Abstract

GONZALEZ, Marie  and  MARTINEZ, Cynthia. The Social Construction of Mothers and Fathers in Times of Crisis. Frónesis [online]. 2004, vol.11, n.1, pp.82-91. ISSN 1315-6268.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the social construction of the mother and father figures in times of social crisis, especially what has been experienced in Venezuela since the 1980s, in order to determine to what point this crisis affects the symbolic construction of these family actors. To analyze this theme we base our post-modern theoretical reflections on social constructionism, and on similar experiences in related studies. The conclusion is that due to the Venezuelan social crisis, the symbolic constructs of fathers and mothers are changing. These actors have new realities. New social practices have arisen, among others the incorporation of more and more women in the labor market, especially the informal market, and a weakening of the traditional roles of the father figure.

Keywords : Mother; father; social, construction; symbols.