Psychologists more and more often refer
to L. Friend’s work on psycho analysis. It is much spoken about
sociological surveys among young people. This unit starts considering
sociological analysis of the major social behaviour as dating. First,
it focuses on its importance as a cultural universal. And finally the
increasing influence of dating within contemporary human life on the
other hand.
Here is a song from 1968 film version of "Romeo and Juliet”. The
music is written by Nino Rota and the words by Eugene Walter. Read the
lyrics of the song "What is youth” as you listen to the recording. Then
answer the questions:
In
Britain the custom of becoming engaged is stillgenerally retained,
though many young people dispense with it, and the number of such couples is
increasing. As a rule, an engagement is announced as soon as a girl has
accepted a proposal of marriage, but in some cases it is none a good time
afterwards. Rules of etiquette dictate that the girl's parents should be the
first to hear the news; in practice, however, it is often the couple's friends
who are taken into confidence before either of the parents. If a man has not
yet met his future in-laws he does so at the first opportunity, whereas his
parents usually write them a friendly letter. It is then up to the girl's
mother to invite her daughter's future in-laws to a meal or drinks. Quite
often, of course, the manhas been a frequent visitor at the girl's
house long before the engagement, and their families are already well
acquainted.
One evening, although he was nervous,
Joe decided to propose to his girlfriend, Linda. She accepted his
proposal, they became engaged and he gave her a ring. After a year they
had saved enough money to get married (they were both over 18 so they
did not need their parents' consent). Some people have a religious
ceremony with a priest, but Joe and Linda decided on a civil ceremony
in a registry office. On the day of the wedding Linda, the bride, was
very calm, but Joe, the bridegroom, was nervous. Afterwards, at the
reception, speeches were made and the guests drank a toast to the happy
couple, who finally left for a honeymoon in Spain.
There are many different views on family life. Some people could
not do without the support and love of their families. Others say it is
the source of most of our problems and anxieties. Whatever the truth
is, the family is definitely a powerful symbol. Turn on the television
or open a magazine and you will see advertisements featuring happy,
balanced families. Politicians often try to win votes by standing for
"family values": respect for parental authority, stability in marriage,
chastity and care for the elderly.
In the Far. Middle and Near East and in parts of Africa, South
America and Europe, the first thing most Western people notice is the
respect everyone has for the old. Older men and women live with their
married children and are important members of the family. They look
after the children, help with the cooking, give advice and often rule
family life. Living in an extended family has advantages for everyone.
A small child, for example, knows many people from the very beginning,
not just his mother and father. When his mother goes out, it doesn't
matter. He'll stay with someone who loves him — an aunt or sister or
grandmother. For a young mother and father there are also advantages.
They can go out to work and grandmother will look after the house and
the children.
The
family as a social institution is presentin all cultures. A family
can be defined as a set of persons related by blood, marriage (or some
agreed-upon relationship) or adoption who share the primary responsibility for
reproduction and caring for members of society.
Although
the organization of the family can very greatly, there are certain general
principles concerning its composition, descent patterns, residence patterns,
and authority patterns.
In
today's world, marriage is subjected to the same stresses as other cultural
institutions. Technological change seems to be affecting everything. People
want what is new, what is novel, what is exciting. Trade in the old; buy the
latest model. Get a new car, get a new television, get the newest computer. A
popular song is a hit today, forgotten tomorrow. Change has become a way of
life. Without a backward glance, we change jobs, change careers, change where
we live. Not surprisingly, we change our marriage partners, too. In the United
States, the marriage rate is 10.6 per 1,000 people. The divorce rate is 5.3
per 1,000, one divorce in every two marriages. Of course, this figure does not
include unhappy couples. Where society offered stability, instability has
become a way of life. And we are hooked.
