The Ideal Family Has Changed Considerably Throughout Time Changing Attitudes Towards Gender And Roles

Families in the world are very different. They come in different shapes and sizes, it can be based on different kinds of relationship, but what all families have in common that it is made of people you love and care. Over past 20 or more years families in the world has changed the most than it has changed in all history. Of course changes in the families are different among cultures and religions. It seems that United States, Canada and Northern Europe families has changed the most, now Nuclear families are dominating there, when in Asia Extended families still takes a greater number. In the richest places in the world numbers of same sex marriages,

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 families in America are steadily changing. While they remain our most valued and consistent source of strength and comfort, some families are becoming increasingly unstructured. In the past, the typical family consists of a working father, a stay at home mother and, of course, well-rounded children. Today, less than 20 percent of American families fit nicely into this cookie cutter image. American households have never been more diverse. Natalie Angier takes stock of the changing definition of family in an article for the New York Times.

Our families often are an important part of our lives. They are always there for us. Because of our society’s constant acceptance of new ideals, what one calls a family differs from person to person. The composition and expectations for the modern American family differ from those of the old-fashioned American family, however, both old-fashioned and modern families in the United States are often united, caring, and mostly happy.

As time had progressed the definition of a family has changed drastically. What one would have considered a family in early centuries has truthfully changed from what one would consider a family in today’s society. During earlier centuries a family consisted of a father, mother and their children; however that is no longer the case for most families in American society today. In American society families are defined in many different facets such as the traditional family, blended families, single parent homes and homosexual families. Regardless of the components of the family, one must understand that a family is a unit in which there is an adult providing the basic needs and wants of the children in which they have been entrusted. As time progresses America will continue to define and enhance the definition of the term family. Although society may continue to change and enhance the definition of society the traditional family structure that America was known for is slowly fading away as the concept of blended, single parent and homosexual families become the new norm for lives of many Americans.

A family is two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. (Barker, 1999. p.155). Families create patterns that are passed on from grandparents to parents and from parents

Functionalists say the nuclear family is best, as the woman needs to be there, to provide the family with emotional gratification, and take care of the domestic labour, also the warm bath theory. Whereby, she runs the man a warm bath when he comes home from a stressful day at work, in order to make him relax with the family and wine down. And the man in the nuclear family, provides the economic support.

Families have changed significantly over the last decades, leading the ideal “traditional American family” to become, if not already, extinct. Although popular in the 1950’s, a “traditional family” is no longer sought after as modern families have evolved to incorporate diversity and acceptance into the household structure. In present-day, the majority of households encompass non-traditional families, accordion families, divorce, and modern technology.

The family was once described as a social group that shared common residence, consisted of at least two adults of each sex that maintained a socially approved sexual relationship and had one or more children, their own or adopted. This is a nuclear family, described by George Murdoch to be a universal family type. Although it is correct to say that nuclear families reside universally, family types now vary from single-parent families to gay headed families. Despite the variety, they contribute to the society, in ways that can be positive and negative too. Many sociologists differ in their views as to whether the family is positive to the society or not- functionalists believe that the family has positive functions that contribute

The definition of the term ‘family’ has somewhat gone through radical changes over the past few decades in the UK, some 30 years ago a family was defined as being father, mother and children. Some referred to this as the “cereal box family” as this was typically the type of family to be shown on television commercials for cereal. This stereotype is more correctly known as the nuclear family, however changes over the years has meant that this “nuclear family” is no longer a typical family type within the UK. This has proven difficult for sociologists to provide a clear definition or generalisation of the term ‘family’ and such difficulties will be explored throughout

What does it mean to be part of a family? Is it the constants support from one to another or is it just a group of people who live together? Today we have what we call modern families. In this new age of technology constantly advancing everyday people fear that this is causing a less intimate family experience. Some want to return to the good old days of traditional families, where kids played outside all day, parents took charge of their kid, and the closeness one’s family shared. The argument stands today of what kind of family is best, traditional or modern families. I believe modern families are what’s best for kids’ due to improved parenting techniques, more diversity among peers, and a wider range of opportunities.

The definition of family has changed over the decades, society has shaped families different from race, gender, and class. Over the years the different generations have removed and added their own features to their family. Family is a socially recognized group (usually joined by blood, marriage, or adoption) that forms an emotional connection and serves as an economic unit of society. The ideal image of a family is a married couple with their co-resident children (Panico et al, 2010). Family is apart of the agents of socialization, have been dramatically changed, shows differences between married life and family life,

In many decades back, a family was seen as a stable foundation between men and women. Men were seen as the breadwinners. Women as housewives who provided social, emotional, and physical support. That was an ideal family for all cultures and religion. Families followed their cultural icons by having kids, proper education, and a stable household. However, since the beginning of the 1960s, the traditional family structure began to decline. Movements around the country encouraged all minority and marginalized groups to fight for their civil rights. Heterosexuals, women, minorities, and the disabled were fighting for their rights. In the midst of the social movement was the change in family households. There was an increase

Another reason for the change in the family types in the modern world is because of the introduction of postmodernism. A popular view of the family in modern Britain today is of a husband and wife with two or three children living in a nuclear family. This is fostered by advertisers who portray smiling families consuming their product. In many ways this picture of the typical family is misleading. In 1992, fewer than 25% of households in Britain consisted of a married couple and one or more dependent children. Gittins points out that there is no longer such a thing as the typical British family, but instead there is a diversity of family types.