Family Structure in England

 

Family structures in England are overall very similar to those within the United States. According to the Office for National Statistics 2021 Census, married couples account for up to 65% of all families within the United Kingdom. For the families who do have children, only 14% have 3 or more dependent children within the household. This means that much like the United states, for those who do choose to have families, the nuclear family design is quite common. This trend demonstrates that those who do have kids wish to have smaller families, which can be caused by a variety of reasons such as finances and access to proper child care resources, time (or lack thereof) an individual has to dedicate towards raising a child, or many more. Many of these debates are the exact same ideas families within the United States battle with today. Demonstrating this aptitude to have less or no children also demonstrates how many English people are drifting away from religious ideologies, especially those of which having many kids is highly encouraged. By linking this pattern of fewer children with the decline in Christianity I wrote about in a previous blog post, we can infer there is a shift in the worldview that will be taught to these children born into these smaller families.

Another major way these families have been evolving is through globalization. According to National Geographic, “Globalization is a term used to describe the increasing connectedness and interdependence of world cultures and economies.” Revise Sociology says that globalization is also another reason for the decline in large families, with relationships having a stronger focus on gender equality. This means that both the man and woman are out of the house, working jobs, and chasing their dreams; leading to less time and ability to have children. Globalization has also led to a much higher divorce rate and a major influx in blended families, another epidemic seen in the United States as well.

Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom has a royal family. The monarchy is mostly a ceremonial position today. While parliament handles the political environment, the royal family still is a key symbol for ceremonies, tourism, and as an example for the “ideal family.” According to Wilderness England, the royal family has developed a branding of glamour and fairy tale magic to appeal to the masses. This can not only be seen by their influence on tourism, but their impact on their image as a family. From the love stories, to the fanciful weddings, to the childhood in a castle, every part of the royal family’s life is in the media. They’re depicted as a family living the perfect life. Even so, there is a heavy debate within the United Kingdom, should their country maintain the monarchy?

Despite the ideals encouraged by the royal family, many over the years have become frustrated with the pageantry. According to the New Statesman, maintaining a symbolic monarchy is quite expensive for the country. Providing the finances to enable the pageantry increases the country’s taxes even more so. Beyond that, many view the members of the royal family as unhappy with their lives. While they try to depict an idealistic life, there is a large amount of evidence from those who left the royal family, plan on changing their name, or marrying a commoner to escape, proves to many that the royal family themselves do not enjoy the fanciful lifestyle. In summary, while families over in Great Britain are very similar to the United States, there are many cultural differences that impact the families.