Changes in The Roles of Family Members in Caribbean Society

Changes in the roles of family members in Caribbean society

1. The high cost of living in the Caribbean has forced most women to become part of the labour force.

2. The varying contraception methods have helped women to become more focused on a career rather than child bearing.

3. Increased technology has had a two-fold effect: first, women are now able to do work once dominated by men. Second, household chores are easily and quickly carried out.

4. The call for the equality of sexes which led to the women’s right movement has helped with the equality of opportunities for women as for men. Gender roles in the home are now being shared in most households. The right to equal educational and job opportunities, has helped in the promoting of equality of the sexes. As a result of the increase in employment opportunities for women, they are now sharing the breadwinner’s role with their partners.

The Males

1. The male is longer seen as the sole breadwinner in the family. This has happened because of the economic problems and the higher standard of living in our society today.

2. Most women are now participating in the decision-making process in the family. The belief that the man is the sole decision maker has changed.

3. Male roles are changing because more and more female partners are taking up paid jobs outside of the home. As a result, men are now taking on a greater share of the household duties.

The effects of the changing roles on the women

• Development of women’s self-esteem and confidence. They are becoming more independent.

• Many traditional roles have been reversed as women are now being assisted with the domestic roles by men.

• There is an increase in the independence of women who will no longer sit in abusive relationships, but will move on as they are now able to sustain themselves.

The effects of the changing roles on the man

• Added competition for jobs as many once-traditional male occupations have been opened to females.

• It is felt that the sharing of gender roles in the home and at the workplace has created an identity crisis for males.

• Male marginalisation has become obvious as the call for the equal sharing of authority and decision making in the home has led to some men feeling marginalised.

However, even today there is still a clear distinction between women’s work and men’s work in our society. The changing roles of the members of the family have occurred and have resulted in and/or created role conflict in the