There are still places in the world that practice communal parenting. I am not sure it is a whole village but more like an extended family tribe.
I think there are advantages and disadvantages to every style and I think it will change. Not just maybe, it will change. We evolve. As I think of the past, I think there were things that my mum struggled with that I never had to.

I think in some respects is easy to parent today.
My older sister (just 4 years older than me) used cloth Nappies when her son was born; I was a disposable dipper mum - God, That was so much easier.

My son has long hair. He has been growing his hair on and off since he was 4 years old. (He is 14 years old now) When I was a kid, this was totally unaccepted. They tortured every boy that grew his hair. I think that even the parent that didn't mind that was helpless to help his son experiment with growing his hair. It is so much easier now. There are millions of arguments that I do not have with him that growing 20 years earlier I could have never avoided.

Even sending kids to afternoon activities is so much easier today. When I was 14 one of my sports teachers suggested that I would join a Gymnastic team practicing for the Olympic Games. She said I was talented and could benefit from it so I went to visit the Gym one day, it was in a different city, I took the bus and it took about 30 min bus drive and it was the most wonderful gym session. My parents did not let me join the team because they were afraid I would take the bus on my own to a different city and come back in the dark and walk 20 min from the bus station. Today, I just give the kids a mobile phone and come to pick them up from the bus station and they call before so I am there the second they are off the bus. Easy!

I have endless examples of how parenting is so much easier today. I am not sure we have more pressure today; I agree it is different but I am not convinced it is real. Much of it is perceived threat and not real.

It will change, I am sure it will be better.

Ronit
Parenting Classes

It's tough and maybe in the future this will change.

Ian