The Changing Family In America

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March 13, 2011 The Changing Family in America Introduction There is an old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same” which may be accurate in some instances, but when it comes to the family, things are changing for real. People are living longer and can expect to enjoy the company of their grandchildren, and a number of years after their children leave home with their spouses in an adult relationship. The traditional roles and concepts about who and how we all should act in American society had only begun to solidify slightly after World War II when other societal factors created even more forces of change on the American family, and the latter half of the 20th century witnessed some fundamental shifts in the way men and women are viewed in industrialized nations. The traditional gender roles in society have changed before they ever really got underway, and the changes continue to create questions about who were are and where we are going. The increasing effects of globalization, too, provide a platform for change into the coming century. What seems to be the most confusing aspect of these fundamental changes in the family structure is how quickly they have taken place, and continue to occur? This paper will review several readings and will provide an analysis of how the family unit is changing and what impact this may have in the future. Review of the Literature The comforting family images of “Father Knows Best,” “Ozzie and Harriet,” and “Leave it to Beaver,” helped to characterize the popular image of the American family for many people. The father worked, the mother vacuumed in high heels and pearls and the kids were sometimes mischievous but basically good. According to Arlene and Jerome Skolnick, this image of a good American family was not only inaccurate; it helped to create a popular misconception
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