Language constantly evolves and changes as it is adopted by different cultures. Consequently, words have many definitions, connotations and origins. “Family” is one of the terms that have changed over time; as a result the traditional definition of “family” is inadequate, and limited to describe the modern version of the term. Our society tends to attach itself to the “traditional conceptualization of family“ better know as a “nuclear family” which includes a set of parents, and their biological offspring (Kompara). In America, known as a “melting pot” of all the ethnicities and cultures, there are many implications for the word family thus there is no such thing as a traditional family. The traditional definition can no longer be used to …show more content…
In contrast, to a traditional family, modern families are more liberal with the rules and roles. A traditional family household was the norm of my community, and so everyone conformed to it. Until I moved to America, I was oblivious to the fact that not all families are the same. Statistics show that “more than 40 percent of American babies are now born to unmarried women,” (Angier) as opposed to an orthodox family lifestyle where babies born outside of wedlock are forbidden or shunned upon. Another factor that deviates from the traditional family is the same-sex family households, gay and lesbian couples were banned, but now an increasing number of them marry and adopt children (Angier). These statistics are evidence of how the connotation of the word “family” is evolving and how the diversity of families is increasing. Because of the increase in diversity, the definition of “family” should be expanded to include the relationships of these couples and their …show more content…
This was usually based on the patriarchal hierarchy. The father was always the breadwinner, while the mother was always the childrearer and homemaker (Sohoni). To see a workingwoman in place of a man was considered emasculating because it shows the man wasn’t able to provide for his family. However, gender roles were greatly affected by industrialization and World War 2 when women had a chance to support the country by leaving their household chores to work in factories (Sohoni). But today’s definition of “family” would not have that kind of limitations. Abandonment of traditional gender roles changes the way “family” is defined and allows more freedom for working mothers or homemaker dads. In modern families, gender roles are not as clearly defined and so the labor is shared between the domestic partners. There is no criterion of what a family should
The American family is constantly undergoing changes. In the early 1600s, the Godly Family was the prevalent family structure of the first Europeans who immigrated to the United States (Aulette, 2010). Until 1780, families were strictly patriarchal with a male head of the family, who supervised “all social activities, including education, health care, and welfare”, and insured the family’s self-sufficiency within its community (Aulette, 2010). Following this form, the Modern Family and its sub-categories, the Democratic Family and the Companionate Family, were the dominant family structures until the 1970s (Aulette, 2010). Throughout the course of almost 200 years, families evolved into more private institutions aside from the community, women withdrew more and more from physical work on the family’s property and concentrated on their designated occupation as a mother, caregiver and housewife. Men were still the head of the family in terms of pursuing an occupation to financially provide for the family’s needs. During this time, gender-specific roles within the family were reinforced, which are still partially in effect in today’s society and family structure. Since the mid-20th century, the American family seems to be changing more rapidly than ever, partially because of the influences of the Great Depression and World War II, which led to the remarkable baby boom of 1946 to 1964. Not only did the year of 1970 mark the beginning of the most recent stage in the history of the (European) American family, the Postmodern Family, it also was the year in which the first gay couple applied for a marriage license (ProCon.org, 2013). Even though the two men’s request had been denied back then, same-sex couples and their family structure h...
In conclusion this paper has shown my perceptions on the described topics. I have identified why the family is considered the most important agent in socialization. I explained the dramatic changes to the American family and what caused them. I explained the differences in marriage and family. I expressed my feelings on the trend of diverse families, and how a change in trends to traditional views would change women’s rights.
Many couples in the United States idealize the myth of a “tradition family”. The idea that a woman can spend quality time with her child while maintaining an effective sexual life with her partner seemed to have caused a lot of stress during the 1950s. Coontz’s says “this hybrid idea drove thousands of women to therapists, tranquilizers, or alcohol when they tried to live up to it.” (Coontz, 569). Which explains that it is merely impossible to try to mold a family to be “ideal.” Many families still strive for a traditional life, which they define as life “back in the day.” They need to forget the past and start living in the 21st century. “Two-thirds of respondents to one national poll said they wanted more traditional standards of family life.”(Coontz, 582). Which goes to show that many families want to change to what once used to be perceived as an “ideal family” but “the same percentage of people rejected the idea that women should return to their traditional role.”(Coontz, 582). Families want to take bits and pieces from what used to be “traditional families” over time and create their own i...
Up until the 1960s, no one questioned the idea that the traditional family was the cornerstone of American society and essential to its very survival. A traditional family was a man and a woman, married to each other, who had children together and reared them in a community full of other such families. A family thirty plus years ago, meant Mom, Dad, the kids, and on holidays, Grandpa, Grandma, aunts, cousins, and in-laws. In those days, a man and a woman didn't just move into an apartment and live together. Occasionally it would occur, but the practice was not common, and in small town America it almost never happened.
Families have greatly evolved from the times a woman's only job was to have children so they can work on the farms. Once, women were considered a burden by their father giving a dowry to their husbands, letting the men to control the women, keeping them as a trophy wife or property. Today women are given equal treatment and can occupy any job and be the boss of many men. Families today are very have been dramatically altered over the years with the stereotypical mom and dad not being the only family dynamic. In today’s society, parents vary depending on their sexual orientation, the impact technology has played in families, and purpose a family has been altered.
Today, in a world of the “postmodern family” the traditional lines of family structure are blurred. Children may come from diverse types of homes, or a couple, married or not may choose to have no children and consider themselves a family. The roots of these modern families may stem from ethnic origins, sexual orientations, or even seen as a rebellion of sorts from traditional ways. Children may live in homes of single parents, which is an exceedingly more common phenomenon as the divorce rate well publicized at around fifty percent. They may also live with homosexual parents either as a biological child of one partner or adopted by both. Also, the traditional married couple may choose to adopt locally or internationally, potentially blending ethnic backgrounds into one household. Whatever the background of the new nuclear family the challenges and experiences follow similar patterns.
In society today there tends to exist a nostalgia for the utopian family life of the past.
How can a simple six letter word be so complicated to define? Family is a single word that is open to many interpretations depending on the individual. If you try to condense this ideal to a single clinical definition you end up excluding numerous members of society. What comes to mind when you think of the word family? While in the most broken down and literal sense, family means a relative with a blood or legal bond, the word family can encompass blood relations, adoptions, and even intentional relationships such as friendships. Economies, cultures, and backgrounds can further differentiate what one’s perception of a family is. For many people, including me, a family is so much more. It is the amount of commitment, cohesiveness, and importance
A family might include anyone related by blood or by adoption such as: step parents, grandparents acting as parents, and even brothers and sisters sharing the same household. However, worldwide “the family is regarded as the most ba...
Family may seem like a simple concept, but there is no simple definition of family. In common words, a family is a group of individuals who share a genetic bond. But in other cases family doesn't only have to share a genetic bond because we have some friends that we consider family. People who live together with a special bond which is love is family. Family stands for responsibility, trust, sacrifice and hope. Family don't just share with you just the happy moments but they're with you through thick and thin. They share laughter, sadness, loss, happiness, and success together. Family structure helps to carry their culture to the next generation. The meaning of family changes with the natural and economic conditions. The real meaning of family is a lot more complicated in today’s world. It's no longer easy in our society.
The sociological definition of the family is “a set of people related by blood, marriage or some other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society” (Schaeffer, 2009, p. 288). While the nuclear family (a man, a woman, and their children) was once the primary definition of family, now it refers to many familial configurations. Single-parent families, blended families, same-sex couples, traditional nuclear families and single-parents who have adopted are just a few of the configurations that society in general now views as a family. A healthy family will provide a place of unconditional love, acceptance and support.
The unit of a family is the most prominent essential for all of us. As social human beings, we seek social support in order to thrive, and that is where family comes into play. A family is where you receive love, support, encouragement, and many other social benefits. The total number of households in the United States increased from 63 million in 1970 to 113 million in 2008 (Weeks, 2012). The family has influenced multitudes of people in many ways. The traditional family in the United States consists two-married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring also know as the nuclear family. However, the term of a true family has ultimately changed over the last 50 years especially for African Americans.
The family has been referred to as the most vital of the social institutions (Alexander, 2010). The definition of what it means to be a family has evolved over the past several generations. In technical terms, the U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as a group of two or more people residing together related by birth, marriage, or adoption. (U.S. Census, 2010). Categories of families that fit this definition include married couples with and without children, blended families, single parent, and extended family households. Same-sex and unmarried couples with and without children and individuals living alone are not included in this group, though they are a rising segment of the population. The make-up of family and household types at any given time has major consequences for society (Katz & Stern, 2007). Major systems such as economic political, legal, and other social institutions are all impacted by changes in family dynamics. This paper will explore the evolution of the family unit and examine the reciprocal link between this shift and surrounding systems. The relationship between these changes and contemporary systems theory will also be discussed.
Everyone seems to define family differently, however, the significance of family is the same. For you, family means everything. You can always count on your parents and siblings for help and love. Family is very valuable and important to you and should never be taken for granted. No one can deny that family is the foundation of our generation. A family is where we all start our life journey and helps us grow to be successful throughout our lives.
“A family can be defined as a set of people related by blood, marriage or in some other agreed upon relationship, or adoption, who share primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for member of society". (Schaefer, 2009, p. 288) This leads to a wide open range of interpretation on the exact definition of how a family is truly made up. Depending on your culture, religion, or geographical location a family may represent and be comprised of many different ideals and social norms. There are many theoretical perspectives that have their own interpretations on the subject of what a family is and how it is perceived. I will attempt to expound on three of these perspectives; Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionalism.