Family of the 21st century. An interview of detective Plekasi Nikos Pelekasi to the newspaper “Pontiaki Gnomi”.
Every year May 15th is celebrated as “World Family Day”. A family is a socially recognised and established form of cohabitation of members who share common goals and usually live under the same roof, regardless of whether they are biologically related.
The family model has changed in recent years according to geographical, educational, economic and other needs.
This is how they were formed:
(a) the nuclear family: man, woman, children.
(b) the single-parent family, resulting from divorce or the birth of a child out of wedlock, which is more common among women.
(c) the reconstituted family resulting from divorce and remarriage.
(d) the extended family, consisting of parents, children and other relatives living in close proximity and having emotional, financial support and frequent communication.
(e) the migrant family, another model where members do not live together, distances are long, meetings and communication are minimal.
In the family there are no institutionalised rules but the obvious: mutual respect, two-way communication and collective decision-making. There are very few paternal or maternal families because the model is not functional. According to research, the egalitarian family, where decisions are made by both members, is ideal.
In all cases, parents have an obligation to their children to provide for their living, education, upbringing, security and gradual integration into society.
In recent years, there has been an under-birth rate due to the crisis, because couples are unable to afford to raise children.
Finally, despite the forecasts, measurements and statistics of other European countries, the Greek family is evolving and changing its model, but it remains a strong social institution and an emotional refuge with unchanging values.
Family of the 21st century. An interview of detective Pelekasis Nikos in the newspaper “Pontiaki Gnomi”.
Pontiagi Gnomi
April 2013
Sheet number 50
By Nikos Pelekasis
