...humility, equality, obedience, modesty and simplicity. This interesting group of people may shock the common American when they compare their lives to the Amish. When comparing the cultures of the Amish versus typical American, a person will find that the family life, language, and other aspects of this population can be so different from the latter. Throughout the Amish culture, family is a main part of their lifestyle. According to Towns and Heritage, “The family is the most important social unit among the Pennsylvania Amish” (Towns & Heritage, 2013). This stems from the family’s abundance in size. It is not unusual for a typical Amish family to have seven to ten children. This growth in family is what makes the Amish community as large as it is (Towns & Heritage, 2013). In addition to having many children, the Amish also has many generations living together under the same roof. This allows a “sense of continuity and participation in family life” (Towns & Heritage, 2013). When comparing this to a typical American family, it is easy to see the difference. According to Teachman, Tedrow, and Crowder, “America is made up of a multiplicity of family types including two-parent families, one-parent families, cohabitating couples, and gay and lesbian families” (Teachman, Tedrow, & Crowder 2000). Not only is the dynamic set up of the families different from typical American families, but the number of children is different as well. As stated by Pregnant Pause in 2003, the average number...
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...Elizabeth Rodriguez Syg2010 March 11, 2015 The Changing American Family Unlike in the 1950s, there is no ‘typical’ American family today. Typically in the 1950s an American family consisted of a breadwinning father and a stay at home mother. Today that is not the case for most Americans. What purpose are families actually suppose to serve in contemporary societies? Is it families that create problems or solve them? In the twenty-first century how are we suppose to reduce family related social problem? I will examine Ch.11 The Changing Family and examine the functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interaction views. Meet Kristi and Michael Burns both have a lot in common. They both share a love for crossword puzzles, going to football games, museums and reading up too five or six books at a time. As for today, their blended family is extensive, sometimes uneasy with two sharp-eyed sons from two of Kristi’s previous husbands, a daughter and son from Michael’s second marriage, an ex-spouses unreliable degrees of involvement, the partners of ex-spouses, the puzzled in-laws and a kitten named Agnes that likes to sleep on computer keyboards. (Angier) If the Burns seem as an atypical American family how about we throw in the Schulte-Waysers a merry couple of two married dads, six kids and two dogs. The functionalist perspective emphasizes the importance of family. Functionalist perspective also stresses the ability of maintaining the stability of society and well being...
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...Is There A Typical American Teenager? I loved high school. I really did. I loved the football games, the dances, the people (sometimes), the clubs, my teachers, my friends, the list goes on. I probably liked high school more than a teenager usually does (I wasn't as eager to leave at graduation time as everyone else seemed to be). Throughout high school, judging by myself and all of my dynamic peers, it never once occurred to me who was 'typical" and who was not. However even at nineteen, my perception of a "typical" American teenager is the same as it was when I was seventeen: angst-y, dramatic, gossipy, party-hungry, and sexual. So if I was still in high school and had the same image of a "typical" teen as I do now, yet no one around me really embodied it, why did I have that image? Stereotypes. It is because of stereotypes that adults, and yes, even teenagers believe that said traits are what the typical American teenager embodies. There are stereotypes that classify 'cliques' in high school, and imply that all schools have cliques, but the main stereotype of "typical" teens seems to be one that groups all teens together under a view similar to mine of a "typical" teenager. These stereotypes are perpetuated mainly through media: movies, books, songs, and even news. They paint a picture of a teen who is, in my opinion after my own experiences and especially after watching American Teen, not very accurate. Having been an American teen, and being around them for so many years...
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...Family as a Social Institution SOC101 By Joshua Simpson If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother, and the teacher. (Abdul Kalam) For this paper I will be explaining how the American family is a social institution and the struggles that come along with it. I will be focusing on the American family and its traditions and also how divorce impacts the family and community. The American family can limit social contact but I can also flourish through the family. The modern American family as a social institution can be taken in many different ways. In some the typical American family known as nuclear (mother, father, and kids) is declining. The other type of family is extended or encompassing other relatives. These families are also called traditional families because these families are what Americans have come accustomed to. Thus because families are growing and allowing extended family in. another reason why they are declining because families are becoming one parent and the children or spit parents and the children live with extended family. Many people do not agree with this conclusion because there have not been any studies to show this but from observation and a look around your own community I sure you can find one of these untraditional families. There are many factors that contribute to families breaking up and becoming...
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...Hispanic American Diversity ETH/125 Cultural Diversity For the assignment due this week I have had to do some research on Hispanic groups and learn more about their culture and more. In the following the political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions or statuses will be discussed shortly about the Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and ………… Mexican Americans are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States and for this reason they should be able to have a powerful say in politics. However when it comes to politics and more specifically voting, they just don’t have a voice very loud just yet. Although they due play a larger role in the southwestern states than other parts of the country since this is where the vast majority live. This is in part due to the fact that many are either younger Americans or just not U.S. citizens yet. Socially and familial conventions the Mexican Americans still in generally hold different thoughts and lifestyles than that of the majority of U.S. citizens. The core groups of Mexican Americans hold strong ties to family and even extended family is just as important as immediate. Woman are greatly respected and loved but still considered secondary when it comes to their husbands who are seen as the authority figure for the family. They typically very large families and everyone is kept very close. Catholicism is the religion that the vast...
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...The Truth to American Pit Bull Terriers American Pit Bull Terriers are naturally loving and caring dogs known for their neutrality and bravery, but suffer from a negative reputation due to an ill informed public. These breed of dogs are usually misinterpreted. Pit Bulls are not as cruel and ferocious as media has made them look. Pit Bulls deserve a chance at life, instead of being deemed as monsters of society. Pit Bulls originated from the United Kingdom in the 1800’s. They were created by breeding an American Bulldog and a Terrier (“Breed History”). Pit Bulls were first known as “Bulldogs”. Next, they were soon renamed the “Staffordshire Terrier”. But according to “Breed History: What’s in the Name?”, their name was changed to “American...
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...Debunking the Modern Family Myth According to Stephanie Coontz in “What We Really Miss About The 1950’s”, the 1950’s were symbolic in terms of the nuclear American family. The “typical” nuclear American family structure consisted of an unemployed stay-at-home mom, working dad, a child or two, and a suburban home. In her article, she refers to the 1950’s as being the optimal time period for family’s where the ideology in television shows such as “Father Knows Best” and “Leave It To Beaver” was not just a depiction of how life was supposed to be lived, but an accurate portrayal of how life actually was back then. Today, the once commonly known family structure has been modified and tweaked and the standard image of a modern day family is no longer exactly how it looked 60 years ago. Twenty-first century culture has opened the door for many new views including the redefining of the typical structure of a family; in today’s world the model family is no longer just between a male and a female but also includes homosexual couples (Male/Male or Female/Female). Before complying with the definition of how the traditional family should be, we must be able to first define what a marriage truly is. Marriage as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “the intimate or close union of two individuals”, though the definition seems stable enough it isn’t the only definition of marriage and the idea of marriage itself is actually quite wide spread as we see in Evan Wolfson’s “What is Marriage...
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...yourself a “typical” American? Why or why not? If I would introduce myself by ethnic, racial, and other identities, I would began with that I am a black, bisexual, female, mother, and educator. Now this shows that I am anything but the typical American. I am the part of American society that has been oppressed for many years. At one time or another, please, please don't anyone in the class take this the wrong way, but I would be calling a large part of my class mates master, using different bathrooms than you, your family, and your friends. Taking care of your children while barely seeing my own, cleaning your homes, cooking your food, and while the whole time prying that I make it back to my side of town safely and whole. Sitting at the back of the bus, using hand me downs that should go to the trash and not to a person, and never ever would I be with the man i am with now not only due to his family but also due to mine. Then in another time my own father would of had the right to put me down like a dog due to I was not a son born to him, or now then there would be a time that I would of had to work as a Lady of The Night so that I could bring in any money to feed myself and I would of had to go through horrible pain to abort my many pregnancies. This is why one of the things that anyone that really knows me I always say I will not be a statistic and follow the trend nor be a failure in what I do. Now I am glad that I am not the typical American. Cause my view...
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...wearing green and gold to portray Australians. These figures are in wheelchairs and rather than running, they are being pushed, suggesting that Australians are becoming more obese. Here in Australia, international fast food giants such as McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and Dominos, which have migrated from America, are dominating supermarket food courts and family meals due to advertisements, time saved from cooking and ease of access, indicating the growth in globalisation for the fast...
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...24, 2013 Christopher Theim Influence of Visual Media Visual media such as movies and television has played a part in the changes in American culture and by being the avenue by which the values, social issues, and cultural changes of the time could be expressed and either promoted or discouraged. The “Brady Bunch”, first airing in 1969, showed the life of a combined family dealing with everyday situations such as sibling rivalry, lying, and following rules. It was a show that showed what family life was all about and showed healthy lessons to its viewers in an attempt to showcase a model family. Another show that helped American children see the way family life was supposed to be was the 1982 television sit-com, “family Ties”. This show also demonstrated typical family issues and showed lessons to the viewer through the characters. Lessons learned were often life experience issues like honesty, trustworthiness, and being a good person. Both of these shows helped expand the belief of what a typical family should look and act like making both shapers of American culture and values. As a child I watched both of these shows and they reminded me of my life at home and I could relate with many of the lessons discussed in them. Although the long term view of television shows like these, and many others, displays how visual media relates to American culture and values, I do not believe the changes in our culture, and society in general, were brought on or caused by the television shows...
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...In the typical American household, Americans consider themselves equally tied by kinship to both their mother and father and their maternal and paternal relatives. In other words, Americans think of kinship bilaterally. As we shall see, this is not true of all societies. The writer focused on family life in three societies: the Ju/wasi, the Trobriand Islanders, and the traditional Chinese farm family. The ju/wasi were hunters and gatherers living in small mobile groups, where as the Trobriand Islanders were horticulturists living in villages of up to 400 people. As inferred in the text the chinese were the strongest of the three because they represent a large agricultural society. Wealth is important to maintain the social rank of the matrilineage. Wealth has no role among the Ju/wasi. Life, love, and wealth play a significant role in these societies today. Most anthropologist would argue that though these practices are from a earlier time they are still used today. Consequently, family stability must be maintained to increase wealth and social status. Lee's The Dobe(Holt, Rinehart and winston, 1984), Robbins PGS 182, 185 The Analysis Of Domestic Groups PGA 161-180 Because family structure is most important in typical families, we study the different domestic groups of three seperate social societies. Usually in these socities their are arranged marriages from birth and rarely disputed by the female as inferred in the reading. Wealth is not a main component to the Ju/wasi where...
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...do research. Examine issues of accommodation and assimilation to mainstream American culture You might want to reflect on how the historical times in which they came of age influenced their experiences Consider differences and/or similarities in their attitudes towards --parents --traditional Chinese culture --Education --American values Matthew Munet Pardee and Jade; Similar Yet Different Family and class backgrounds have a major influence on the way humans create our perceptions and beliefs. I for one come from a Hispanic middle class family. My beliefs may have some similarities to other middle class Hispanics but may be completely opposite compared to a female who comes from a wealthy Hispanic family. This can be seen if we compare Pardee Lowe and Jade Snow Wong. These two prominent Asian American authors depict The Chinese authors Pardee Lowe and Jade Snow Wong display how assimilation differ with social class, gender, and ethnic background through their stories Nisei Daughter and Father and Glorious Descendent. There experiences defy the many anti-Asian prejudice that was established upon the Chinese people during that time. Coming from an Americanized home and wealthy family Pardee Lowe epitomized the ideal situation of growing up as a Chinese child. His father being a wealthy merchant differentiated from a typical Chinese kid growing up in American society. In addition, having an Americanized dad relieved Pardee of the many contrasting...
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...In the United States it is tradition to have a medium sized wedding attended by friends and family. Although there are also some couples who may choose to elope and have an extremely small wedding or the exact opposite and have a large extravagant wedding with a lot of guests. The main purpose of a wedding is that people share their vows for one another and have these close friends and family there as witnesses to it. The engagement usually starts after a time of dating, no real set time, and then the man asks for the woman’s hand in marriage. It is traditional for the man to get permission from the bride’s father. Following this there can be an engagement party, bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties and then the wedding itself, followed by a reception for celebration and then a honeymoon. We see this typical pattern for weddings in most places in the United States. No matter what part of the world or culture someone is from no two wedding’s are alike and can vary greatly based on location. The thing which shapes my attitude about the different types of weddings is what I was exposed to and learned in life by experience seeing different one’s in real life and in the media. Although it can be tradition for a certain culture to get married a particular way, some people in all cultures go outside their norm for their wedding ceremony. It is not uncommon for couples to customize their wedding by picking and choosing which traditions they want to include or exclude based...
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...The American Dream Has Been Reborn Immigrants flee from their home countries for what? A piece of a dream that seems too good to be true. No more poverty, no more suffering, no more days gone hungry. A certain hope and dream that has driven many to become obsessed with power and success. But most don’t know, as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so is happiness and prosperity. A happy family isn’t determined by how many cars they drive or the size of their wallets, rather the size of their heart. The American dream is the hope to achieve the pursuit of happiness, one thing this country may never lose. The true feeling of doing what you love is what it feels like to have happiness. Whether its providing for your family so your offspring has a bright future or having a career in which you are satisfied. Satisfaction. Thats the problem… Todays society has become so consumed with advancing, making more money, and gaining influence they don’t take the time to look up and see the beauty around them. When individuals place promotions ahead of family they lose sight of what the ‘Dream’ is. Take Oscar Carlos Acosta as example, he was a stud baseball pitcher who let his obsession get the better of him, leading to the loss of his family and pitching career. He let his obsession with making it to the majors destroy him. But all was not lost. The American Dream is a hope of a second chance, a new start. And in the end Acosta reconciled with his wife and children and went...
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...lisa is arguably a nine-year-old archetypal girl. she tends to devote most of her time in attending school as well as dance practices. Lisa, in fact, loves dancing a lot such that the dance recitals form of embodiment of her life. This statement is evidenced by the fact that she won a second place trophy in dancing (wasserstein 34) This event is one of her major life achievements that she wished her father would witness. this play forms a prime example of the families in the US and how a laboring economy and a pursuit of a capitalistic society have left the relationships of family members vulnerable. it also identifies the mystification of a working class group that struggles hard to achieve the american dream by sacrificing family ties and relationships. in this play, it is evident that paul is deeply entrenched into the american dream idea. Even though he procures that lifestyle, it seems to be in vain as his relationship with his daughter may not allow them to enjoy much time as typical family members should. Lisa, on the other hand, seems to be too young to understand and accept the realities that are associated with the nature of a capitalistic society. Lisa is also too young to understand that individuals have to work hard to maintain their fundamental and secondary needs as they achieve their life...
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