Family Matters Sociology

FAMILIES ON THE FAULT LINE AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES While life for many Canadians is relatively comfortable and trouble free, a significant number of families face considerable hardship and challenge. Some of these problems may be relatively short term with relatively modest consequences, such as temporary unemployment or a brief illness. Or these challenges can be chronic or long term (e.g., having a child with special needs) or occur at certain points in the life course (e.g., among certain cohorts or generations). From a life-course perspective, some of these events can produce abrupt or serious effects that redirect our life paths. "ese significant occurrences can produce a lasting shift in our linked lives and in our life-course transitions and trajectories. For example, we might decide to retire early from the paid labour force in order to provide daily care for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease. Although previous parts of this text have also highlighted some critical issues facing families, in this section, we focus on a number of particularly problematic areas for families, with continued emphasis on how many of life’s challenges are socially structured over the life course. In other words, social problems and what we often view as “private troubles” are often related to access to key social and economic resources. "ey therefore vary according to such aspects as gender/sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, social class, and geographical locale. We will also consider how these inequities and challenges affect, and are affected by, family relationships and shape family interactions and life-course transitions. In Chapter 13, for instance, we will learn that many serious health problems are more likely to occur among individuals who live in poverty than those who are wealthier. Health problems can also create cumulative disadvantages that also impact the entire family system, such as when a family member has chronic physical or mental health issues. And poverty and financial hardship (which will be covered in Chapter 14) are Book 373 09/08/21 6:49 PM Mitchell, Barbara A.. Family Matters, Fourth Edition : An Introduction to Family Sociology in Canada, Canadian Scholars, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central, Created from ubc on 2022-01-31 23:04:49. Copyright © 2021. Canadian Scholars. All rights reserved. 374 PART III FAMILIES ON THE FAULT LINE AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES more likely to occur within certain social groups, such as among women, recent immigrants, and the disabled and racialized, and Indigenous populations. Similarly, certain social groups are more likely to experience violence, stress, and abuse (the focus of Chapter 15) because they are more vulnerable and dependent. "ey may also not have access to important community resources and programs. As such, social policy can play an important role in the distribution of societal resources and can play a pivotal role in the overall general health and well-being of Canadian families. "us, in Chapter 16, we will examine some key social and family policy issues as well as some salient policy concerns for the present and future. "ese “critical” issues will be reviewed in light of many of the key family-related life-course patterns uncovered throughout this book.