Understanding the Impact of "The Big Bang" and the Loss of Family Values

Prof. Dato' Dr. Zaleha Kamaruddin Timbalan Ketua Pengarah 24/05/2011 | The Star

The late 1970s has witnessed what Cheal (1991) called "The Big Bang" in family theory. The term was further discussed by Doherty et.al (1993) where he specifically pointed out that "a wave of internal criticisms has swept the family field into a sea of pluralistic and self-questioning world of the late twentieth century that has been termed postmodern." Further elaborations of some works on post modernism have also identified it as the main culprit for the loss of family values. But is it true? What exactly is postmodernism? What implications does it have on the society specifically on our family institution? Postmodernism is difficult to define, because to define it would violate the postmodernist's premise that no definite terms, boundaries, or absolute truths exist. There seems to be no consensus on the meaning. Most definitions are hopelessly vague and often inconsistent with each other. However, for the purpose of this writing, perhaps it is sensible at least to elaborate some of its elements. Among others, post modernism has been defined as a tendency in contemporary culture characterized by the problem of objective truth and inherent suspicion towards global cultural narrative. It involves the belief that many, if not all, apparent realities are only social constructs, as they are subject to change inherent to time and place. This definition leads us to the question of values and truth. Is truth an illusion? Postmodernists do not attempt to refine their thoughts about what is right or wrong, true or false, good or evil. They believe that there is no absolute truth. A postmodernist views the world outside of themselves as being in error. Therefore, no one has the authority to define truth or impose upon others his idea of moral right and wrong. Their self-rationalization of the universe and world around them pits themselves against divine revelation versus moral relativism. Many choose to believe in naturalism and evolution rather than God and creationism. For example, postmodernists argue the concept of public morality put forth by religion and question how can religions specifically Islam claim primacy or dictate morals? The list of concerns goes on and on especially for those affected by a postmodern philosophy and lifestyle. To say that postmodernism has influenced the family is only to state the obvious. In Malaysia, where many parents send their children to day care, where both parents work so that they can make ends meet or to have material possessions this age says are a must, and when these actions are considered acceptable, it becomes obvious that attitudes have changed from the traditional view on the family. Are values lost because the family institution has changed? Most people acknowledged that things never stay the same and were quite aware that society changed continuously. Heraclitus, one of the Greek philosophers maintained that society was in constant flux and everything was always on the move. "You can't jump in the same river twice", he maintained. Philosophers and thinkers have also throughout time, believed that society moved according to immutable and unchanging laws, that there was a driving force that drove society onward aimlessly or to be God-centric. And it is in this turbulent world that we live in today that we celebrate the International Family Day every May 15. It draws attention of the public of various countries to numerous problems of the family institution. It is observed that the family in Asia, specifically in Malaysia is moving towards the Western nuclear family model, but retaining certain structural forms and traditional values. Despite influences of post modernism through globalisation, the Malaysian family has been and remains a preserver of human values, culture and historical continuity of generations, and the factor of stability and development. Our National Family Policy (NFP) which was launched in 2010 stresses on strengthening the institution of family, enforcing its authority and educational function. It is good to know that the development of family values is among the main priorities of NFP.

But the implementation part of the NFP is another story. The 21st century has witnessed one of the most dramatic shifts in marital unions, i.e. dual-earner marriages have now become the norm. Female labor force participation has been on the rise since the early 1970s. Women with pre-school aged children demonstrated the greatest shift in labor force participation. Today, approximately 46% percent of wives and mothers, including mothers of preschoolers, are in the paid labor force. Dual-earner marriages mean parents spend less time with their children. One of the indicators of how much time parents spend with their children is the number of children going to day care. It means children are spending part or all of their day in the care of someone other than their parents. It is logical to ask whether this has an impact upon the family. Research indicates that quantity and quality of family time can have profound influences upon children. One study of 90,000 teenagers revealed that "those who felt emotionally close to their families were much less likely to engage in risky behaviors, from drugs to sex" (Larson). Such emotional bonds are difficult to form if parents and children interact only in a limited fashion. Harvard Graduate School of Education researchers have suggested that something as simple as eating supper together improves children's school performance. Our Malaysian study also sadly pointed out although 80% of parents spent time with their children through eating together, the percentage is decreasing. Challenges brought about by post modernism such as individualism and independence instead of interdependence have tarnished our traditional family values. Our independence from our extended families has also produced options once considered taboo. Rates of cohabitation and single parenting have also expanded within the post-modern framework. Neglect and improper care for the elderly is also on the rise. Divorce is no longer an individual problem because its social implications are shared by the society and government has to intervene to ensure that the welfare of children of divorce is well taken care of. To ensure values are not lost, the widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they fully assume their responsibilities within the community. The biological, emotional and economic needs which are the foundation of a family should be looked into seriously by the government. This is because, although our Malaysian family has remained remarkably stable despite some marked and drastic social, political, economic and religious changes over the last fifty three years, the "big bang" will definitely happen because changes take place at different speeds and at different levels of population if values are not safeguarded.