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There are many different agents that help to shape an individual and these influences come from; people, groups and institutions (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). Each of these areas has the ability to influence one’s every day decisions and life choices. Within these three groups is one that seems to have the hold the most impact, the family (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). The reason why a family is the most important agent of socialization is due to how understanding is instilled in one’s life (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). A family, by birth, can teach a child the cultural norm and social values (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). In addition to teaching these things, families also teach about emotions and how to deal with them (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). Family members impact …show more content…
107). When it comes to culture and society, there are many differences and this can impact both a family and one’s marriage (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). In recent studies, evidence has shown that African American women have the lowest rate of marriage and Hispanic immigrant mothers have the highest (Hamilton & Hummer, 2010, p. 113). Results from data taken in a research project based on fragile families have shown the link of marriage tied to class (Hamilton & Hummer, 2010, p. 113). Within the United States, there are many individuals that will marry due to social class and personal choice (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Marriage and families also start with the influence from elders and their beliefs (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). More specifically, marriages in the US are likely due to similarity within race, beliefs, class and morality (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). However, issues do arise when someone outside of the family’s norm tries to enter (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Due to this personal choice, there can be a division amongst family members and a person’s married life (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Another way in which a person selects a mate is based off of gender. As previously stated, this has been evolving over the years by having more same sex marriages (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). With as many different factors in today’s society, family and marriages can be linked in various …show more content…
Women weren’t necessarily seen as unimportant to all but they weren’t seen as high priority either (Bryant, 2014, p. 20). If the trend changes towards a traditional family style, women’s rights might be simplified. There was a need for women within the field of technology to help with communication lines and other non-combat jobs (Bryant, 2014, p. 20). However, the values of society and uses of technology have changed greatly over the past few years. I could see how women would fight for their rights and yet live in a traditional family. It seems that more individuals have a longing for a healthy family and still want their rights as well. Perhaps that is what would happen, women’s rights wouldn’t be lowered but the family lifestyle would change. It makes me wonder, if there is a value placed on individual rights, then how would living in a traditional family affect them? Going back to the original question, trends are set only by those willing to live by them. They seem to be accepted if comprehended to be important or influential and defining to a personal identity. With that being said, I think that women, being as strong in their individuality as they are today, wouldn’t be greatly
Marriage, as an institution, has evolved in the last few decades. As society progresses, the ideas and attitudes about marriage have shifted. Today, individuals are able to choose their partners and are more likely marry for love than convenience. While individuals are guaranteed the right to marry and the freedom to choose their own partners, it has not always been this way. Starting from colonial times up until the late 1960’s, the law in several states prohibited interracial marriages and unions. Fortunately, in 1967, a landmark case deemed such laws as unconstitutional. Currently, as society progresses, racism and social prejudice have decreased and interracial marriages have become, not only legal, but also widely accepted.
Marriage is the foundation of modern society and has historically been present in most civilizations. Marriage is associated with many positive health outcomes and is encouraged across most racial/ethnic groups. According to Sbarra, Law, and Portley (2011), the social institution of marriage has changed much since the 19th century especially in the way it can be terminated. Married African American or Black men are happier, make more money, are less likely to face poverty, and choose healthier behaviors than their counterparts that are divorced (Bachman, Clayton, Glenn, Malone-Colon, & Roberts, 2005). The converse is true for Black women who seem to be the only sub-group not to achieve the universal health and other benefits gained from marriage (Bachman, et al., 2005). This paradox in marital benefits have many implications including lower martial satisfaction and divorce.
Across the world, there are contrasting environments ranging from affluent to impoverished communities. Those growing up in various backgrounds can have similar or opposite outcomes in life. They can make ethical choices and thrive, or make poor choices and reap the repercussions. Ultimately, the lives of developing individuals lie in the choices they make. Family is not chosen, but is invaluable to each individual in it.
When you think about family, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you only thought about your parents or close relatives then you may have been caught in an “individual vs. family” paradox. Nearly every culture considers family important, but “many Americans have never even met all of their cousins” (Holmes & Holmes, 2002, p.19). We say we are family oriented, but not caring to meet all of our extended family seems to contradict that. Individual freedoms, accomplishments, and goals are all American ideals that push the idea of individualism. What's important to note is that family or even the concept of family itself doesn't appear in any of those ideals. Holmes and Holmes (2002), observed that “The family reunions of yesterday are now rare, and when they occur they are often a source of stress.” (p. 19) That quote solidifies one reason why family interaction today is : it's just too stressful, so we avoid it. Where does marriage fit into our culture of individuals? Marriage itself may be less of a family unifying event than a way for two individuals to obtain personal happiness; the climbing divorce rate alone seems to suggest the devaluation of commitment in a relationship. Likewise, the Holmes and Holmes (2002) state “marriage is in effect a continuation of courtship” (p. 19) In my opinion, I would have to agree with the authors on family and marriage, considering the above-stated facts and trends. If we, as a nation, can place the individual so far above our own relatives, are we not creating a future of selfishness?
The most broadly accepted explanations for marital breakdown are essentially race-blind: greater acceptance of nonmarital sex and unwed parenthood so that young people feel less need to marry, widespread affluence so that it is easier to leave an unhappy marriage, less emotional and economic gain from marriage so that there is less reason to get married, and welfare’s marriage penalties that discourage low-income couples from marrying. (Besharov & West)
The trend and patterns of interracial marriages have increased substantially in America over the past few years. Between the early 1970 and late 1980’s after abolishing laws prohibiting interracial unions, the proportion of interracial marriages was under five percent of all married couples in America (Lewis & Robertson, 2010). Although recent surveys indicate that the percentage of interracial marriages is a little over five percent in America, the rate and frequency of occurrence are alarming (Lewis & Robertson, 2010). The American society has become more diverse and much of this diversity has been attributed to the growing number of new immigrants (Qian & Lichter, 2011). Immigration has lead to assimilation of many cultures into the mainstream American culture and as a result narrowing the gap between majority and minority groups. The United States of America Census Bureau show that there has been a dramatic increase in population due to immigration (Qian & Lichter, 2011). For instance, between 1980 and 2007, the Hispanic population in America has doubled while the Asian population has increased by four percent, and the Black population is more or less the same over the same time period (Lewis & Robertson, 2010). The increase in size of the population has resulted in the increase rate of interracial marriages. Interracial unions in the 1980’s represented about three percent of all marriages in America (Lewis & Robertson, 2010). In the year 2000, interracial marriages have only increased approximately by two percent, with marriages between Hispanic and white representing the greatest balance of all interracial marriages (Lewis & Robertson, 2010).
For Centuries in our society marriage between man and woman has been a practiced cultural right and custom. Over 90% of Americans will marry in their lifetime and roughly 50% of those marriages will result in Divorce. Many Sociological factors contribute to the high divorce rate expressed in our culture. Reasons that contribute to the divorce rate are longer life expectancy, women in the work force, birth control, social acceptance of cohabitation, single parenting and welfare reform. It is also now socially acceptable and legal to get a divorce due to dissatisfaction and unhappiness. This social acceptance of divorce implies that today there is a changing criteria when entering marriage. Couples today now insist on the element of personal fulfillment and happiness for entering wedlock, where as, in times past this was not one of the main considerations for man and woman to get married.
As an immigrant and divorce mother of two who comes to a foreign country pursuing a better future for my kids, I ignored the complexity of the factors that are required to fulfill my dreams. Moving from a socialistic culture to an individualistic one, being the last one, the culture that my kids are more likely to adopt I realized the importance to build a solid family, and I started looking for possible factors that might give me a clear view on how to achieve my quest. The first factor that I found interesting was the high percentage of single-parent families, and the almost extinct long-term marriages. I come from a country where long term marriages still prevalent, for that reason this observation shocked me the most. Another observation was the high-percentage of interracial marriages in Los Angeles, where I live, and the possible connection with the low percentage of racism in this state.
Marriage is one of those things most women and some men look forward to in life. This generation is different from the rest of the generations before, where you had to get married by a certain age and follow a standard of living. Nowadays everyone has the option of getting married or not. There is so much individuality, and liberty to do whatever we please without lives that we can marry the same sex. Even if a couple does marry and say their vows that should mean so much to them, they are getting divorced the next day. “Among adults who have been married, the study discovered that one-third (33%) have experienced at least one divorce. That means that among all Americans 18 years of age or older, whether they have been married or not, 25% have gone through a marital split (New Marriage).” “Around the world, people are marrying later and divorcing often (Sernau).” Now that this epidemic of marriage and divorce has taken place over the last few generations parenting suffers a great deal.
Society is constantly developing to accept and support other life choices aside from the mandatory marriage of a man and a woman seen in the twentieth century. There are several underlying causes of this and they may seem that the modern world is traveling the wrong road but in fact, they are not. Decline in religion, change in women’s role, and the terms of what make a family transforming are societal improvements in disguise. Even though less are getting married or marry late, the hidden causes of this trend is a positive change in humanity. In today’s world, marriage is not a stage of life but an option from many other choices and this has allowed the general public to embrace the diversity and the array of differences in marriage as well as the course of action others choose to take.
The family has been referred to as the most vital of the social institutions (Alexander, 2010). The definition of what it means to be a family has evolved over the past several generations. In technical terms, the U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as a group of two or more people residing together related by birth, marriage, or adoption. (U.S. Census, 2010). Categories of families that fit this definition include married couples with and without children, blended families, single parent, and extended family households. Same-sex and unmarried couples with and without children and individuals living alone are not included in this group, though they are a rising segment of the population. The make-up of family and household types at any given time has major consequences for society (Katz & Stern, 2007). Major systems such as economic political, legal, and other social institutions are all impacted by changes in family dynamics. This paper will explore the evolution of the family unit and examine the reciprocal link between this shift and surrounding systems. The relationship between these changes and contemporary systems theory will also be discussed.
Through the family agent one is ascribes their first statues of belonging to specific permanent groups, that contribute to their concept of self. The family agent is the socialization agent that defines an individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. These statuses that are ascribed form childhood and have strong affect on the individual’s life. In a study conducted by Melvin Khon, founded that different classes of families socialize differently for, instance working classes are more concern with the teaching of conformity of rules, cleanliness, and staying out of trouble. The middle class families tend to focus mainly on the child’s development of curiosity, creativity, and good judgement. The lower class follow the working class method of socialization and more affluent families follow the middle class method. Whichever the case may be the family agent is the first teaching that determines as well as classifies individuals in society contributing to their sense belonging to a specific group. As per my classmate
Society shapes our personality. That means who we socialize with molds who you are as a person. Through the process of socialization you learn values, morals, beliefs, norms, and your role in this world. The people who we surround ourselves with are the ones that influence us the most. Agents of socialization (groups that influence you) are a big part of your social structure because it’s who we interact with the most. Our Significant Others (individuals that influence you) are also important because sometimes certain individuals have a meaningful role in your life and have a lot of guidance over you. Both agents of socialization and significant others have functions in your life and contribute to the kind of person you are today.
Family is arguably the most important social institution in an individual's life. A family is defined as a group of individuals that are related through blood ties, adoption or marriage, that form an economic unit, where the adult members are responsible for the upbringing of children. As a social institution, families change over time, but are usually the first and most important social part of an individual’s life. Education also prepares young people for entry into adulthood and is therefore a form of socialization.
Everyone is born into some form of family, with the family taking the responsibility of nurturing, teaching the norms or accepted behaviors within the family structure and within society. There are many types of families, which can be described as a set of relationships including parents and children and can include anyone related by blood or adoption. Family is the most important, “for it is within the family that the child is first socialized to serve the needs of the society and not only its own needs” (Goode, 1982).