The document discusses changes over time to gender, sex, and families in Britain. It notes legal reforms that impacted women's rights and shifting social attitudes regarding marriage, divorce, parenting, and sexuality. While traditional family structures declined, new flexible structures and support systems emerged. Attitudes toward gender roles and identity also transformed with more women working and greater recognition of gay identity.

1. GENDER, SEX AND THE
FAMILY IN BRITAIN
Arranged by:
Masryna Nainggolan
Pamulang University

2. Introduction
 Since the industrial revolution, rapidly changing employment
patterns coupled with demographic and social movement. There
has been a long series of legal reforms affecting sexual behavior,
kinship structures and the social status women.
 These reforms were the result of progressive and has secured
right of guardianship, property ownership, etc.
 In 1848, factory act limiting women and children to a ten-hour
working day.
 Over the next few decades, there will undoubtedly be further
contentious reforms in legislation concerning sexual
discrimination, abortion, divorce and sexual practice. All of these
affect, and are in turn affected by social attitudes and cultural
activities.

3. Family unit
 There are factors pulling in opposite of the size of British population.
These are such as the population boom of the immediate postwar
causes high number of couples do not have children (20%) and
accepted contraception to postpone to have children. Those who do
have smaller families, usually known as a conventional family. Only
24 percent of contemporary British households falls into the “two
adults plus dependent children” as a nuclear family unit.
 Significant shifts over has been in attitudes towards marriage
causes around 75 per cent of people marry at least once. But, now
one of every three British marriages currently ends in divorce.
 Allegiance to the traditional family unit as we known as extended
family is reduce rapidly
 Ethnicity. A higher proportion of Afro-Caribbean families are mother-
led
 Shifting conceptions of gender identity has been a key factor in
generating fears about the collapse of the family throughout the last
two centuries.

4. Gender and British Institution
 Many traditional British institution male dominated.
Such as the political and legal system and the
church of England. In there just has 9 per cent of
female members.
 However, for aspiring female members, the macho
culture of Westminster is a minor problem compared
to that of getting elected , or even selected to stand
in the first place.
 Although women are now entering the legal
profession ever increasing numbers, they are less
likely to reach the top of their profession.

5. Women and Employment
 In Britain, women have continued to enter the labor force in ever increasing numbers
throughout the twentieth century. But, many fears are voiced about changing gender
roles perceived deterioration of family life.
 And women are still much more likely to be discrimination against on grounds of age
or physical attractiveness. All in all, employment opportunities for British women
certainly exceed those of previous generation. But, they are still far from equal with
those of British men.
 In 1995, there were several high - profile attacks in the tabloids on mothers who left
their children at home alone. In spite of these, women’s participation in paid
employment rose dramatically in the late 1950s and has continued to increase in
every decade since.
 It is also the case that a small number of women are now working in previously male -
dominated area.
 As a result, young women now have far greater expectations that ever before. A
recent study of British teenage girls revealed that many now confidently expect to
have both a career and a family, although given present working conditions, they are
unlikely to achieve both these aims.

6. Marriage and Divorce
 In Britain, divorce rates have soared. It’s because there was no
laws that govern. Consequence, British argued for stricter
divorce laws.
 In the early 1990s, Conservative Government was launch a
moral crusade, popularly known as back to basics, implored the
public to stand firm in their commitment to marriage and family
life, but was discredited by the disclosure of a string of sex
scandals involving prominent Mps.
 Divorce in British usually happen in upper classes, a wife needed
a proof of adultery plus desertion, bigamy, incest or cruelty to
divorce her husband. Women were denied a share of their ex-
husband’s income until as late as the mid 1960s.
 Likely a men, women are instigated causes majority of divorces,
who are also much less likely to marry again.

7. Parenting
 In Britain, There were debates about the falling
standard of British parenting.
 In the 1993, The communities of single mothers
argues and choosing to live without men. In other
hand, the government considered developing a
system whereby single mother are punished for the
birth of a second or third child.
 The debates about British parenting arose over the
establishment of the Child Support Agency and
cases of a abducted boy by two-eleven boys.
 This case became a debate on the factors that
influence children's behavior.

8. Sexuality and Identity
 The British are famed both their prurience and sexual reserved. Shift in
the meaning permissiveness makes british known as the ‘Swinging
London', British youth culture explosion and legalization
homosexuality, abortion, birth control, and divorce reform in 1960s.
Consequence , Britain is the first official AIDS- related death.
 Homosexual activity since enacted in England and Wales, ie Gay and
lesbian lifestyle, becomes a lifestyle sufficiently developed that show a
positive self-identification, as opposed for the term 'homosexual' or
more pejorative, suggesting growing recognition of gay identity as a
alternative lifestyle choices, not just sexual preference. Even though in
the end it's not allowed anymore, the effect is still felt today.
 Shift in gender identification also occurs in men and women English.
Most British women now work, they do not have a little time to do
household chores. There are many feminism activity in britain. As well
as English men are increasingly preoccupied with appearance and body
shape, those with blue-collar jobs are increasingly receding.

9. Conclusion
 British population comprises 51 percent female and
49 percent male subjects. These affect attitudes
towards age, marriage, children and women in paid
employment.
 We must consider whether the decline of the
traditional family has actually led to a more atomise,
alienated society. There is also evidence to suggest
that new, more flexible family structures and
systems of community support are beginning to take
its place. And finally responsible for undermining the
moral values necessary to sustain family life.

10. Conclusion
 British population comprises 51 percent female and
49 percent male subjects. These affect attitudes
towards age, marriage, children and women in paid
employment.
 We must consider whether the decline of the
traditional family has actually led to a more atomise,
alienated society. There is also evidence to suggest
that new, more flexible family structures and
systems of community support are beginning to take
its place. And finally responsible for undermining the
moral values necessary to sustain family life.