What is an American Family?
Intro Class
What is a family?
Fragile Family Bonds
Child Child
Child Child
Jan
Child Child
Child Child
Child Child
Child Child
daughter daughter
Husband #1
daughter
Wife #1
Ed
Emily
Husband #2
An American Family
ShirleyJosh's mom
daughter son
Valerie
Paul
daughter daughter
Teresa
EarlHusband #1
daughter son
Wife #1
Josh
FredHusband #2
daughter
Wife #1
HowardHusband #3
Recent trends in American family life:• getting married at a later age• having kids at a later age• having fewer kids• high divorce rates
– more single-parent homes
• increase in cohabitation– more out-of-wedlock births
• majority of mothers work outside the home• children at risk through rising rates of:
– teen suicide– teen births– addiction– violence
Why? Why? Why?
Three Views
• Conservative Explanation
• Liberal Explanation
• Feminist Explanation
Conservative Explanation
Cultural and Moral Weakening
Family Breakdown, Divorce, Family Decline
Father Absence, School Failure, Poverty, Crime, Drug Use
Liberal Explanation
Changing Economic Structure
Changing Family and Gender Roles
Diverse Effects:Poor vs. Productive Children
Feminist Explanation
Lack of Cooperation among Community, Family, and Work
Families Where Adults Are Stressed and Overburdened
Children Lack Sufficient Care and Attention from Parents