FAMILY PROJECTIONS AFTER COVID-19: A TURNING POINT?

Öz

The global experiences of Covid-19 (such as staying at home, physical distance and social isolation practices, moving work and education to home, unemployment, income losses, digitalization) gave birth to the idea of a "new normal" and to projections predicting that it would fundamentally affect the future of family structure along with other areas of life. Critically examining the literature in terms of the effects of Covid-19 specifically on the family and the projections related to it, this paper argues that a new discourse centered on Covid-19 has been produced, which presents it as a 'turning point' as if it had revolutionary effects in human history. Based on the aim of making a critical evaluation of this discourse, firstly, some basic features of future projections were determined. Secondly, the risk/uncertainty/fear environment emphasized by the discourse in question is discussed within the framework of the relevant literature. Third, projections for the future of family life are examined and discussed within the framework of three main themes. This paper shows that, contrary to the emerging new discourse, family transformations and discussions related to Covis-19 were already happening in many societies long before Covid-19. Therefore, it is concluded that the new discourse uses Covid-19 as a scapegoat for the problems of the reconstructed order of global capitalism, which deepens inequalities and ignores disaster preparedness.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covid-19
• The Future of family
• Risc and uncertainty

COVID-19 SONRASI AİLE PROJEKSİYONLARI: BİR DÖNÜM NOKTASI MI?

Öz

The global experiences of Covid-19 (such as staying at home, physical distance and social isolation practices, moving work and education to home, unemployment, income losses, digitalization) gave birth to the idea of a "new normal" and to projections predicting that it would fundamentally affect the future of family structure along with other areas of life. Critically examining the literature in terms of the effects of Covid-19 specifically on the family and the projections related to it, this paper argues that a new discourse centered on Covid-19 has been produced, which presents it as a 'turning point' as if it had revolutionary effects in human history. Based on the aim of making a critical evaluation of this discourse, firstly, some basic features of future projections were determined. Secondly, the risk/uncertainty/fear environment emphasized by the discourse in question is discussed within the framework of the relevant literature. Third, projections for the future of family life are examined and discussed within the framework of three main themes. This paper shows that, contrary to the emerging new discourse, family transformations and discussions related to Covis-19 were already happening in many societies long before Covid-19. Therefore, it is concluded that the new discourse uses Covid-19 as a scapegoat for the problems of the reconstructed order of global capitalism, which deepens inequalities and ignores disaster preparedness.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covid-19
• future of family
• risk and uncertainity
• new forms of normality

Kaynakça

1. Ahmed, D. , Buheji, M., Fardan, S. M. (2020). "Re-Emphasising the Future Family Role in ‘Care Economy’ as a Result of Covid-19 Pandemic Spillovers" American Journal of Economics 2020, 10(6): 332-338.
2. Altındal, Y. (2020). “Yeryüzündeki Çirkin Ördek Yavrularının Hapşırık/Öksürük ile İmtihanı: Sosyolojik Bir Açımlama”, İç. Fahri Çakı (Ed.) Maskeli, Mesafeli ve Kırılgan: Modernitenin Pandemik Halleri, Ankara: Nobel Yay.
3. Baskerville, S. (2009). “Freedom and the Family: The Family Crisis and the Future of Western Civilization,” Humanitas, Volume XXII, Nos. 1 and 2, Pp. 168-184.
4. Beck, U. & Beck-Gemsheim, E. (1995). The Normal Chaos of Love, Cambridge: Polity Press.
5. Beck, U. & Beck-Gemsheim, E. (2001). Individualisation, London: Sage.
6. Beck, U. (1992). Risk Society, Towards a New Modernity (Translated by Mark Ritter) London: Sage.
7. Becker, G. S. (1993). A Treatise on the Family Enlarged Edition Harvard University Press.
8. Bozkurt, V. (2020). “Covid 19 ve Komplo Teorileri: Kimler Komplo Teorilerine İnanıyor?” https://fikirturu.com/toplum/covid-19-ve-komplo-teorileri-kimler-komplo-teorilerine-inaniyor/ (accessed at 18.06.2021).

9. Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). “The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence.” Lancet, 395(10227), 912-920. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30460-8. (accessed at 27/05/2021).
10. Brotherton, R. & Eser, S. (2015). “Bored to fears: Boredom proneness, paranoia, and conspiracy theories,” Personality and Individual Differences 80: 1-5.
11. Cherlin, A. J. (2020). “"The Family and COVID-19: What Can We Say So Far?" Mc Graw Hill, September 2020.
12. Cliquet, R. (2003). “Major trends affecting families in the new millennium – Western Europe and North America “― United Nations (pub.) Major Trends Affecting Families: A Background Document. P. 1-26.
13. Çakı, F. (2020). “Afetler Sosyolojisi Bağlamında Pandemiye Bakış” İç. Fahri Çakı (Ed.) Maskeli, Mesafeli ve Kırılgan: Modernitenin Pandemik Halleri, Ankara: Nobel Yay.
14. Dench, G. (1994). The Frog and the Prince and the Problem of Men. London: Neanderthal Books.
15. Dennis, N. & Erdos, G. (1992). Families without Fatherhood. London: Institute of Economic Affairs.
16. Duncan, W. C. (2007). “Does The Family Have A Future?” North Dakota Law Review ,VOL. 83:1273, P.1273-1297.
17. Fisher, J., Languilaire, J-C., Lawthom, R., Nieuwenhuis, R., Petts, R.J., Cole, K.R. & Yerkes, M.A. (2020). "Community, work, and family in times of COVID-19, Community," Work & Family, 23:3, 247-252, DOI: 10.1080/13668803.2020.1756568.
18. Furedi, F. (2002). Culture of Fear, (Revised edition). London: Continuum.
19. Giddens, A. (2003). Runaway World: How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives. New York: Routledge.
20. Guetto, R., Vignoli, D. & Bazzani, G. (2021). "Marriage and cohabitation under uncertainty: the role of narratives of the future during the COVID-19 pandemic" European Societies 2021, Vol. 23, No. S1, S674–S688.
21. Haskins, R. (2015). “The Family Is Here to Stay—or Not”, The Future of Children, VOL. 25 / NO. 2.
22. Hunter, N. D. (2012). “The Future Impact of Same-Sex Marriage: More Questions Than Answers” The Georgetown Law Journal, Vol. 100:1855, Pp. 1855-1879.
23. Inayatullah, S. (1990). “Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Future.” Futures 22 (2): 115–141.
24. Inayatullah, S. (2007). Questioning the Future: Methods and Tools for Organizational and Societal Transformation. Tamsui: Tamkang University.
25. Janssen LHC, Kullberg M-LJ, Verkuil B, van Zwieten N, Wever MCM, van Houtum LAEM, et al. (2020) “Does the COVID-19 pandemic impact parents’ and adolescents’ well-being? An EMAstudy on daily affect and parenting.” PLoS ONE 15 (10): e0240962. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0240962.
26. Kalil, A., Mayer, S. & Shah, R. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Family Dynamics in Economically Vulnerable Households. WORKING PAPER • NO. 2020-143.
27. Karaosmanoğlu, K. (2009). “Bir Komplo Söyleminden Parçalar: Komplo Zihniyeti, Sıradan Faşizm ve New Age,” Kültür ve İletişim Dergisi, 12: 95-126.
28. Kotkin, J. (2012). The rise of post-familialism: humanity’s future? / Joel Kotkin; contributing author, Anuradha Shroff, Ali Modarres, Wendell Cox; edited by Zina Klapper. – Singapore: Civil Service College.
29. Laszczkowski, M. (2020). "The Return of the Plague-Spreader", THEMATIC THREADS > CORONAMarch 24, 2020. (accessed at 25 Nisan 2020).
30. Leach, M. & MacGregor, H. (2020). "Pandemics – social sciences are vital, but we must take the next steps". https://www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/pandemics-social-sciences-are-vital-but-we-must-take-the-next-steps/ (accessed at 13.04.2020).
31. Livingstone, S. (2020). "Digital by default: the new normal of family life under COVID-19" May 13th, 2020. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/parenting4digitalfuture/2020/05/13/digital-by-default/ (accessed at 27/05/2021).
32. Murray, C. (1994) Underclass: The Crisis Deepens. London: lEA Health and Welfare Unit.
33. OECD (2011). The Future of Families to 2030 A SYNTHESIS REPORT.
34. OECD (2011). The Future of Families to 2030 Projections, Policy Challenges and Policy Options A Synthesis Report, International Futures Programme, http://www.oecd.org/futures/49093502.pdf (accessed at 27/05/2020).
35. OECD (2012). The Future of Families to 2030, Executive summary. OECD Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264168367-en (accessed at 27/05/2020).
36. Ruppanner, L., Churchill, B., & Scarborough, W. (2020). “Why Coronavirus may Forever Change the Way We Care Within Families.” The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-coronavirusmay-forever-change-the-way-we-care-within-families-134527. (accessed at 25/05/2021).
37. Salin, M., Kaittila, A., Hakovirta, M. and Anttila, M. (2020). "Family Coping Strategies During Finland’s COVID-19 Lockdown" Sustainability 2020, 12, 9133; doi:10.3390/su12219133.
38. Schwab, K. & Malleret, T. (2020). Covid-19: The Great Reset. Forum Publishing.
39. Schwandt, H. & Wachter, T. (2020). "The Long Shadow of an Unlucky Star" Finance & Development | December 2020.
40. Sennett, R. (1998). The Corrosion of Character: The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism. New York: W. W. Norton and Co.
41. Sennett, R. (2006). The Culture of the New Capitalism. London: Yale University Press.
42. SIRC (2008). Childhood and Family Life: Socio-demographic Changes. Research Report by The Social Issues Research Centre. UK.
43. Staples, W. G. (1997). The Culture of Surveillance: Dicipline and Social Control in the United States. New York: St. Martin's Pres.
44. Szabo, T.G., Richling, S., Embry, D.D. et al. (2020). “From Helpless to Hero: Promoting Values-Based Behavior and Positive Family Interaction in the Midst of COVID-19.” Behav Analysis Practice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00431-0 (accessed at 25/05/2021).
45. The WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission (2020). “After COVID-19, a future for the world’s children?” - www.thelancet.com Vol 396, August 1, 2020 (accessed at 20.06.2021).
46. Uzun, A. & Oğrakcı, B. (2020). “Pandemiye Yol Açan Faktörler”, İç. Fahri Çakı (Ed.) Maskeli, Mesafeli ve Kırılgan: Modernitenin Pandemik Halleri, Ankara: Nobel Yay.
47. Waldfogel, J. (2009). “The Role of Family Policies in Antipoverty Policy” Focus Vol. 26, No., P.50-55.
48. Wardle, L. D. (2015). “The Future of the Family: The Social and Legal Impacts of Legalizing Same‐Sex Marriage” Ave Maria Law Review, Vol. 13:2, Pp. 237-279.
49. Worldometers (2021). https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ (accessed at 20.06.2021)