Family : Family, Power, And The Children

I recently attended your talk in Boston and, while I was interested in much of what you had to say, I do have some notable points of disagreement. In your paper, which you co-wrote with Robert Bales (who was nowhere to be found at the talk) in 1955, you argue that the family is at a point of stability in the 1950s that you say will last. In doing so, you credit what you deem to be the new structure of family: with specific roles including a male breadwinner, along with a wife who stays at home and cares for the children. This claim, however, is questionable. By looking at the demographic composition of different familial combinations, one can see

Stephanie Coontz in “The Way We Weren’t: The Myth and Reality of the Traditional Family” emphasizes that the traditional and ideal nuclear family widespread in media and textbooks are false and far from reality. In fact, it is common to see more similarities to the traditional family consistent of “male breadwinner and nurturing mother” (1) today than in the past.

Throughout human history individuals around the world, of various ethnic, racial, cultural backgrounds have linked together to form what people call today families. A lot of questions come to mind when contemplating the complex relationship people have. Since families have a direct bearing on society now and on future generations it is essential to take seriously what is happening to the family. Is the American family in decline, and if so what should be done about it? “Traditionally, family has been defined as a unit made up of two or more people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption: live together; form an economic unit, and bear and raise children (Benokraitis, 3).” The definition of decline is to “fail in strength, vigor, character, value, deteriorate, slant downward.” The traditional nuclear family consists of a father provider, mother-homemaker, and at least one child (Brym and Lie, 252).” The nuclear family is a distinct and universal family form because it performs five important functions in society:sexual regulation, economic cooperation, reproduction, socialization, and emotional support. Research from the 1950 's to the present will emphasize what trends are taking place among American families. Family trends might not have expected???

The Family Crucible, written by Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker (1978), exemplifies a fragmented family system. The family consists of David a VIP lawyer, Carolyn an angry mother, Claudia an enraged teenager, Don the 11-year-old peacemaker, and six-year-old Laura. Co-therapists, Napier and Whitaker have taken on the task of working with the family using a systemic approach to conceptualize the family’s difficulties. Herein, this writer will describe how Whitaker and Napier depict the family struggles, how these struggles relate to the family unit in deference to an individual focus, and how

In 2012 Zach Wahls, now author and civil rights advocate for the LGBTQ community, presented a speech to the Democratic National Convention. In his dialogue, he gave insight into his normal family and the lives of the people who raised him; his mothers Jackie and Terrie (Griffith, 2014). Wahls cited that his family was like any other normal American family that ate together, shared chores and enjoyed spending quality time together, and thus initiated a conversation about family normalcy (Griffith, 2014). What makes a family a family? There are few defining characteristics such as living together, caring for any dependents and maintaining a close intimate relationship however, as we progress and encounter various social changes these factors evolve and can vary from culture to culture. The U.S Census Bureau defines the family unit as “two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage or adoption” (Lofquist et al., 2012). This definition fails to consider families who don’t fit this mold. As Wahls mentioned in his testimony, his family consists of himself and his loving parents however a Lesbian Civil Union is not encapsulated into the definition provided by the Census Bureau. All families carry out important functions that ensures the survival of society (Benokraitis, 2015). These roles include sexual activity, procreation and socialization, economic stability, emotional safeguards, and social class placement. With definitions that limit the family, it is

The relationship of power that is showed in the illustration is the power to rule. We see two adults fighting over a pair of pants. But now-a-days wearing the pants means that you are the one in charge. The writing that goes with the illustration really gives you a story to follow. The adults fighting for the power and are getting their friends to help each other. The kids where going against each other. This may lead to more problems in the future not just for them but for everyone around them family and friends. Women back then did not have that much respect because they had simple jobs that included: cleaning the house and making food, but they wanted to help; they wanted to get more involved. They wanted more freedom outside of the house. The women did not feel that they were appreciated much so they wanted to prove themselves. They wanted to prove that they can do the same as the man. This may have led to the 19th amendment that gave them the right to vote.

A family is something that comforts and includes others. It is an environment where people can feel like they belong. Although in societies eyes the family is much more. We depict who is fit enough to support a family and question if the family is functioning properly. In both articles, Homeplace: A site of Resistance by Bell Hooks and “Family” as a Site of Contestation: Queering the Normal or Normalizing the Queer? By Michelle K. Owen, both authors have distinct understandings of the concept of family and question the societal norm of how a family should behave. Family is a site of belonging and contestation. Both authors describe that there are many forms of family that contrast the typical nuclear model family. Also it is demonstrated that families supply a place of belonging and nourishment. Although society has placed values on families, distinguishing what families are most fit and functioning. Using an intersectional lens it is demonstrated in these two articles that many families reject the nuclear family model, and families are given a value and are placed within a social hierarchy.

What do individuals think of when they hear the term First Family? Normally people think of the President, his wife, and their children, but it can be much more extensive. In the book First Family by David Baldacci, Pam Dutton, sister of the First Lady, is murdered. Pam’s daughter, Willa, is kidnapped during the attack on the Dutton family. Tuck, father of the Dutton family, is badly injured in the attack. The Secret Service provides little protection to relatives to the President, so the Dutton family is an open target. Two detectives who arrive at the crime scene while the crime is taking place take upon the investigation. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are appointed to investigate the crime under the orders of the First Lady. The title is

Power is such a compelling subject that can be discussed in many ways. There is no set definition of the word, but power can be described as the ability to influence the behavior of others. Power is a controlling factor in everyone’s life that can make or break a person and at times, even break a nation. The four domains of power are hegemonic, structural, interpersonal, and disciplinary. Hegemonic deals with freedom and doing something on your own, structural deals with hierarchy, interpersonal is the power you have, and disciplinary is having administrators above you. Furthermore, power operates within the frame of gender and it is important to understand how the views of gender in society can immensely alter your opinion of power and influence.

Power can be seen on many different levels. A basic level of power is within the family. Although this power seems simple, controlling a family is quite a difficult task. Parents are responsible for their children and use their power to give them the best childhood possible, teaching them morals while providing them with the best they can offer. Power is everywhere. Starting in the family unit, power is seen in numerous areas such as in schools, businesses, and the government. Another form of power is money, allowing people to act in certain ways. People offer their services in exchange for

To begin with, let's describe the different types of powers used throughout the articles and how they relate to gender. The main kinds of power that are discussed are politics, their views on society and relationships. These all relate to gender because the authors felt that during this time period men had more power in these areas than women did. With this being said, let's look at some specific examples from the text that back this up.

Chapter 3 Families and SocietyWhat stood out for me on Families in Society, was how the reading related families to an "ecosystem". Each family being an "organism", and contributing to creating a community or how the book states an "ecosystem". Family is a system, and in a system each individual experiences four fundamental concepts being "interaction", "stress", "coping, and "adaption". "Interaction" is how one person's actions affects another. "Stress" is when a person is affected by external forces such as biological factors or family dynamics. The last concept is "adaption"; when a person transitions from their environmental family views and way of life. (Wormer & Besthorn, 2017, p. 88 & 89 )The book explained how, "society is becoming

Power: a motive to work, a motive to listen, a motive to kill. Power can make people do anything. Those who have it control those below them. But this is not the case for the women in Those in power (the men) try to make the women believe they have power over each other.

Privilege can allow a family to succeed or fail depending on the circumstances the family is in. Each privilege has an up side and a down side, because family will be benefiting from what ideal the privilege has established, while another family could suffer or fail due to the privilege. One privilege that could allow a family to succeed is being able to move and living in a place that is desired. This can allow a family to be successful as they are able to decide the community and environment they want the their family to be consumed in. This privilege allows families to be able to make the decision to move to new homes that will be suitable for them. This privilege can be directed towards middle-class families as they are the ones who are

What is a family? What parts make up a family? These two questions are questions that millions of adults and children ask themselves regularly. When people think about a family in their head they think of a nuclear family. Where you have a Mom, Dad, and a few kids running around a home in the middle of a suburban wasteland. That is the nuclear family that I feel most modern families strive to be like. But factors can change within a family and still be a family. I do not believe that a family is strictly based off what people see from the front porch looking in. A family is about the everlasting bond that is formed between a group of people whether they are related by blood or by other means. A family is a group of people who stick together during hard times and good times, they laugh together and they cry together. They eat meals together, party together, are weaved together in life. They are like a strip of palm leaves, and when you weave a bunch of them together it makes a basket, that is a family. The people that someone can call at two in the morning on a Wednesday just because they can’t sleep. The ones who would sacrifice anything to help them. The bond can never be broken because the word “family” holds them together like glue to wallpaper.