21st-Century Family – An interview with detective Nikos Pelekasis, originally published in the newspaper Pontiaki Gnomi
Every year, 15 May is celebrated as “International Day of Families.” A family is recognised as a socially acknowledged and established form of cohabitation between 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.
Thus, the following forms have developed:
a) The nuclear family: man, woman, children.
b) The single-parent family, resulting from divorce or the birth of a child outside marriage, and concerning women to a greater extent.
c) The reconstituted family, resulting from divorce and remarriage.
d) The extended family, consisting of parents, children and other relatives who live close to one another and provide emotional and financial support, while also maintaining frequent communication.
e) The migrant family, another model in which its members do not live together, distances are great, and meetings and communication are limited.
Within the family, there are no formally established rules, but rather self-evident ones: mutual respect, two-way communication and collective decision-making. Patriarchal or matriarchal families are few because the model is not functional. According to research, the egalitarian family, in which decisions are made by both members, is ideal.
In all cases, parents have an obligation towards their children to provide for their living needs, education, upbringing, safety and gradual integration into society.
In recent years, a decline in the birth rate has been observed, which is attributed to the crisis, as couples are financially unable to cope with the cost of raising children.
Finally, despite the forecasts, measurements and statistics of other European countries, the Greek family may indeed be evolving and changing its model, but it remains a strong social institution and an emotional refuge with enduring values.
The 21st-Century Family. An interview with detective Nikos Pelekasis in the newspaper “Pontiaki Gnomi”.
“The above text may be indicative of practices and methods used in the past. Certain practices and methods may no longer be applicable under the new Law 5005/22 concerning the procedure for lifting the confidentiality of communications, cybersecurity and the protection of citizens’ personal data.”
Pontiaki Gnomi Newspaper
April 2013
Issue No. 50
By Nikos Pelekasis
