...Today, the definition of family is very complex and cannot be explained in just a few words or lines. It can be said that the word ‘family’ has more than one meaning and this makes it more complicated for one to understand the meaning of family. According to most people, a family can be one in the traditional sense with two heterosexual parents with children, one with two parents of the same sex with an adopted child, one with a single parent. But maybe a family could be made of multiple partners; as an example in Judith Stacey’s book with the three gay partners living together. Maybe it could even be a live-in relationship where the partners are not married, as opposed to popular belief. The word family is not restricted to only these instances and can be illustrated in various other ways without a set structure or definition. In the article “American Family Decline”, Popenoe argues that the definition of family is changing and cannot be attributed to just one concept. He argues the state of the changing American family and states the causes for these changes. But due to the complexity of the word he desires to relate family to its traditional view with one father, one mother and the two children to whom they gave birth all living collectively in the same house. According to Popenoe, since the 1960’s up to the 90’s there has been a rapid shift in the percentages of the changing family. He further states that there has been an increase in the divorce rates in the past couple...
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...Growing Pains, The Cosby Show, or Family Ties are known as the classic nuclear family, or as you may know, the all American Family. As we can see from these TV shows, the classic nuclear family is a married couple with their children. Good Morning, I am Technical Sergeant Ramon Aguilar and I will be speaking to you on one of the 12 Domains of Culture, Family & Kinship, but more in-depth on Family Size and Structure and Marriage. I will now like to go into more detail on how the current family size and structure in American culture is evolving, followed by how those dynamics play a role in marriage today. Let me begin with family size and structure. 2. In 1960’s your typical classic American family consisted of...
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...As of today, the world has changed quite significantly since fifty years ago. There has been much advancement that was created and has greatly improved our lives. Fifty years ago, it was the year 1963 and there was not as many of the great things that were invented today. Many people struggled with certain things which today have now been known to become easier for us to accomplish. Inventions have tremendously grown in the medical field leading to new technological equipment and as well as important environmental research that we have learned over the last fifty years. With the growth of these certain measures, the world has changed for the better. What we have known throughout the medical field fifty years ago has changed in so many different ways. Many people have died from little to serious injuries only because we did not have the proper equipment to use. Doctors did not have the knowledge or treatments to save a patient’s life. Treatments today such as chemo therapy have been used effectively around the world. Breast cancer, which would surely have killed in 1962, has now become treatable. With the newer medical equipment today, doctors can now perform more effective surgeries. Complications were known to have happened in surgeries back fifty years ago. Serious medical emergencies such as someone having a heart attack did not have a high percentage of survival only because doctors could not perform any procedures to save the patient’s life. Today, medical equipment has...
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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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...there has been a dramatic change in how the world views women and their roles in society. Specifically, how life for Canadian women has changed and how women from different cultures and countries each face unique problems in being respected and treated as equal members of society. Women have gone from being valued only as housewives in the fifties to CEOs in modern times. This is a remarkable achievement which should have come sooner. Although, even in today’s society women are still subjected to unfair and unjustified prejudice, stereotyping, sexism and conservative old fashioned gender role ideas. Women were believed to be passive and weak which is a complete contrast to how most of the world views women today. When compared...
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...a representation of how the family structure was throughout society. Made up of father who worked, a mother who stayed at home to raise the children and family dinners every night. Today in 2012, the family dynamic has changed dramatically. There are several factors that can be attributed to these changes and these changes could continue to change society for future generations. However, perhaps from researching the past and how we got here, we can find ways to strengthen families in the future. Family Changes Since 1960 the family dynamic has changed. Over these mere 52 years families have gone from having both parents in the home, usually with a father who works and a mother who stayed at home to raise the children. Today, many families are broken; children are shuffled between the mother’s home and the father’s home every other weekend. With this broken foundation the family structure itself is becoming weaker, thus creating a difference in society today compared to when our parents and grandparents were being raised. As previously mentioned, the Cleavers made up the traditional family in the 1960’s. This dynamic accounts for less that 15% of families today in the United States (Mintz, N.D). Another drastic change we have seen since 1960 is the divorce rate that has doubled since 1966. Another difference that has grown dramatically since as early as 1970 is the number of homes where couples cohabitate, yet never marry. This type of family dynamic has tripled...
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...Sociology: Family Changes Abstract In the 1960’s, “The Cleavers” of” Leave it To Beaver” were a representation of how the family structure was throughout society. Made up of father who worked, a mother who stayed at home to raise the children and family dinners every night. Today in 2012, the family dynamic has changed dramatically. There are several factors that can be attributed to these changes and these changes could continue to change society for future generations. However, perhaps from researching the past and how we got here, we can find ways to strengthen families in the future. Family Changes Since 1960 the family dynamic has changed. Over these mere 52 years families have gone from having both parents in the home, usually with a father who works and a mother who stayed at home to raise the children. Today, many families are broken; children are shuffled between the mother’s home and the father’s home every other weekend. With this broken foundation the family structure itself is becoming weaker, thus creating a difference in society today compared to when our parents and grandparents were being raised. As previously mentioned, the Cleavers made up the traditional family in the 1960’s. This dynamic accounts for less that 15% of families today in the United States (Mintz, N.D). Another drastic change we have seen since 1960 is the divorce rate that has doubled since 1966. Another difference that has grown dramatically since as early as 1970 is the...
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...How Families Influence Child Development Family is an essential part of everyone’s development. A family can determine who you are going to be and your family values determine what your relationship with others will be like. If a family is dysfunctional or abusive it can emotionally scar an individual. Through time family values have been changed and lost. Instead of family togetherness and talking with each other, families now go on their separate ways. Examples, most families today don’t eat dinner together or partake in group activities. Our society thrives on independence and doing things on our own but has this changed the way people see the family. The most common comparison is the 1950’s to the 2000’s of today. This is good comparison because the 50’s was the time when family values were the highest priority. Although the 50’s were known as the greatest generation of our time, family values were what were most important. One example of a family would be the dad going to work and the mom staying home to take care of the house. This always showed the kids that there was one parent always there for help, with HW or to have a snack prepared after school. One thing the 50’s were known for were their family dinners that everyone in the household was there for. The family had outings and talked about issues they were having. One thing teens valued was the ability to speak to their parents about things they wanted to know. In today’s society family isn’t as important...
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...The Family Sveinbjorg E. Olafsdottir Sociology-SSCI205 7th July, 2013 This essay will demonstrate the weakening of the modern family and how the weakening of the modern family is a cause for some of the social problems America and other western countries are facing today. What important or significant changes have been in families since 1960 and what factors are responsible for that change? Are families becoming weaker or simply different? And what can be done to straighten the modern family? Among the significant changes that have accrued in families since the 1960 are that there has been a dramatic rise in divorce rate and the ideal family structure has changed from the typical nuclear family. Families today can be combined of same sex parents, single parents, one parent and his/her partner where children have stepsiblings and children born out of wedlock. Since the 1960s women have become more financially independent and the society has become more inclusive. Women have their own career and therefore leave the home for work while in the 1960s women mostly stayed at home to take care of the children and the home. This change has caused more tension with in marriages and children get less time with a parent. (Editorial Board, 2012) Another factor for the change in families since the 1960 can be all the new technology, which brings more expenses for the families, and therefore to be able to afford everything that the modern family needs or is expected to have then...
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... Marriage and family is best defined as a diverse relationship between two or more people. The words marriage and family for me are similar and can be describe simply as relationships between multiple people. For marriage it could be legal relationship which binds them together for eternity and should just be as family is. The start of a marriage is the beginning of a family. Where a marriage is a choice and family is a commitment with existing and new members. When the legal union of a marriage begins, traditionally it has to happen between man and woman. But with same sex marriages being more socially accepted civil unions are being recognized and carry the same benefits as a married couple. Marriage is the most important step any person will take in life. The most important objective in someone’s marriage should not be financial success but should be the building of a life together with someone you are physically and emotionally married to. Marriage is a covenant and should not be viewed as a contract which can be thrown away and a new one written. Today social media plays a very big but also negative role in the way one choses their spouses. They do not chose someone who is perfect for someone but focus too much on one’s wealth and social status. Families today have more titles but the root to a family is still the same it has always been. Families today either traditional, Binuclear or stepfamily they still carry the same function and framework. Families are in both a financial...
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...outstanding to other people, but for me, it was a spectacular changed. For years in my life, I would never forget the first time I had my first flight. My family and I immigrated to a new country that I never thought of. Because of that flight, my life had changed from one culture to a different culture in just 24 hours on the airplane It was winter in 2006 when my family and I decided to move out of the country. One week before the departure date, my mum told me that her, my brother, and I needed to immigrate to the United State of America for better lives. I was a teenager at the age of 14 years old at that time. I didn’t really know how my life would be in the U.S, but I was surprised to have a chance to travel outside the country for the first time. The time was liked a flash, I couldn’t had a enough time to say farewell to my friends and my special person, who is my great grandmother. The boarding time for my first flight had come, and I was so exited to watch my motherland from above. That was to have a better life for my family, but my tears just dropped for no reasons, may be I was scared or missed my old house. Well, no more tears to wasted; I boarded the plane with my family and took off. On August 2006 at nighttime, my plane had landed at International Airport of Houston. From the moment I stepped out of the plane, a whole new destiny of mine were waiting ahead of me, and I knew my life would completely changed. The tall and big skyscrapers of the city and the new climate...
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...Hinduism is now the worlds oldest and widely practiced religions known today having dated back to around the 3rd or 2nd millennium bce. When the term “Hinduism” was first published to describe the religion, it has since been met with mixed reactions with some rejecting it in favor of indigenous formulations. Some have taking to the term “Vedic Religion” as a way to refer to the ancient texts known as the “Vedas”. The majority of those who practice the religion do accept the term “Hinduism”. Hinduism and Buddhism Despite the labeling and acceptance thereof, Hinduism has managed to stay as a thriving religion with various influences in many cultures. Its believed that Hinduism and Buddhism share a common bond. The Buddha was born to a Hindu family and some still argue that because of this, Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism and that the Buddha was a part of the Hindu pantheon, a view which is not accepted by many Buddhists. Long ago, Hindu tradition accepted the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu. There were many that didn’t believe that Buddha’s teachings and enlightenment were of any relation to the Hindu beliefs though. Despite the fundamental differences between both the religions, Hinduism and Buddhism influence each other in many ways. With Hinduism being looked at as setting the stage for what evolved into Buddhism, you can also look at many other major eastern religions and find that those have had some sort of influence from Buddhism or Hinduism. Shinto is a Japanese...
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...problems class today was drug abuse. We looked at the data, and tracked the trends, outlined the extent of the problem. Then we turned to the question of "why?" -- why so much more drug abuse in our region than in the past. [We live in the epicenter of the Oxycontin phenomenon.] We looked at the issues of the availability of drugs, of the economic and social conditions, of the cultural attitudes encouraged by the media, the pharmaceutical industry, and the medical profession, that pills are a solution to most of life's problems (sexual problems - take Viagra, anxious in social situations - take Paxil, etc.). One of the students in the class, Mary*, has worked on several local media projects and films about drug abuse in this region, and as a result has talked to a lot of people who have become entangled in abuse. Mary pointed out that the reason given by most of the people that she talked to was that they couldn't cope with the pressures and problems of their lives and took drugs to relieve the pressure, to be distracted, to forget about things for a while. Mary noted that this reason made her mad and disgusted. She didn't think it was a valid reason; that people were just weak and that should just learn to deal with things as she did. The other students in the class offered their agreement with Mary. They too viewed drug abuse as weakness and moral failing to which they were immune. I asked the class to consider why it might be that more people today found themselves...
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...restructured our society and changed the way that we do things. Almost everyone, from the very young to our senior citizens, is learning how to use some form of digital technology. It aims to support us in communicating with others, achieving an education, and succeeding in the workplace. There are countless ways that digital technology is being used both positively and negatively. However, the most commonly shared belief is that the good outweighs the bad. We have to rely on our digital tools and toys that it seems impossible to envision life without them. The advancement in digital technology changed the way people communicate with friends and family, seek job career opportunities, and the foundation of the education system. It is important to realize that many people don’t get to see their family and friends on an everyday basis. For this reason, digital technology is a great source for people to remain in contact with their loved ones. There are many social media sites where people can keep in touch with their family and friends. Several of them are Facebook, Instagram, Skype, Twitter, Tumbler, Foursquare, and Face Time. Since many families today are mobile, immediate families and their extended family members may no longer live in the same hometown. Some of these families may not see each other for many months, sometimes for years. For families such as these, digital technology can be a valuable asset. For example, some families may use the same form of digital...
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...Contemporary Issues for Children and Families “Both the status of children and the role of the family have undergone significant changes over the course of this century”. From Contemporary Issues in the Early Years, Gillian Pugh (ed.) page 71 The concept of childhood and how it’s changed over the past 30 years Back in the Middle Ages, children were seen simply as miniature adults. According to Philippe Aries (1962), children used to wear the same sort of clothes as their parents; they shared adults work and leisure. Children were not assumed to have needs different from adults, nor were they shielded from many aspects of adult life. Many children died soon after birth and it was seen as God’s will and a blessing. The status of the child and the concept of childhood have changed significantly from these times. Melvyn Bragg in 1999 noticed that the meaning and the story of childhood have been changed monumentally. Children join the workforce later, they are born into smaller families, they tend to spend their parents’ money rather than contributing to family coffers and they are handed over to the school for what used to be called the best years of their lives. 30 years ago, something very important took place for children around the world: the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1989. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK government in 1991, states that a child “means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless, under the...
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