Traditional Family Essay

539 Words3 Pages
It’s an ever changing definition which carries a strong value to some. To others, it’s seen as a nuisance and can stop them from fulfilling their dreams. Although everyone has their opinion of a “traditional family” and the ways in which in helps or impedes society, there is no arguing that this concept is slowing beginning to fade away. With divorce rates higher than ever, increased amounts of mixed marriages and struggling economic pressures, I believe the traditional family is not worth saving. The term traditional family has been around for generations. Generally speaking, it consists of a male and female becoming married and raising children of their own. Many believe that the term is more than that and rather a moral statement. Their belief is that traditional families imply a strong value on becoming married and staying together, choosing children over their careers and the support for two parent style families over other lifestyles. Since 1950, the percent of traditional marriages in the United States has decreases immensely. Estimates show that 90% of families were considered traditional. In 2007, that number dropped 22% to only 68% of families. Magazine images and televisions shows still continue to portray the traditional family even thou this is an inaccurate representation of the American lifestyle. If we look closer into the beginning of the traditional family, many believe it started in the 1950’s. TV shows such as Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best were just some of the programs that featured the “perfect family”. The 50’s is depicted as an era where society pulled together, everybody was happy and there were no more problems in the world. Men were returning from war and wanted to create a happier environment for their family. They begin to have more children, women stayed home and the men went off to work. It was seen as
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