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Yachkova, Miroluba. The Bulgarian Family between the 20th and the 21st century. Premises, Analyses, Prognoses. Summary p. 212-214 The survey deals with the characteristic features and processes developing in the Bulgarian family at the turn of the century. The analysis is refracted through the prism and logic of two major social spheres: demographic development and the young generation’s preparation for family life in the information era. A vast scope of sources is used, including sociological surveys, statistical information, scientific publications, historical and economic data and forecasts, etc., as well as comparisons with countries from Western, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. The approach used in studying the object is inter-disciplinary. The main conclusion is that the processes taking place in the Bulgarian family do not differ essentially from the tendency typical of Europe, the Caucasian race and the Christian cultural tradition. The differences stem mainly from the tradition being modified by the specific national character and stereotypes, the specifics of the socio-economic development, and some historical, ethno-cultural, and geographic realities and conditions. Incomplete families (especially separated and single-parent families, with mothers being the family head in three-fourths of cases), as well as out-of-wedlock births (38.7% of all the year 2000 births) show a definite change, stable and accelerated growth rate. In 2001, consensus alliances, typical of some West European countries accounted for about 5% for young people aged between 18 and 35. At the same time, the “family” value is still a key value for the young; a mere 4-5% denounce (maybe standoffishly) it, as well as having children. Despite the great liberalization of ideas of and attitudes towards different family forms and the increasing readiness to become part of them, the family entity having both parents and based on a legal marriage is still the most preferred and dominant form, particularly in view of having and upbringing children. The analysis unequivocally shows that family values and the family institution in Bulgaria are not endangered at all; what is more, for the time being they are second to none as far as their values and importance for the individual’s life are concerned. Partnership and matrimony are undergoing a crisis: the centrifugal phenomena and a shift of layers are witnessed in this field of family relations. The absent-father syndrome is steadily making its way into Bulgarian realities too. The concrete reasons differ, but it is generally a matter of the two sexes’ differing views on key issues of activity and life behavior. This is also being intensified by the simultaneous occurrence and impact of several radical processes of a global, regional and domestic scope on the Bulgarians’ life and consciousness. The outcome of this impact and situation will be a problem facing the 21st century. We are justified to believe that it is a matter of re-defining the social roles, i.e., of the biggest possible change in the family involving a high degree of anxiety and painfulness on both personal and social scale. And since the demographic problem will become ever more important for Bulgaria, and childbirth and daily child-care - ever more individual (and ever more frequently, single) responsibility of the wife, motherhood (understood as a social function) is taking shape as a key category of the state policy of the family in the 21st century. |
