Intergenerational Family Theory

Collins, Jordan & Coleman (2012) stated that dysfunctional intergenerational boundaries are commonly present in divorced and in conflict families where one or more children go against one parent. Due to the existence of multiple subsystems in this family, it is evident that the boundaries between the family members are rigid and that the family is disengaged. An example of the specific behavior that demonstrated the existence of disengaged boundary with grandma E, was the relinquishment of her caretaking role as a mother to her first born child to her parents so she could pursue her interests in finding a husband. When interviewed aunt S in person(born out of the wedlock; raised by great grandparents), she choked back tears as she spoke of

These working models are guidelines that the child refers to when dealing with situations in life (Fitzpatrick et al., 1993). Thus, if the working models being developed associate with positive experiences, then they are defined as the earlier generation influence in the behaviors and attitudes towards the relationship of the next generation- simultaneously creating a more nurturing environment for any upcoming children (Fitzpatrick et al., 1993). Although this may be true, other researchers disagreed by declaring that despite what model of marriage a child working models exposed to, if the person feels loved and being cared for, there is a chance that person will become a devoted spouse and intolerant of divorce in the future (Hall, 2015). For example, despite whether the child grows up in a family of divorced parents, if however the parents still manage to show love and affection towards the child, that child will grow up becoming a great spouse to someone

What’s more is the husband willingness to leave his family of origin behind and move to live with his wife in the wife’s family. When grandma E was asked about the way of survival during her times, she defined those days as waking up as if that was your last day to live (Grandma, Public Communication, 2016). Due to all the wars that were taking place, there was a lack of food and resources and it was prominent for a female to marry someone who could work in the plantation and acquired the skills to be a skillful fisherman. At the time, it was pointless for a female to be stuck with a man incapable of farming and fishing while there was someone else who could do the job better. This particular articulation behind grandma E’s multiple marriage aligns with Becker’s model of the marriage market which stated that partners in the marriage leave the union when they believe they are better off with someone else (Andersen & Hansen 2012). According to Becker’s model of marriage theory, the two things that marriage creates are utility maximizing agents and utility. That is when two people get married; each needs to bring something on the table to contribute to the wealth in the marriage. And because the woman is the only one who can conceive, she gets stuck with