Title: Analyze the effect of social, cultural, economic, and technological trends on work and family.
Course: Family Relations (19259-36) > Section: Balancing Work and Family

Analysis should include

- ways work and family are interconnected or independent
- relocation and potential separation from family members (e.g., deployment, immigration, foster homes, moving for economic reasons, separation due to domestic violence)
- economic factors (e.g., health care, higher education, professional training, caring for elderly family members, multiple generations in one home)
- products and services designed or improved in the last 10 years that relate to balancing work and family roles
- advantages and disadvantages of having a dual-earner family
- effects of technology (e.g., mobile devices, social media, 24/7 demands of work, e-learning) on the family and work balance and on mental health.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- How has the traditional separation of work and family changed in the last 50 years?
- What are the effects of female poverty (i.e., an increasing number of women in short-term, low-wage, dead-end jobs) on single-parent families? On the workplace? On society as a whole?
- How does relocation due to deployment, natural disaster, and other reasons affect the interconnectedness of work and family life?

Communication

- How can families and individuals address trends in the workplace?
- What influences a person's beliefs and attitudes about work and family responsibilities?

Leadership

- What are the effects of technological advancements on families and on society?
- What leadership skills are helpful in aligning family income with long-term family goals?

Management

- How can decisions be made about the best way to deal with social, economic, and technological changes?
- How might society influence the way families manage their work and family responsibilities?
- How does the constant availability of cellphones (mobile devices) and instant communication affect the family dynamic, relationships, and work-life balance?

Teacher Resources:

- The Anxious Generation by Dr. Jonathan Haidt
- Commonwealth Conversation: First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin and Dr. Jonathan Haidt (YouTube)