Nolan Flavien

VIEUX FORT COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Advanced Level Department

[TOPIC OF ASSIGNMENT]

Presented in partial fulfillment

Of the requirements of Caribbean Studies

Lecturer: Ms. Janique Alfred

By:
[Your Name]

Date: September 13, 2020

Approval___________________
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Within society, a family was the top societal institution for teaching the norms, values

and behaviors of a society. It is as a result of this, that the family was responsible for shaping

society. It is important to note that it was and not is, because as times changed as generations has

controlled today’s society. Therefore, the hands that rock the cradle no longer rules the world. A
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way in which this is true is that technology and social media has become more influential over

the years.

One main reason why this statement is true, is that technology in form of social media

has provided a platform in which for children to learn from. With modern day society, social

media has become a daily socialization and a place where people go for information. It is right at

our fingertips and it is easy with that kind of access to gain information. For example, some

parents leave their children with a tablet or phone for hours watching YouTube videos as they

are too occupied to give attention and care to their child. This may result in the child learning

whatever is being presented to him or her as at that age the child is like a sponge and are very

impressionable to his or surroundings, and therefore, the child would be shaped by whatever type

of YouTube content placed before them.

In addition to that, the social and economic status of women has change within families.

When woman have access to education and paying jobs, their priorities shifted. In the past,

women were left responsible for the family as the man went off to provide. However today,

women are given the freedom to further their education and to be accepted to any job she’s

qualified for. It may be difficult to care for a child when she wants it. As a result, she may be

required to place her child into a daycare facility or hire a babysitter. This may generate a gap

between Mother and child as he or she is more influenced and attached to the person who’s been

taking care of them most for the time. This proves that the family no longer influences the type

of society that is there for further generations.

As a final point, this statement is undeniable as children sometimes are being shaped by

their peers. Socialization is a common process by which individuals learn about the culture of

their society. It is important to socialize as it helps build one’s knowledge on culture and learning
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of values and norms as an individual. Although socialization first occurs within the family, the

greatest impact socialization could attain is from peers in schools and other social institutions.

According to Gupte, the need for acceptance, approval, and belonging is vital during the teen years.

Therefore, there are a number of things that make peers more important during development.

To illustrate, for the duration of teenage years, there is a shift from parental influence with peers taking

on greater importance. Unlike the past, children used to report every incidence to the parents, they solve

most of the issues themselves nowadays. As more sensitive issues come into their lives and the desire for

freedom cropping in, teenagers tend to associate much with their peers. This evidence shows that peers

and socialization is more influential than the family, thus indicating that the hand that rocks the cradle no

longer rules the world.

It may be argued that the family can produce more than what’s available by the touch of a

screen or a click of a mouse. I understand this point of view because within a family, you are

exposed to the qualities and skills physically. Nevertheless, family videos and how to do certain

technical things which could be taught within a family can also be found on the internet.

Therefore, since whatever could be taught within a family could also be found through

technology, the hand that rocks the cradle no longer rules the world.

It is arguable that a mother could place balance between work time and family time. It is

my understanding that yes, it is possible for the balance between both important worlds.

Schedules could be set for time off for the family, regardless of that, the quality comes with

quantity. The time framed taken would not be sufficient to a child’s needs and it may be

confusing to him or her of how much his mother really cares.

In conclusion, I have argued that the hands which rocks the cradle no longer rules the

world. Children could be influence by external factors present in society such as, Social media,

being monitored and raised by other people outside of the family and socialization among pairs.
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If these external factors are considered it could be found that they are more influential than those

hand that rock the cradle.