Families have evolved and changed throughout history. Firstly, when you look at the hunters and gatherers time, men and women worked full time in search food. Men were hunters, and left the family to capture and kill large animals. On the other hand, women were responsible for gathering fruits, herbs, nuts, grain, as well nurturing young children. Women and men both had high status and were both essential to survival. When you take a look at the agricultural families, they tamed animals and grew plants and food, so the daily quest of food was eliminated. Agriculture required manual labor and the provision of more food, resulting in larger families. Women cared for children, and handled domestic work, and children were an economic asset because they worked on field. Men also were the authority and decision makers of the family. In Pre-Industrial families, male members without land moved to town and cities with their wives. They would work in family homes, where wives and children could help with work. The economic survival of family depended on all family members working, including children. By the age of 7 or 8, children began to assist, boys would work on a farm and girls would do housework. Marriage was an economic necessity for men & women because there was no work for single women, and no housekeeper for men. In Urban Industrial, families become more urban. The family system was flexible, and adjusted to the new economic reality. Men were typically money-earners who provided for their wives, and kids. Women were nurtures who worked at home. There was less need for children to work in factories, and child laws were eventually passed in all provinces. Children were expected to be under the supervision of their mother and attend school, because compulsory education was instituted. The family home also became a place of love and comfort. In some cases, working-class women and children often had to work in factories with their husbands to help support their family. Families also began to get smaller. In the Modern Consumer Family, a women’s role was to be a wife, mother, and housekeeper. Men were the head of the household, and were expected to fund the family, and make
