Ian BoxillSOCIAL SCIENTISTS have long insisted that one global constant is the changing structure of the family. This change is often associated with or results in changing relations between men and women. In part, this change in the way in which the sexes relate is the result of transformations in the labour market, caused primarily by technological developments. Two of the most compelling global changes which have emerged include the increasing female dominance in formal education and, second, the emergence of young people, especially women, living alone.
In relation to the first issue, we in Jamaica, and throughout the Caribbean, have now become accustomed to the fact that, generally, females outperform males at all levels of the educational system. But what seemed to be an aberration, associated with this region, is now occurring in other parts of the world.
For example, in the US, female enrolment in four-year universities is now higher than males. A similar trend is also developing, though not at the same pace, in places of staunch male dominance Japan, South Korea and a number of other Asian countries.
What is interesting about this development is that females are not only outdoing their males counterparts in what are often called 'soft' subjects, like the humanities and education, but also in the areas once considered to be 'naturally' masculine, like physics and mathematics. In the UK, this year, for the first time, females outperformed males in 'A' level exams in physics and mathematics.
Another interesting development is that although females make up the minority of students in the Faculty of Engineering at the UWI, last year, most of the top students from this faculty were females.
The other trend that is noticeable, globally, particularly in places like Europe and the US, is the growth in the number of men and women who are opting to live alone rather than with a partner or a family.
This issue is now the subject of study by sociologists in a number of industrialised countries. They have found that this change has serious consequences for health care, education, child rearing, the elderly and the general stability of human society.
A recent article in Newsweek magazine, August 14, addressed this growing phenomenon. According to Carla Power, writing in the same magazine, "the communications revolution, the shift from a business culture of stability to one of mobility and the mass entry of women in the work force have wreaked havoc on Europeans' private lives. More and more of them are remaining on their own: marrying later if at all. British marriage rates are the lowest in 160 years of records."
Note that this trend is largely associated with urban areas, and it is not simply a European trend. It is also occurring here in Jamaica among young professionals, admittedly to a much lesser degree, especially men and women in their late 20s and early 30s.
Leahcim Semaj
There also appears to be another trend where divorced women, mainly in their 30s and 40s, opt to forego a second marriage, preferring to live alone. Many of these women may have relationships with men, but they prefer to live by themselves as they find it more convenient to pursue careers and enjoy a level of freedom which was denied to them in marriage.
Social scientists, as well as policy makers, in many parts of the world, are only now coming to terms with some of these social changes. Here in Jamaica, we are now beginning to discuss some of these issues. I would like to end this article by saluting someone who has been paying some attention to these issues for some time. I would like to congratulate Leahcim Semaj who has been doing outstanding work on his Sunday programme Man Talk.
There can be no doubt that, for years, Dr. Semaj has forced our society to talk about many difficult and sensitive social issues. Man Talk is doing an excellent job in exploring and explaining several development issues, particularly those facing men. It is my view that one day we in Jamaica will begin to recognise the immense contribution of Semaj, who has helped to open up a public space so that we can discuss subjects which are often considered taboo. Peace!
Ian Boxill is a sociologist who lectures at the UWI, Mona. E-mail: iboxill@uwimona.edu.jm.
