The American Family: Then and Now

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What exactly is a family? Some would say it is a father, mother, and possibly children, but is this an outdated definition? With the world adapting and changing at such a high rate, it proves difficult to create definite boundaries for what constitutes a family. As events that are either detrimental or beneficial to society occur, family lives adapt to better suit the current state. The differences in culture, religion and traditions can offer possible explanations for why families are not the same, locally and globally. Sociological relationships change to fit the people involved in them, so it only makes sense that family groups would differ by location. This paper will discuss the ways that families in America have evolved over time. Also, I will explain what occurrences caused the need for such changes. The comprehension of any new concept starts with a basic definition. According to Macionis, family is a “social institution found in all societies that unites people in cooperative groups to care for one another, including children” (2009:375). The diversity of families in America dates back to the colonial period. There were a variety of different family types that coexisted or competed in colonial America (Coontz 2005: 27). In this time period, the husband would work all day and leave the children at home with the mother. The mother, however would rarely tend to the children. She would do house work and leave the children with an older sibling or servant. This caused a lack of sentimental feelings in childhood because the mother was not the nurturer. Coontz states that among wealthy, white families specifically, the basis of the relationship was built on power, not love (2005: 28). The modernization and industrialization ... ... middle of paper ... ...order for America to continue as a successful country, there will need to be strong family units who are prepared to face the downfalls that will come due to a changing government and economy. The success rates of a family, however, are much deeper than economic or government issues. Hard work, compassion, and communication are components that can be seen in almost any successful family at any time period. In striving to achieve these aspects of a family unit, America’s families would find much more stability than previously seen and be better equipped to face hard times. References Coontz, Stephanie. 2005. “The Way We Weren’t: The Myth and Reality of the “Traditional” Family.” National Forum: The Phi Kappa Phi Journal Summer: 27-34. Macionis, John J. Society: the Basics with Additional Readings in Sociology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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