Answers to the question
The definition of family provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics focuses mostly on formal and conventional aspects, for example, marriage, the residency in the same household, or blood relationship. However, it does not describe the interactions between people who compose a family.
For instance, nothing is being said about such things as attachment, love, responsibility, and care. These aspects are important for the creation and sustainability of every household.
This is the main limitations of this definition. Furthermore, this interpretation does mention many new forms of family structure, namely cohabitation or same-sex households. This is another issue that should not be overlooked by people who study sociological aspects of such a concept as family.
It should be noted that there are several family structures which have emerged fairly recently. For example, one can speak about same-sex families (Giele, 2006).
Certainly, this family structure could exist in the past decades, but the number of such households has increased dramatically in the twenty-first century (Giele, 2006). Furthermore, one should remember that about some demographic changes affecting families.
For instance, the longer life expectancy increased the participation of grandparents in the education of children who age ranges between 11 and 16 (Griggs et al, 2009, p.200).
Furthermore, one can speak about such a phenomenon as cohabitation. This means that many people tend to live together without registering a marriage or establishing formal relations (Hayes et al, 2011, p. 2).
Finally, one should take into account that in many contemporary families, some of the gender roles can change. For instance, it is possible to mention that in some households husbands can take a greater part in the education of children (Baxter & Smart, 2011). In turn, women can act as breadwinners.
These are some of the trends that can be identified. They are important for understanding the transformation of the modern family.
Comments on the posts of other students
The posts made by other students can throw light on the transformation of family in the twenty-first century. For example, these posts can help readers learn more about the emergence of same-sex families or culturally diverse households.
These tendencies are vital for people who study the transformation of many households in Australia as well as other countries. Furthermore, the responses of other students show that the definition of family offered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has significant limitations.
Nevertheless, this discussion could have been more productive if learners could speak about the factors that affect families and the reasons why new types of family could have emerged in Australia.
These questions should not be overlooked because in this way, one can learn more about the challenges that many households face nowadays.
For instance, it is possible to speak about unemployment or the lack of time for the upbringing of children. This is the main issue that should be taken into account by scholars and policy-makers.
Overall, it is possible to say that conventional perception of family is no longer applicable. In particular, nuclear households have become less widespread, especially in comparison with the past decades.
The discussion presented by researchers and students can illustrate some of the difficulties pose a threat to the sustainability of many families. Additionally, these issues should be considered by policy-makers who develop programs that should support families. This is the main argument that can be made.
Reference List
Baxter, J., & Smart, D. (2011). Fathering in Australia among couple families with young children: Research highlights. Family Matters, 88 (2), 15-26.
Giele, J. (2011). Decline of the family: Conservative, liberal, and feminist views. In A. S. Skolnick & J. Skolnick (Eds). Family in Transition, 16th edn (pp. 60-80). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Griggs, J., Tan, J-P., Buchanan, A., Attar-Schwartz, S., & Flouri, E. (2009). They’ve always been there for me’: Grandparental involvement and child well-being. Children and Society, 24 (3), 200-214.
Hayes, A., Qu, L., Weston, R., & Baxter, J. (2011). Families in Australia 2011: Sticking together in good and tough times. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.