Page 296 - DSOC201_SOCIAL_STRUCTURE_AND_SOCIAL_CHANGE_ENGLISH

Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University
Unit 14: Social Change in Contemporary India

Unit 14: Social Change in Contemporary India Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
14.1 Social Trends
14.2 Contemporary Social Change
14.3 Economic Development: Its Determinants and Social Consequences
14.4 Industrialisation
14.5 Urbanisation
14.6 Summary
14.7 Key-Words
14.8 Review Questions
14.9 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit students will be able to:
• Understand Social Trends
• Discuss Contemporary Social Change
• Explain Economic Development
• Know Industrialization and Urbanization
Introduction

Families are the fundamental unit of society. While their broad functions childrearing, care, protection,
sustenance, socialisation, nurturance, affection and intimacy—are perennial, family size and form
have shown considerable historical change. To what extent are these sorts of changes affecting family
functioning? Families are embedded in the wider contexts of neighbourhood, community and society,
and these are also subject to change. Do these changes, which themselves partly arise from family
trends, alter the social and emotional character of family relationships? In combination with wider
social changes, do they alter the social and emotional development of children? What implications
do such changes have for the relationship between children and their siblings, and with their extended
families? Similar questions can be asked of the changes beyond the family—for example, in the extent
and nature of relationships between children and their neighbours and members of their communities.
What are the impacts of changes in the interactions of children with their teachers, clergy and coaches,
among others, that flow from reductions in the willingness of males to enter professions or to join
groups involving frequent contact with children and young people? Are there unanticipated
consequences for children more generally of social policies that appropriately protect the vulnerable
and disadvantaged? Finally, are there longer-term impacts of family and wider societal trends that,
on the one hand, may result in greater isolation, lowered empathy and reduced social cohesion and,
on the other, unacceptable risks of abuse and neglect that too many children face in dysfunctional
families? These are key considerations as Australia frames policy agendas for its children and families.
14.1 Social Trends

The place of children is not uniformly advantageous across our communities. In a recent volume,
Keating and Hertzman (1999) highlighted “modernity’s paradox”:

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