The whereabouts of where a child stays and who they are taken care of has been an important issue surrounding our younger generation since the beginning of time. Unlike adults, children are delicate and susceptible to any type of changes made around them; because of this, it is important for children to have good quality of care and opportunities for learning, adequate nutrition and community support for families, to facilitate positive development of cognitive, social and self-regulation skills (Gewirtz & Masten, 2013). Compared to a century ago, child custody arrangements have changed significantly. As society's perception of marriage changed, so did the arrangements. Religion also played a remarkable role in the assignment of the child
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This change prompted in societies transition from a homebound life on the farm to working in factories. The beginning of female laborers treated equally as males in the 1970s provided a significant means for change in child custody arrangements. Women began to take on positions as workers alongside men, receiving income just barely enough to support her own children in times of divorce. The Tender Years Doctrine also aided mothers as the preferred caregiver of her children in their ‘tender years (from age birth to five years)’ (Klaff, …show more content…
While females used to predominantly win in custody battles, male caretakers are being recognized to take on an equal share in child rearing (Thompson, 1994). Instead of a single parent taking full custody of the child, joint custody has become more popularized since the last two decades (Mason, 2012). Albeit the differences in child custody arrangements generations of parents and children had to face, it is now customary for the most suitable parent to be awarded guardianship. The courts now focus primarily on the well-being of the child, taking care to pay attention to the family's strengths, weakness, and vulnerabilities of the family system in its totality (Prescott, 2011). This is a big leap in the future of children, especially those who would potentially have to face an abusive relationship with a parent if they were placed in the care of an unsuitable
This change prompted in societies transition from a homebound life on the farm to working in factories. The beginning of female laborers treated equally as males in the 1970s provided a significant means for change in child custody arrangements. Women began to take on positions as workers alongside men, receiving income just barely enough to support her own children in times of divorce. The Tender Years Doctrine also aided mothers as the preferred caregiver of her children in their ‘tender years (from age birth to five years)’ (Klaff, …show more content…
While females used to predominantly win in custody battles, male caretakers are being recognized to take on an equal share in child rearing (Thompson, 1994). Instead of a single parent taking full custody of the child, joint custody has become more popularized since the last two decades (Mason, 2012). Albeit the differences in child custody arrangements generations of parents and children had to face, it is now customary for the most suitable parent to be awarded guardianship. The courts now focus primarily on the well-being of the child, taking care to pay attention to the family's strengths, weakness, and vulnerabilities of the family system in its totality (Prescott, 2011). This is a big leap in the future of children, especially those who would potentially have to face an abusive relationship with a parent if they were placed in the care of an unsuitable