Chapter 1: The Changing Family

1. Summary

 Chapter one commences by emphasizing that society’s definition of family is more flexible than ever before. The author backs up this claim by citing convincing statistics such as in 1972 a reported 60% of all U.S. families comprised of a breadwinner husband and the wife as a full-time homemaker, whereas in 2007 the numbers dropped to 29%. Also worth noting is that by the year 2007 approximately 1 in 4 children was living in a mother-only home. Consequently, the author deems it important to explore what forces are causing a shift in the structures of the modern family arrangements. Is it individual preferences or adaptation to some greater societal changes?  Instead of directly answering her question, the author goes on to discuss that the meaning of family changes from group to group and even over time. The author even stresses the important political implications of a definition of family. For example, a certain group’s definition of family may influence who in a family is covered by someone’s work benefits or social security.  The book defines family as “an intimate group of two or more people who 1) live together in a committed relationship, 2) care for one another and any children, and 3) share activities and close emotional ties”. The chapter goes on to explain that families serve similar functions across different societies. Such functions of family include: regulation of sexual activity, procreation and socialization, economic security, emotional support and social class placement. Subsequently, the differences of family across society were discussed. Such differences include: having an extending versus nuclear family, where a family resides and who has the authority, and whether marriages are monogamous or polygamous. The next section of the chapter was allocated to identifying myths about the family and how those myths can be detrimental. Believing myths about the perfect marriage, perfect family, the family as a loving refuge can all hurt us in some way. Finally, the chapter continues by actually outlining recent trends in changing families. These include decline in birthrate, and the rise in the average age of the population, as well as other structural changes such as an increase in non-family households and single and cohabiting couples. Figure 1.2 on page 19 shows great examples of the changes in American Families since 1970. Finally, the chapter closes by finally answering the question posed at the onset of the chapter: what forces have influenced the changes or the family. The author touches on economic forces, technological innovations, popular culture, social movements, and family policy as explanations of some of the changes in the family that have taken place.

 2. Something New/ Interesting I’ve learned.

 I’ve always been aware that many Americans find the institution of marriage to be sacred. However, I always assumed the people who are the strongest advocates of marriage are conservative religious groups. To my surprise, the Ask Yourself Box enlightened me to a slew of bills and campaigns sponsored by the United States Government that aim to promote marriage. The most recent of which is a national campaign funded by the Obama administration that is trying to promote the virtues of marriage upon 18-30 year olds. This includes videos on Youtube, ads on TV and in magazines and even a website “TwoOfus.org”.

 See for yourself: http://www.twoofus.org/index.aspx (these are our tax dollars at work)

 Of course for multiple reasons these campaigns have come under scrutiny and have been criticized for stigmatizing low-income single mothers, or for encouraging people to stay in bad relationships.

 3. Discussion Point

 In the section about the recent changes that have taken place in the family, there was a section on marriage, divorce and remarriage. It cited that divorce rates rose between 1970 and 2007 and that almost 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce.

 In Class on Friday we were discussing what keeps families together. I automatically thought of a news article I read a long time ago about how rates of divorce have been declining since the recession.

 See article:  http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-03-06/entertainment/17918039_1_couples-divorce-matrimonial-lawyers

 Do you think the Rise in divorce rates since the 1970’s are a function of different attitudes towards divorce? Or is it perhaps that since women have become largely economically independent a woman can leave an unhappy marriage without dire economic consequences. Or is marriage just a failing institution? 

-Ali Mosser