An American Family - 2025 Words

Mr. Cleaver comes home from a long day at work to his loving wife. He enjoys a nice home cooked meal as he talks with his two children at the dinner table—often about the troubles Beav has found his way into—in the sitcom Leave it to Beaver. A show that aired in the late 50’s teaching life lessons to its viewers and most importantly representing the ideal nuclear family. Needless to say, we have come a long way from the white picket fence and 2.5 children as the model representation of an American family. Today, families are modeled in all different shapes and sizes. Two parent, single parent, multiple parents, or even extended family members can be seen raising the children. These families have developed over the past 60 years due to many reasons. The societal changes occurring over time and economical effects on both micro and macro levels, and the evolution of gender roles along with many other causes have all played a role in developing the family. By t he 1990’s, the census reported that only about 21% of married couples lived with their children. (Morgan 1996) In 40 years, the ideal nuclear family had dropped to 21%, and due to the rise in divorce rates during the 80’s, the percentage of stepchildren was projected to rise to 33%. (Morgan 1996) Now decades later, stepfamilies do indeed make up 1/3 of American households. With the growing changes in families and the people that make up families, many new concerns are being developed about the legal rights andShow MoreRelatedThe Family Of The American Family1179 Words   |  5 PagesOver time, the American family has proven to be the most resilient structure due to its ability to adapt to changes in our society, economy, and cultures. Families are and have always been the foundation of our society. Today, many types of families exist, making family life and society more diverse. Family types such as blended families, single-parent families, adoptive families, st ep-families, gay families, lesbian families, and transgendered families exist today. Families are shaped as a resultRead MoreThe Model Of The American Family1061 Words   |  5 Pages For as long as I can remember, the ideal family household consisted of the male/father as the bread winner, provider, and head of the household, and female/mother, and children as members of this family. This image was embedded in us through our social class, our parents, our community, and the social media. The families of today have drastically changed, and are more complex in the family role. As time progresses, divorce rates are at an all time high, and single parent homes are even higher. ToRead MoreThe Traditional American Family1184 Words   |  5 PagesThe traditional American family can be traced back to the aggressive marketing in the 1950’s. The image of a white, middle class family owning a moderate sized home with a well-kept lawn. The father is the head of the household who would teach his kids all the life lessons and be the only source of income by working a white collar, corporate job. The mother would stay at home in a full skirt and heels looking after the kids, preparing meals, and taking care of the house. The kids, usually two, wouldRead MoreThe changing American Family949 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Changing American Family†: A Sociological View 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 beenRead MoreMy Family : The Classical American Family903 Words   |  4 PagesMy family is what many may coin as the â€Å"Classical American Family†. My mother is a school teacher, my father is a firefighter, and they had two boys, a true Levittown family. My mother and father were both born in New Jersey and moved to Florida when they were young. Once living in Florida they both happened to live in the same town, attended the same schools, and had inter-connected families, which lead to their eventual marriage. My father was pretty dead-set on becoming a firefighter, which heRead MoreThe Evolution Of The American Family Essay1249 Words   |  5 PagesThe Evolution of the American Family Lisa Parris-Godley Introduction n the upcoming page’s I will answer the following questions. Why is family the most important agent of socialization? What caused the dramatic changes to the American family? What are the changes? I will discuss the differences in marriage and family, I will discuss how they are linked to class, race, gender, and personal choices. The purpose of this study is to explore the many different family functions and the pathsRead MoreAfrican Americans And African American Families921 Words   |  4 PagesThe number of two-parent African American households is dissolving. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the black family has declined from 80% in 1890 to 39% in 1990. The result of conflict, and warring souls in the African American community, this trend can be stopped and reversed. The African American family must first gain an understanding of what is causing this dissolution, then they can be taught about what principals and skills they must adapt in order to reverse it. Once this isRead MoreAmerican Family Dynamics2590 Words   |  10 PagesAmerican Family Dynamics The make-up and concept of what was once considered a traditional nuclear family is quickly disappearing (Timmerman, 2013). According to Jojic, Raj, Wilkins, Treadwell, Caussade-Rodriguez, Blum (2012), â€Å"Traditional family roles have changed, and the conception of what Americans consider a ‘ family ’ has likewise shifted with differing societal views regarding gender, gender roles, race, and ethnicity† (p. 128). To accompany the changes being made to the customary viewRead MoreAmerican Family and Traditions6646 Words   |  27 PagesPOPA LIANA SLATINA 2012 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. CHAPTER 1: The American Family 4 2.1 A Definition of the Family 4 2.2 What is it Like to be a Young Person in the United States? 4 2.3 Education 5 2.4 The Effects of Divorce in the United States 6 2.5 Interview with an American Teenager 6 3. CHAPTER 2: American Traditions 8 3.1 Christmas Traditions 8 3.2 The Yellow Ribbon 10 3.3 The Window Candle 10 3.4 The Recipe BoxRead MoreThe Concept Of The American Family2188 Words   |  9 Pagesconcept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation. The change in the concept of the American family is now reflecting society’s acceptance that just 50 years ago was impossible to even imagine. We are now accepting the unification of blacks and whites and are coming to terms with homosexuality and the unification of a more diverse family. Among all divisions of society, there is a greater acceptance of the differences in families from single parenting to blended families to same sex