BRITISH FAMILY LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The typical British family has undergone a dramatic change in the last century. Large families are a rare occurrence with many families averaging 1.5 children or none at all. With more women than ever working long hours, it is increasingly difficult to strike a balance between work and family life. Sitting down together at a dining table for family meals is now a rare occurrence for many British families, with many not possessing a dining table and preferring to eat meals on their knee whilst watching tv. There are more obese children and adults than ever before in this country, as many live off ready meals and junk food. Cancer and heart disease are two of Britain’s biggest killers too, with bad diet being a major factor. Families don’t communicate like they used to. Could this be why we have so much youth crime in this century, as kids join gangs and seek attention from their peers outside the home?

Is it any wonder that there are more and more single people raising children now? So many marriages end in divorce these days. Not surprising really as couples are under pressure from all sides, pressure from bosses at work, emotional pressure of not spending enough time at home and financial pressure of working to pay the mortgage and bills. Modern life is quite often a rollercoaster ride of stress and pressure with Britons working longer and longer hours. We’ve come so far but maybe sometimes we need to take a step back and remember what’s really important in life. With rising divorce rates and family life breaking down in the 21st century, are we really better off? Maybe our ancestors could teach us a thing or two.