THE IMAGE OF «IDEAL» FAMILY IN NOTIONS OF MUSCOVITES

The article considers concepts of Moscow residents related to the issue of «ideal» family. The generalized character of the «ideal» family in view of respondents is presented as follows: complete family with two children living in their own apartment, family relationship is based on love, mutual assistance, support, mutual understanding, domestic duties are distributed fairly and taking into account «female» and «male» types of domestic life. Furthermore, both parents are working and devote their free time to children. At that, joint leisure is mostly organized as active rest (walks, travel, sports). The study established serious gap between factual characteristics of transformation of social institution of family at present stage (increasing numbers of divorces and single parenthood, leveling of family values, decreasing of numbers of children in family, wide range of problems of modern family) and perceptions by respondents of the «ideal» family as it is. It is noted that perception of respondents of the «ideal» family may indicate preservation of value of family as social (and vital) construct. This perception also may act as intentional sources of motivation and striving for achievement of the «ideal» of family relations.

«ideal» family, healthy family environment, childhood, family values