose conclusions contradict Popenoe’s beliefs in families’ decline.
The former states that any claims of functions attributed to families in the past are ambiguous. Meanwhile, as it was discussed by the latter in his piece, the difference in their findings is conditional upon the absence of evidence, which is substituted by personal convictions.
In turn, the mentioned issue in terms of values, which are used as the basis for examining this institution, can be referred to as the presentation of conflicting attitudes of conservative and liberal authors. Thus, supporters of nuclear families, such as Popenoe with his work “American Family Decline, 1960-1990: A Review and Appraisal,” claim the alarming nature of this situation. On the contrary, liberal scholars, such as Philip A. Cowan (1993), with his publication “The Sky Is Falling, but Popenoe’s Analysis Won’t Help Us Do Anything About It,” do not view the trends as negative. They are convinced that the non-performance of specific functions does not indicate the decline and, consequently, should be viewed as a change rather than a problem (Cowan, 1993). In other words, an author’s stance determines the description of this situation as a threat to conservative notions or an opportunity for a new liberal order.
Nevertheless, the common conclusion of studies devoted to the alleged decline of families is that the only confirmed impact is attributed to children. For instance, Ira L. Reiss (1965), in her article “The Universality of the Family: A Conceptual Analysis,” mentions that this institution is solely significant for the socialization of offspring. This opinion is also expressed by Norval D. Glenn (1993), who adds that the neglect of other functions does not necessarily correlate with problems. In other words, these scholars prove that any concerns regarding the lack of economic cooperation or other trends are baseless.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the opposing views related to conservatism and liberalism affect the discussion of the decline of nuclear families. From this perspective, the main ideas of researchers vary from the definition of issues in this respect to justifications for ignoring the trends, which seem to be harmless. Consequently, the discordant findings are the former’s ideas of the need for preserving values and the latter’s emphasis on the necessity to adjust to new circumstances. The stemming assumptions are the absence of evidence and the impossibility of predicting the development of this field. Thus, their findings can be applied to the task of projecting several possible ways of progress.