35.TheModernFamily现代家庭

Fatherleavesforworkinthemorningafterbreakfast.Thetwochildrentakethebustoschool,andmotherstayshomecookingandcleaninguntilfatherandthekidsreturnhomeintheevening.ThisisthetraditionalpictureofahappyfamilylivinginBritain.Butisittruetoday?

Theanswerisno!Thepast20yearshaveseengreatchangesinthelivesandstructureoffamiliesinBritain.

Thebiggestchangehasbeencausedbydivorce.Asmanyas2outof3marriagesnowendindivorce,leadingtoasituationwheremanychildrenlivewithoneparentandonlyseetheotheratweekendsorholidays.

Therehasalsobeenahugeriseinthenumberofwomenwithchildrenwhowork.Theyneedtoworktosupportthemselvesandtheirchildren.Evenwherethereisnodivorce,manyfamiliesneedbothparentstoworkinordertosurvive.Thishascausedanincreaseinchildcarefacilities(儿童保育机构),thoughitisveryexpensiveandcanbedifficulttofindinmanyareas.

Inaddition,womenarenolongerhappytostayathomeraisingchildren,andmanyhavecareersearningasmuchorevenmorethanmen,thetraditionalbreadwinner.

Therehasalsobeenasharpincreaseinthenumberofsinglemothers,particularlyamongteenagers.Somepeoplehaveblamedthisincreasefortheriseincrime.Theyfeelthelackofamalerolemodelhasdamagedthesechildreninsociety.

However,thesechangeshavenothadatotallynegativeeffect.Forwomen,itisnowmucheasiertohaveacareerandgoodsalary.Althoughitisdifficulttobeaworkingmother,ithasbecomenormalandisnolongerseenasabadthingforthechildren.

Asforchildrenthemselves,somearguethatmodernchildrengrowupmoreindependentandmaturethaninthepast.Fromanearlyagetheyhavetogotochildmindersornurseries,andsoareusedtodealingwithstrangersandmixingwithotherchildren.(339words)

◆Helper:

divorce离婚childcarefacilities儿童福利机构,设施breadwinner养家糊