A more diverse, less predictable family experience. The (many) differences between the old and current family concepts.
In 1970 each house had an average of 3.7 people; In 2021 they became only 2.5 people. Families with 5 or more people were 29% of the total, they became 6%. One -person families were 10%, now there are 25% – most women.
Before 25 of April, Portugal was a country with families Of many children and with a hierarchy of rigid authority – from the husband in the face of his wife, from his parents in the face of their children.
But this, and other images, were in the past. Susana Atalaia, a sociologist, warns that that idea of rural family, father, mother and children working on earth, “ceased to exist completely.” There was a “Nuclearization of the family ”.
In the documentary – from the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation – the psychologist Jorge Gato stresses that there are now new forms of family: “The rule is the diversity. There is the classic but also recomposed family, adoptive, homoparental… ”
Susana Atalaia presents another essential point: the concept of space and time was much more limited; people were isolated geographically and lived their lives as they saw that others had lived it. In a globalized world, this scheme is over.
Besides, and despite so many complaints about houses prices, now there is a greater residential autonomy because people have a salary. Even if they don’t have a mate or a companion, they choose to live alone in their home.
There was also FECUNITY CONTROL: contraceptive, family planning consultations.
Duarte Vilar, sociologist, reinforces: “I stop being subject to the biological calendar, now I can control – without abortion – the pace of births. Some women had gone through more than 20 abortions. Clandestine All clandestine. ”
But there was above all a social and cultural change – the woman became more independent. Women working away from home (and receiving for this), increased female education, the church is no longer important in family decisions, especially women.
Two examples of female emancipation, of women’s power: in 1960, 72% of women nor primary school had completed; Now it’s just 7%; At the time, women in higher education were… 0.3% – but now there are 22%.
Os Catholic Weddings They fell considerably: it was 86% shortly before April 25 and were only 28%.
This has led many couples to have children Without being married, which would be almost unthinkable before 1974. In this chapter, 2015 was important: this year, the number of babies born of unmarried people exceeded those born within the marriage. More de facto unions, a society less influenced by the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
This also moved the divorce – which had been legalized in 1910 but prohibited during the Estado Novo. It was cool again in 1975, although this process continues to find obstacles and originates many hesitations, even among the people involved.
With the increase in the number of divorces, there are more monoparent, recomposed or homoparental families.
Deep down, Portugal lives a more diverse, less predictable family experience today.
