Page 91 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Multigenerational evaluation of globalization

forward and wish to normalize divorce. Participants also The Cont-G participants have also shared the migrating
opined that supportive parents who concur with their practice of the younger generation to foreign countries.
children’s decision to dissolve an unhealthy marriage are They stated that the majority of young people try to go
one of the significant factors in the rise in divorces. abroad for jobs and even start to settle there. Education
“People have started to view divorce as a very overseas was formerly only available to a select few,
normal phenomenon. They have realized that it is primarily the wealthy, due to its high cost. However, the
better to split up than waste your time and effort in economy has changed, and there are now resources to assist
a relationship when one is incompatible with their students in completing their education in foreign nations.
partner.” (ID_30/25/F) “Today, a greater number of young people go abroad
“Nowadays, the two people in a marriage no longer for education as well as for jobs. This was not very
have the patience or mentality to sacrifice for one common before. They even started settling there.”
another. This has caused more divorces lately. We (ID_26/25/F)
can also expect this tendency to go up in the future.” Our result shows that participants of all three
(ID_06/64/M) generations reported different perspectives on the changes
“Compared to the past, their parents have become that have occurred in family relationships, marital systems,
more supportive. If any issues arise and cannot get and career choices. However, they also had similar
past it, they encourage their children to leave the viewpoints on some aspects, such as the participation of
marriage.” (ID_11/57/M) women in the workplace and communication patterns
among family members. Thus, Table 2 briefly overviews
3.9. Changes in education and career decision-making the themes where profound differences were found across

Education and employment choices are major life decisions. generations.
In comparison to the past, the importance of education and
knowledge in several disciplines has boosted professional 4. Discussion
options. Even though there has been a significant change The present study aims to examine the transitions in Indian
in job decisions, with parents’ dominating influence family relationships, marital systems, and career choices
on children’s professional choices decreasing, younger and to compare the perspectives of three generations on
generations believe that parents still have an impact on these changes, as they confront the effects of these changes
career choices. The Cont-G participants stated that parents at different points in their lives. The results show that all
lacked resources to guide their children in earlier times, three generations have experienced changes to different
but now most of them are educated and have access to extents.
resources by which they can guide the children. They also One of the significant changes expressed unanimously
opined that most parents want their children to pursue
professional courses and take up white-collar jobs. The by all three generations is the transition from joint family to
new practice of sending children for tuition and coaching nuclear family households in India. Participants mentioned
classes for national-level entrance examinations is common several reasons for this shift, including increased family
and has become a trend. planning and an emphasis on small families. Studies
have shown that industrialization, urbanization, and
“Parents in today’s generation do not interfere much in educational expansion lead to a decline in extended
their children’s career choices. They encourage children families and a corresponding rise in nuclear families
to take a career of their own choice.” (ID_22/23/M) (Allendorf, 2012). It can be inferred that increased family
“Compared to previous generations, the parental planning is also a result of globalization and urbanization
control on children’s career choices only increased. (La Croix et al., 2002; Randall, 2006). The rise of attractive
However, the tactics they use to convince children are white-collar jobs, which resulted from globalization (Liu &
not as harsh as before. They reason with the child both Trefler, 2019), offers higher earnings than traditional jobs
logically and emotionally. People want white collar such as farming, providing further motivation to move out
jobs for their children.” (ID_29/27/F) of a joint family setting.
“Sending children to tuition and coaching from a Filial piety is a prominent issue in the study, with
very early age is highly seen today. Parents want their varying interpretations across generations. The results
children to be in professions such as doctors, engineers, show that Pre-G feels that young generation no longer
IAS, IPS, etc., and for this, they send their children for fears their elders. At the same time, Trans-G perceives
extra coaching.” (ID_26/25/F) the younger generation as disrespectful toward elders.

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 85 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2404