In this essay I intend to show that there have been significant Changes in the cultural understanding of a family unit. I intend to do this by showing that through changes in Divorce patterns, women's rights, religious beliefs in society we cannot say that the family is in crisis but rather that in this post-modern era the family has evolved to encompass all of today's values. Today a family is not simply 'a group of relations linked by kin connections, the adult members of which assume responsibility for caring for children' (Family, Marriage and Personal Life, (week 2 reading) page 140) but a much more diverse group of peoples whose care and responsibility for each other takes on many forms.
The changes in marriage patterns that have taken affect since the 1970's do not constitute a crisis for the family. The changes however do draw attention to the fact that the idea of what a family is has changed. People today marry for personal satisfaction
Rather than for economic benefits. …
