Society's Changing Attitude about the Traditional Family Model

1857 Words4 Pages

Traditional family in today’s society is rather a fantasy, a fairy tale without the happy ending. Everyone belongs to a family, but the ideology that the family is built around is the tell tale. Family structures have undeniably changed, moving away from the conventional family model. Nowadays more mothers work outside of the home, more fathers are asked to help with housework, and more women are choosing to have children solo. Today there are families that have a mom and a dad living in the same home, there are step-families, and families that have just a mother or just a father. Probably the most scrutinized could be families that consist of two moms or two dads. These are all examples of families and if all members are appropriately happy and healthy then these families are okay and should incontestably be accepted. So why is the fantasy of the traditional family model still so emphasized in our society? This expectation is degrading and misleading. Progressing with times one ought not be criticized or shunned for being true to their beliefs. It is those living falsely, living as society thinks they should that are the problem. Perhaps as a society, if there were more focus and concern for happiness and peace within ones family and fewer worries for the neighbor then there would be less dilemma. Stephanie Coontz, author of The Evolution of Matrimony: The Changing Social Context of Marriage, writes that there has been more changes in marriage in the past 30 years then there was in the 3,000 years earlier. With these changes there are no religious or cultural exclusions. Coontz claims, “Right here is America’s Bible belt exist some of the highest rates of divorce and unwed motherhood in the country, and born again Christians d... ... middle of paper ... ...l family ideology and refuse to accept those that fall outside of this parameter, a standpoint that is disturbing. It is those living falsely, living as society thinks they should that are the problem. Perhaps as a society, if there were more focus and concern for happiness and peace within ones family and fewer worries for the neighbor then there would be less dilemma. Works Cited Selzer, Jack and Dominic Delli Carpini, ed. Conversations Readings for Writing. 7th ed. New York: Pearson, 2009. Print. Coontz, Stephanie. “The Evolution of Matrimony: The Changing Social Context of Marriage.” Selzer and Delli Carpini 445-450 Hite, Shere. “Bringing Democracy Home.” Selzer and Delli Carpini 477-484 Nock, Steven L. “The Problem with Marriage.” Selzer and Delli Carpini 445-450 Straus, Jillian. “Lone Stars: Being Single.” Selzer and Delli Carpini 451-459

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