Category: Family

Family Breakdowns and Re-Formations: Divorce and Post-Divorce

According to Cherlin, the change in the social functions that a family has, and, weirdly enough, baby boomers (social structural factors), as well as a shift toward individualism and the lack of family support (individual risk factors) are most likely to trigger divorces (Cherlin, 2013).

A very complicated and complex process, divorce has multiple effects on every member of the family. Children are most likely to feel unhappy and have divorces when they create their own families. Single parents will most likely face financial and psychological crises. However, in some cases, a single parent might feel relief after the divorce procedure.

The key problem of studying a stepfamily is to embrace all the possibilities of the kinship ties development between the step-children and the step-parents (Cherlin, 2013).

Children in step-families face the same issues as children of divorced parents. Girls in step-families are more likely to leave sooner, Cherlin warns (Cherlin, 2013).

Even though a child raised without a father faces serious issues, there are some ways to minimize the threat, including 1) the support from the father even in case the mother moves with the child, 2) bring down the poverty rates among single mothers; 3) make sure that “local policies do not discourage marriage” (Cherlin, 2013).

The findings concerning the effects of divorce on children can be considered questionable, since the families chosen as the object of research are typically not quite normal, to begin with (Kelly & Emery, 2003).

The stranger model presupposes that the stepparent is related to as a stranger, whereas the dependency model acknowledges the fact that the stepparent provides for the child (Mason, 2003).

Negativists deny the possibility of step-parenting, voluntarists recognize the risks yet accept the possibility of step-parenting, while reformers are in favor of step-parenting (Mason, 2003).

According to what Crohn says, the research was focused on nineteen middle-class educated women of roughly 23.4 years each.

The research is based on the classification provided by Berger, Burgoyne, and Clark, Church, Erera-Weatherly, and Gross, the women in the research were evaluated according to the existing five types of stepmother. As the research showed, each of the women reported that their stepmothers never tried to replace their mothers (Crohn, 2013).

As a rule, in a ground-based divorce, the person to blame for the breakup is clearly defined, whereas, in a no-fault divorce, the decision to part was made by the couple unanimously and peacefully.

Among the unexpected consequences of no-fault divorces, the drops in the predictability of marriage outcomes should be noted.

There are several basic types of domestic violence, i.e., situational violence, which usually does not presuppose controlling behavior, and intimate terrorism, which is recurrent and often involves physical harm (Cherlin, 2013a). The participants of family violence are usually children and adult women.

Other Challenges to Family Formation: Domestic Violence and Institutionalizations

Although family violence is very hard to reveal, there are some ways to spot the problem and prevent violence from recurring. As a rule, state interventions are used to learn more about domestic violence and fight them efficiently.

There are three basic reasons for people to treat their partners and/or children violently: 1) struggle for dominance; 2) following the pattern previously learned from one’s parents; 3) frustration-aggression (replacing the subject of irritation/anger with the wife/children) (Cherlin, 2013a).

Intimate terrorism usually presupposes that the victim is completely helpless. Violent resistance, on the contrary, involves violent outbursts due to the pressure from the abuser. In its turn, common couple violence means that both the husband and the wife have constant fights, yet remain equal to each other.

The goal of intimate terrorism is usually to feel superior to the abused partner. Traditional strategies can be split into verbal and physical abuse categories (Johnson, 2008).

As Leisenring (2008) explains, it was not until the 90s that the issue of partner abuse in families finally started being addressed.

Sadly enough, the promoters of mandatory arrest policies do not understand that, once the abuser is released, (s)he is most likely to treat his/her victim even more violently.

As Blaisure et al. (2012) explain, the key stress factors that contribute to the feeling of alienation in the military families is the pressure that every single member of the family is exposed to. According to Blaisure et al. (2012), such families are called “greedy institutions” (Blaisure et al., 2012, 40), since they demand too much love, devotion, commitment, and compliance with the rules from every member.

Despite the aforementioned issues, military families seem to have been tackling these problems quite well by following the so-called norms, or, to be more exact, a specific set of rules that provide guidelines for actions in specific situations. By using implicit and explicit norms, the leader of a military family can coordinate the actions of its members. Besides, each of the family members is assigned a particular role, which dictates a specific behavioral pattern (Blaisure et al., 2013).

As the movie called A sentence apart (n. d.) shows, incarcerations tear the very fabric of the family apart. The interactions between the people who have been imprisoned and their children are more than heartbreaking: “One thing that hurts is when you see her child come in prison – I chuckle down” (A sentence apart, n. d.).

Lack of money and family background are usually the reasons why poor families are considered the ones that are especially subjected to family violence.

Every type of institutionalization affects a typical family in that it dictates specific roles for its members and creates stereotypical patterns for the latter to follow. Institutionalizations differ in the types of changes that they have on families.

According to Cherlin (2013a), sex is traditionally referred to as a biological concept, whereas gender is usually perceived as a social one.

Social factors and family: gender

There are three basic ways for children to accept and learn their gender roles. First, children identify themselves with one of their parents and try to follow him/her; second, children learn about their gender roles with the help of mass media; third, gender roles are learned through interaction with other kids and playing either dolls (which nurtures motherly instincts) or active games that involve simulation of a fight (which develops the instincts of the head of a family).

The movement of married women into the labor force has once and for all redefined gender roles, making it clear that gender and sex are not necessarily inseparable concepts.

As a rule, when both the wife and the husband are working, they split household chores so that each could have an equal amount of chores to do. Thus, marriage equality is provided. Naturally, conflicts are unavoidable, yet it is essential that sharing responsibilities allows for an adequate solution to conflicts.

Gender belongs to a social dimension, whereas sex belongs to the biological one. In contrast to, say, primary or secondary sexual characters, gender specifics can be acquired, developed, or shaped under the influence of social norms and traditions (West & Zimmerman, 1987).

To study the strength of people’s belief in particular gender stereotypes, the authors used such methods as mixed (qualitative and quantitative) research, observing a group of schoolchildren and assessing their behavior (Risman & Seale, 2010).

It is quite peculiar that, according to the results of Risman and Seale’s study, the children were educated on the issue of feminism and did not have a notoriously traditional chauvinist attitude towards women; however, several boys were homophobic in that they considered the very concept of homosexuality as a pejorative term (Risman & Seale, 2010).

As Carberra, Shannon and Tamis-LeMonda explain, “In summary, fathers’ resources and mother supportiveness are significantly related to supportive father engagement at most ages” (Carberra, Shannon & Tamis-LeMonda, 2007, 211).

However, it should also be kept in mind that fathers’ parenting is significantly different from the one of mothers. According to the research, fathers tend to be more supportive throughout the entire childhood stage and are less intrusive into their children’s educational issues, whereas mothers tend to be more controlling.

People pay close attention to social traits and factors, though usually, they do not give an account of the process of recognition and analysis of the latter two, since it is crucial for every human being to integrate into society successfully, which means playing by the society’s rules.

In a family, gender differences can be reflected a) through the roles of a breadwinner and the one doing the household chores; b) by assigning one of the family members with the role of a leader and decision-maker (the masculine role), while the partner will respectively take the feminine role.

Reference List

A sentence apart (n. d.). Web.

Blaisure, K. R. et al. (2012). Defining features of military families. In K. R. Blaisure et al. (Eds.), Military families in the 21^st century. New York, NY: Routledge.

Carberra,N. J., Shannon, J. D. & Tamis-LeMonda, C. (2007). Fathers’ influence on their children’s cognitive and emotional development: From toddlers to pre-K. Applied Development Science, 11(4), 208–213.

Cherlin, A. J. (2013). Public and private families: An introduction (7^th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Cherlin, A. J. (2013a). Public and private families: A reader (7^th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Crohn, H. M. (2013). Five styles of positive stepmothering from the perspective of young adult stepdaughters. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 46(1-2), 19–134.

Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence: Intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. New England, NY: Northeastern University Press.

Kelly, J. B. & Emery, R. E. (2003). Children’s adjustment following divorce: Risk and resilience perspectives. Family Relations, 52(4), 352–362.

Leisenring, A. (2008). Controversy surrounding mandatory arrest policies and the police response to intimate partner violence. Sociology Compass, 2(2), 451–466.

Mason, M. A. (2003). The modern American family: Problems and possibilities. In M. A. Mason, A. Skolnick & S. D. Sugarman (Eds.), All our families. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Risman, B. J. & Seale, E. (2010). Betwixt and between: Gender contradictions in middle school. In B. J. Risman (Ed.), All our families,. New York, NY: Norton.

West, C. & Zimmerman, D. (1987). Doing gender. Gender and Society, 1(2), 125–151.

Introduction

One of the common themes in modern-day popular culture media has been the extensive representation of patriarchy as being the core structure of the family unit. For example, in shows such as Family Guy, American Dad, the Simpsons, and Everybody Loves Raymond, it is often seen that men in society are the heads of the household while women are often relegated to supportive roles (Heath, 2009: 187-201). While it may be true that many organizations have established policies to remedy discrimination of women both at home and in the workplace, the fact remains that upon careful examination of such policies, it can be seen that they are not an appropriate form of remedy since they do not resolve the disparities that occur within society.

Based on what I noticed from the various popular culture shows I watched, women, especially married women, were often relegated into supporting roles and were discriminated against in their jobs on the basis that they were married and could get pregnant at any moment thus creating problems involving workplace productivity. The main problem that I noticed was in their representation wherein there were relatively few shows which showed a successful and happy woman that shared the role of a breadwinner with her husband. It was subtly hinted at by the shows that married women should not attempt to go outside of the role that society has deemed for them by getting a job or pursuing careers since it often results in adverse consequences.

Taking this into consideration, this paper will examine the relegation of women into supportive roles in the family by popular culture media and how the main issue is in the manner in which they are represented. By exploring this method of representation in the family, this paper will attempt to show how such practices by the modern-day media is not an accurate representation of how society is like at the present and how it contributes towards creating a more unequal society based on its hypocritical method of praising independent women but relegating married women to mere supportive roles.

The relegation of Women to Supportive Roles

When examining the characters of Lois (Family Guy), Marge (the Simpsons), Christine (American Dad), and Debra (Everybody Loves Raymond), one common theme that is seen was that these women were actually at the cusp of having their independent careers before getting married. However, once they did get married and had children, they immediately became relegated to supportive roles (i.e., homemakers, stay at home moms, etc.).

It was shown that they prioritized the concept of family over their careers resulting in them willfully choosing supportive roles rather than attempt to pursue a dual role with the father by also getting a job to support their family.

Based on the various readings in class that was encountered throughout this subject, the idea of women as being primarily relegated to the role of homemaker upon marriage is a concept that has been around for a considerable period due to the notion that men are providers while women are supposed to take care of the children, make sure the home is tidy and be subservient to the needs of their husbands (Lareau, 2002: 431-440). This was seen in the case of the various shows mentioned in present-day popular media, yet, it is also noticeable in past shows such as “I Love Lucy” and “The Brady Bunch” which similarly depicted the relegation of women into the role of the housewife and showing the concept of submissiveness to their husbands.

This unchanging method of representing women in popular culture media is rather strange given the new roles that women have achieved both in workplace environments as well as in society through efforts in gender equality. While it may be true that the idea of a strong, independent woman is often seen in numerous popular culture shows such as NCIS, CSI, How I met your mother, and others like them, the fact remains that such a representation changes dramatically when the concept of marriage enters the picture wherein the same relegation to a supportive role is seen.

Based on shows such as One Tree Hill, Desperate Housewives, and Cougar, a rather bigoted representation of women is shown wherein wives that attempt to “break out of the mold” so to speak of their supportive roles in the family are often portrayed as being selfish with the father often garnering the sympathy of the audience. Other similar representations often involve a wife failing in her venture and realizing that she loved taking care of her family or even the depiction that refusing to have a family of one’s own will leave a person alone and miserable in their old age with significant regret that they neglected to start a family. It is based on such representations, which are prevalent in present-day popular culture media, that the concept of women as having equal status as men is still far from being a realized reality.

From what I understood in the readings given in class, while it may be true that from a legal perspective, women should have equal rights as men, the fact remains that societal perceptions towards women at the present are still far different from their current legal rights (Lareau, 2002 442-445). While on the surface women are supposedly equal in workplace environments and social status, the fact remains that the current social perception, at least where popular media is concerned, still relegates women towards supportive roles when the issue of marriage enters into the picture (Gerstel and Sarkisian, 2006: 204-208).

Popular media praises strong independent women yet at the same time performs a form of hypocrisy by showcasing their worth in marriage as being a caregiver to the family. This depiction is at odds when examining the present-day society in countries such as the U.S. wherein men and women who are married and have kids often share dual roles as breadwinners. It is in part due to the current economic climate where it has become a necessity for both parents to work due to lower wages and fewer job opportunities where there are higher pay rates.

At the present, affirmative action programs, reverse discrimination, and criteria’s of comparable worth give women equal opportunities in the workplace, and most companies are of course performance-based and, as such, at the end of the day, they are more likely to hire someone appropriate for the job rather than ascribe to policies related to gender discrimination.

The current representation of married women in popular culture at the present is lacking in sufficient realism in that it does not reflect the current status of women as having the same role as men when it comes to supporting their families by also being a breadwinner (Adams and Coltrane, 2007: 499-509). Due to the level of influence, that pop culture media has on society wherein it influences trends and societal perspective, the current inaccurate representation of women can be considered both a step backward for women’s rights as well as severely restricting the opportunities of families in the present-day society (Whyte, 1992: 125-131).

What you have to understand is the perception of society regarding the role of women can have a degree of influence over what is expected of them in family roles. The promotion of the idea that women should primarily have the role of family caregiver instead of being a breadwinner along with the husband severely limits the capacity of that family to have a greater source of income thus, resulting in limited opportunities and resources (Gerstel and Sarkisian, 2006: 204-212). This can affect how the children in that family grow up due to a lack of sufficient resources to keep them properly fed, educated, and provide them with the various necessities that they would need to grow up properly.

Conclusion

Based on the readings I went through and my experience with present-day popular culture, my response to this assignment has a degree of cynicism given that while the law states that there is equality, such a statement is far from the truth. It is due to the fact I have seen firsthand how policies about affirmative action programs, reverse discrimination, and criteria of comparable worth are largely ineffective in preventing sexism in various offices and homes. While it may be true that current laws are barring such behaviors, a lot of companies continue to practice such actions and, as a result, this continues to propagate discrimination in society for women.

While I do acknowledge the status of affirmative action programs has improved considerably due to the current state of the economy which has caused firms to rethink their hiring strategies to include women into the picture due to their willingness to work the same hours for less, there are still issues regarding rates of promotion and the idea that women have less value once they get married and pregnant. There is a growing change in the global business environment wherein financial constraint and the need to maximize output while lowering the price of operations has resulted in more women being hired.

Thus, it can be predicted that shortly, should the trend continue, it will be a job market that is not dominated by the male majority, rather, it will be inclined towards individuals (man or woman) who are willing to work more for less. However, on the other end of the spectrum, it is also likely that should popular culture trends in the media, and their hypocritical depiction of women continue to go unabated, women may continue to be discriminated against in the long term despite the law saying otherwise.

It is based on these two possible results that I advocate for changes to be implemented in the way in which married women are depicted on popular culture media. Should such changes be implemented, societal perceptions may likely change as well resulting in “true” equality to be implemented for men and women alike.

Reference List

Adams, Michele, and Scott Coltrane. 2007. “Framing Divorce Reform: Media, Morality, And The Politics Of Family.” Pp. 499-513 in Shifting the center: Understanding contemporary families. 4^th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Heath, Melanie. 2009. “Marriage promotion and the contested power of heterosexuality” Pp. 187-204 in Shifting the center: Understanding contemporary families. 4^th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Lareau, Annette. 2002.”Invisible Inequality: Social Class and Childrearing In Black Families And White Families.” Pp. 431-447 in Shifting the center: Understanding contemporary families. 4^th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Gerstel, Naomi and Natalia Sarkisian. 2006. “Marriage: The Good, the Bad and the Greedy” Pp. 204-212 in Shifting the center: Understanding contemporary families. 4^th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Whyte, Martin King.1992. “Choosing Mates–The American Way.” Pp. 125-134 in Shifting the center: Understanding contemporary families. 4^th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Humanities.

Introduction

Sociologists have always attempted to cover and measure up practically every aspect of human life. Sociology as a discipline has an extremely wide range of interests and it is next to impossible even to enumerate them, however the issue that has always been of the utmost importance for the sociological study is family, because it is the cornerstone of every society and the indispensable condition for its stability.

Problem Statement

The problems that are closely connected with the family issues, especially with marriage and family process are very acute nowadays, that is why they attract close attention of many scholars. Overall, it is quite possible for us to say that these still issues require thorough analysis from different points of view, despite the great number of works on this topic.

In order to find a solution to family problems it is of the utmost impotence to give a definition to this term. The next step is to identify the cause of family problems. The main purpose of this research paper is to analyze four different works dedicated to our topic. We have to analyze these books in terms of the approach, research methods that were employed, and naturally the main hypothesis of these books. Our task is to present different views and different approaches to the family issues and the way the explain problems connected with them. The final step is to outline the major directions for further research.

The first scientific work that we are going to discuss is the book “The Family: Its Sociology and Social Psychiatry” written by Joseph Folsom, professor of sociology in Vassar College. The principal aim of this book is to combine various scientific methods to the study of such complicated phenomenon as family. An attempt is made to integrate history, individual psychology, anthropology, sociology, in order to analyze the notion of family from different standpoints.

Overall, it is worth mentioning that the cultural approach is the dominant one in this research study. The author of this book analyzes problems connected with the family in the context of constant cultural and social change. Joseph Folsom attempts to analyze the historical genesis of family, and the way this phenomenon evolved with time passing. It should be taken into consideration that the focus of this book is on the so-called Euro-American system of family relationships. Thus, the results of this research cannot always be applied to other nations or ethnic groups.

As it has already been mentioned, the author analyzes the problems connected with family in the context of social change. According to him, Euro-Americans culture has undergone a drastic change over the last fifty years, however Joseph Folsom avoids using the word “progress” because it usually implies change for the better, however it is not always so.

Naturally, he agrees that in terms of financial prosperity this changes have been extremely beneficial to the overwhelming majority of the population, however he believes that this changes have a detrimental effect on the family relationships. First, because the very tempo of life has quickened, and many people are so deeply absorbed with their work that they have practically no time to be with their families. Moreover, the author substantiates this statement. He says that according to the statistical data, an average employee spends at most three or four hours with his or her family per his working day, which is certainly not enough.

Moreover, Joseph Folsom says that the increased need for social mobility or perhaps it would be better to say independence has an inverse effect on the marriage process (Folsom, 1999).

Therefore, we may arrive at the conclusion according to the author that family problems are closely connected with the process of social change especially with the increased need for social mobility or independence.

Another sociological study dedicated to the family issue is the book “The Family as Process and Institution” written by Clifford Kirkpatrick. It can be quite easily deduced from the title that the author studies the dual nature of family. The author views family as the constant flow of experience that a person acquires beginning from his childhood, adolescence and so on and so forth. In other words, the author believes that the so-called family process does not begin with the actual marriage; on the contrary, it is a constant and ever-changing experience.

According to Clifford Patrick the problems connected with family take their origin in the persons background. Perhaps, it would be prudent to illustrate this point. A person acquires behavioral and social patterns since his or her childhood. Thus if these patterns were absorbed in the wrong way or to a certain degree misinterpreted, he or she is very likely to have some family problems (Patrick, 2000).

Thus, it is quite possible for us to arrive at the conclusion that in Clifford Patrick’s view the problems connected with the family usually takes their origin in the inner world of the person.

The problem, which undoubtedly requires thorough analysis, is the problem of domestic violence. There are many scientific works dedicated to this problem and all of them try to find a different approach to this issue. Nevertheless, it is quite possible for us t single out the article written by Arnold Murray, which is called “Sociological Research and Social Policy. The Case of Family Violence”. The point is that the author attempts to integrate different approaches to this problem. According to Murray, domestic violence can have two types of origin; the author calls them internal and external” As far as the external factors are concerned, we should mention the following: childhood experience, wrong behavioral patterns. However, the author pays more attention to the external factors. First, the author mention that the social changes, which the American society has undergone over the last thirty years have significantly quickened our life, therefore the tension has become very acute.

The point is that a person is very often unable to cope with this tension. It goes without saying that this phenomenon could not but have a detrimental effect on our family relationships. Sometimes a person gives vent to his feeling through violence. The author provides some sociological data according to which every fifth person is more or less prone to domestic violence just because of the problems he may have with his job (Murray, 2005).

Thus, we can say that the author tries to use combine different approaches such as sociological and physiological Overall, Murray singles out the following factors: social instability, difficult relationships at work and general inability to cope with the stress.

Another issue, which has always been a subject of thorough psychological and sociological research, is the problem of divorce. Alan Guttmann tries to analyze this problem in his article “Who Divorce”. He believes that the there is a wide variety of factors; however his views coincide with those ones of Murray who singles out external and internal reasons.

However, the author pays more attention to the internal reasons. Among them he singles out the following: the persons inability to be tolerant to his partner (37 per cent of the divorced couples). The author also singles out such factor as inability of the couple share their duties and obligations. Moreover, he singles out some objective reasons as for instance the psychological incompatibility (30 per cent). (Guttmann, 2005)

Conclusion

Therefore, having analyzed this four article, dedicated to the such notions marriage and family process, it is quite possible for us to arrive at the conclusion that family is extremely vulnerable to the social changes and this seems to be the main cause of the majority of the problems. Nevertheless, we cannot disregard the internal problems in other words those ones connected with our inner world. As it has already been mentioned before the family process is a flow of experience which means which starts from our childhood, this is why it is of crucial importance to impart correct behavioral patterns to our children. That is why the dual nature of these problems should always be taken into account, and it is always necessary to combine different approaches to these problems such as sociological, psychological , historic, and many others, because without it the analysis would be incomplete.

Bibliography

Allan Guttmann.(2005). Who Divorce. Harvard University Press.

Arnold Murray. (2005) Sociological Research and Social Policy. The Case of Family Violence. Sociological Issues, (2) 14, pp 40-49.

Clifford Patrick.(2000) The Family as Process and Institution. Palgrave.

Joseph Kirk Folsom.(1999) The Family: Its Sociology and Social Psychiatry. John Wiley & Sons.

Summary of Shirley Hill’s Work

Shirley Hill in the work “The Politics of Theorizing African American Families” focuses on the discussion of the African American scholarship related to the topic of African American families regarding their structural and cultural features. Hill discusses the topic within the theoretical and political context, paying much attention to the previous researches on the problem. The main questions asked by the author in the work are the role of slavery and racial oppression to influence the aspects of the African American family’s progress in the sociological perspective; the effects of the civil rights movement on the discussion of the African American family today; and the discussion of these families as inferior in comparison with the white people’s families.

The main points presented by the author in the text are the ideas that a complex of such factors as racism and slavery could affect the structure and characteristics of the African American families and question of equality and social opportunities.

However, these effects can also be discussed in the cultural context, thus, the African American families differ from the white families not only because of differences in cultures and visions but also because of the fact of destroying values and structures during the period of slavery and following periods of the social oppression and discrimination. The author’s conclusions are based on the developed scholarship on the topic and the other researchers’ findings.

To discuss the topic of the African American families’ structure and development from the historical perspective, it is important to refer to such significant sociological concepts related to the theme of family as the inferiority of definite families, conformism regarding the family standards and principles, and the role of culture and values to form the vision of a family within a certain community. Hill discusses these concepts with references to the possible reintegration of the African American families to conform to the ideals of US society today. There are different family standards with references to races and cultures, and it is an inappropriate approach to emphasize the necessity of adaptation to the social standards typical for the definite culture while ignoring the other cultures and visions of family.

Questions to Discuss

1. Is it possible to agree that African American families are inferior in comparison with white people’s families?
2. How can you analyze the role of slavery and racial oppression in the progress of modern African American families?

Jane Addams and Margaret Sanger are the famous female activists and representatives of women movements in the United States. Although the areas of these women’s interests can be discussed as different because Addams declared the principles of the woman suffrage and Sanger was known as the birth control activist, their ideas can be considered as similar.

In her work “Why Women Should Vote” (1915), Addams points at the necessity of providing women with more social responsibilities and rights to guarantee that the level of their direct duties such as household activities and children’s education can also increase (Addams par. 2). On the one hand, this idea is rather provocative, and it does not correspond with the tendencies of the 1910s. On the other hand, this idea is reasonable because it is indirectly supported by Sanger in her speech on the necessity of birth control.

The uniqueness of Addams and Sanger’s approach to discussing the rights of females is in the fact that these authors discuss any social responsibilities of women as the key to improving their roles in the family. Focusing on the texts, it is possible to note that both Addams and Sanger admit the fact that the woman’s main role is in her family.

These ideas seem to be related to the spirit of the times. However, Addams develops this idea stating that a woman should “extend her sense of responsibility” (Addams par. 2). Thus, the author argues that if a woman has the opportunity to realize herself in the social life while participating in elections, her level of responsibility increases as well as the level of her performance at home. This position can be discussed as rather unexpected for 1915, but it is correlated with the goal of the woman suffrage movement.

Focusing on the ideas presented in Sanger’s speech, it is important to note that the author also supports the opinion on the extension of women’s responsibilities. The statement that a woman will be more contributing to her family if she is able to control its size can be viewed as rather controversial while discussing it from religious and moral perspectives.

However, Sanger argues that if a woman is focused on the birth control, she cannot become “immoral” (Sanger par. 6). From this point, it is possible to agree with the female authors’ visions of the woman’s place in the society while focusing on her direct duties at home, without limiting her possible responsibilities.

The ideas of Addams and Sanger are also similar in terms of discussing the female right to choose. It is important to state that the authors focus on the women’s rights in the most delicate manner, while not declaring their ideas but trying to persuade the audience. Being an advocate for the woman suffrage movement, Addams notes that females should have the right to vote only after presenting the series of arguments (Addams par. 12).

In her turn, Sanger promotes the idea that one of the females’ primary rights is the right to give a birth to a child. Sanger supports her vision while stating that a woman “should have the right over her own body and to say if she shall or if she shall not be a mother” (Sanger par. 7). As a result, both authors’ ideas on the women’s right for a choice seem to be convincing.

Referring to the views of Jane Addams and Margaret Sanger, it is possible to state that their ideas are not only similar but also innovative for their times because they promote the view that if women’s responsibilities are extended in terms of being responsible for the birth control or for the vote, their performance in relation to traditional roles at home can also improve. In this context, it is possible to note that Addams and Sanger’s works could significantly contribute to changing the views on the women’s traditional roles in the society.

Works Cited

Addams, Jane. Why Women Should Vote. 1999. Web.

Sanger, Margaret. The Morality of Birth Control. 2003. Web.

Introduction

Race distinguishes people based on the physical characteristics that make them appear different from each other. Race in the United States of America is more prominent in describing different people. During the slavery period race would justify the mistreatment of people who were enslaved.

The people of the United States of America thought that those who were enslaved had negative traits. The concept of race should not be ignored because there is discrimination of people based on race that need to be solved so that all of them are treated equally. Bi-racial families should teach children to have self-esteem so that self-hatred is avoided for proper functioning of the mind.

The development of a child in a bi-racial family

The healthy development of a child in a bi-racial family is shaped by emotional acceptance. The mixed race people identity is unique and helped by interacting with others who do not reject them.

The healthy pathways originate from having open communication about factors that influence identity. The bi-racial children encounter challenges in their development because of self-worth. The families and caregivers should help these children understand that they are bi-racial so that they can reject historical stereotypes (Tokar, 1991).

The parents are able to prevent their children from damage of self-esteem by telling them to ignore those who talk about their race as well as skin color. The schools, families and peers tend to privilege the people with lighter skin, which lead to difficulties in accepting those from bi-racial families.

Honesty is significant when communicating about race especially when bi-racial children are involved so that they are not discriminated. The bi-racial families fail to discuss about race with clear conversation even if children are from mixed race. This creates confusion on how to interact with other children making biracial children not to value them.

Development of identity is very important for the children to grow well because the bi-racial children are many. Children develop from early childhood to adulthood where the whole process requires them to know who they are and the answer to the question is difficult to find.

There are several aspects involved in development of children in bi-racial family due to the impact of culture and history of the family. The characteristics of a person shape his or her identity and depend on mental functioning of how he or she perceives himself or herself (Cross, Vandiver & Worrell, 2002).

The way people think is linked with believes of how others perceive them. When they receive negative messages from the people they relate with the identity development becomes negative. Self-identity develops throughout the life of a person and the circumstances that lead to its fluctuation may affect it.

The beginning of identity is when a child is born, which becomes more prominent during adolescence and continues until adulthood. Bi-racial families should concentrate on identity because it influences behavior and the way people relate with each other.

When children are born they rely on the information they receive from other people about their privileges in order to develop positive attitude towards the race. The family may teach children about the race where they belong as well as the people they relate with based on hearsay.

The parents should not discuss about issues related to race and fail to inform children that all races should be treated equally. When people realize that they are discriminated based on race, they develop anxiety and guilt leading to depressed mood and finally conflicts arise due to lack of self-acceptance. The children in bi-racial families should be informed that it is not due to lack of effort that they belong there so that they can interact freely with others (Nash, 1995).

Pro’s that come from growing up in Bi-Racial family

The bi-racial family has the best experience of bringing up children rather than having children of the same race in the same environment. The children who are orphaned receive better care from a family that does not regard skin color.

The love of the children is more than when they are in a family with same race provided they are accepted without discrimination. Bi-racial adoption helps children to integrate and live together. When a family is childless, this is the best experience when they want to adopt a child and bring him or her up with love and care.

Bi-racial children from countries that are developing have excellent opportunities to be away from disadvantaged environment. They grow up in a prosperous family with many opportunities because the economy is stable. The children who do not have parents to take care of them are adopted in bi-racial families where they grow and are happy throughout their lifetime (Helms, 1984).

Cons that come from growing up in Bi-Racial family

Children in bi-racial family will not have opportunity to know their culture or develop positive self-images. The family will not teach them the shared beliefs of their race and therefore lack information about their origin.

The white parents are not able to relate with children from different races, which makes them prepare to inform them that there are bad experiences in a world that is racially divided. The needs of the children in bi-racial family such as taking care of their hair and skin are unique and the parents may not satisfy them well.

There are political issues involved in bi-racial families because if African-American children are not aware of what faces their communities, they fail to support them incase of political agenda. Bi-racial families take care of children from different race because it is not expensive to adopt them.

This discourages the family from handling issues that result from raising the children if they realize the cost is high. When the children realize that they do not belong to the same family they blame the parents and say that they were stolen from countries where they belong. These children begin to search for their identity as well as the culture of their original home (Tokar, 1991).

Conclusion

The individuals from bi-racial family should recognize the difference between them and other races. This develops positive attitude, cultural identity so that they can relate freely with people from other races. The white people should avoid activities that promote racism and confrontations so that no one is oppressed.

When the white understand that bi-racial people are not inferior, they accept them and understand that all people are equal. The children who are brought up in bi-racial families are supposed to accept the way of living so that they can benefit. The personal characteristics of an individual are very significant in finding solutions to the challenges of bi-racial families in order to reduce discomfort.

References

Cross, W., Vandiver, B. & Worrell, F. (2002). Validating the cross-racial identity scale. J Counsel Psychol, 49(1), 71-85.

Helms, J. (1984). Toward a theoretical explanation of the effects of race on counseling: A black and white model. The Counseling Psychologist, 12(4), 153-165.

Nash, R. (1995). Everything you need to know about being a biracial/bi-ethnic teen. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Tokar, D. (1991). An investigation of the validity of Helms’ (1984): Model of white racial identity development. J Counse Psychol, 38(3), 296-301.

The authors begin by identifying the enormous social problem posed by poverty in the United States and its implications on public health. According to studies conducted in the period between 2001 and 2006, there was a significant increase in the rate of national poverty, particularly in the rural areas, where it was found to be more than 14% compared to a national rate of 9%. The high levels of poverty found in rural areas were associated with poor physical and mental health, inequalities in health care, and food insecurity.

The number of US households found to be lacking adequate food to satisfy the needs of family members, due to a shortage of resources, increased from 9.8% in 2001 to 11% in 2006. Food insecurity was observed to be a bigger concern among certain households, including the minorities, single-mother families, and those whose earnings were below the national poverty line, compared to the rest of the nation. The situation was particularly worse for rural residents because of their limited access to affordable food, compared to urban consumers.

Another study conducted on poor women in Philadelphia revealed a correlation between food insecurity and depression when the researchers found that food-insecure women also felt a mental deprivation, which could be translated to a sense of hopelessness and depression. This finding was supported by another study that revealed that 28.5% of food-insecure women suffered from a form of depression compared to 20.2% of those with a slight sense of food security, and 15.75 for food-secure mothers in a sample population of 3,000 rural females. Another study revealed a high occurrence of symptoms that are characteristic of depression in 24 – 49% of rural women, especially the low-income earners.

Based on previous studies that show a strong association between food insecurity and depression, the authors sought to investigate the longitudinal relationship between the two elements using a sample of 413 low-income, rural women. The objective of the study was to establish whether the relationship between food insecurity and depression was bidirectional since such an outcome would significantly affect civic policy and practice directed towards the reduction of both elements in the susceptible communities.

The authors collected data from 23 rural counties in different states. To ensure the credibility of information collected and access to hard-to-reach populations, the respondents were sought from programs and places that work with low-income families like welfare programs, supplemental nutrition programs, and public health clinics. Measurements for food insecurity were taken using the “Core Food Security Module” (CFSM), measurements for depression were taken using the “Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale” (CES-D). The data was collected based on five sociodemographic variables namely: age, ethnicity, household income, marital status, and education.

This study accentuated the findings of previous studies on the relationship between food insecurity and depression and went a step further to prove that the two have a simultaneous causal relationship. The finding of the study was invaluable since it could result in the modification of interventions aimed at tackling the two elements, and address them on multiple levels. The authors proposed the use of interventions that ensure the systematic targeting of barriers to not only tackle high prices but also increase access to food stamps to lower the cost of access to food. At the same time, effective mental health interventions should be used to combat depression, by educating the women to de-stigmatize depression and its treatments, to encourage them to seek professional assistance. In conjunction with the education, other programs to increase access to mental health care should be introduced, including telehealth and mobile mental health services.

While the new study revealed a vital correlation to assist in shaping future interventions addressing matters of food insecurity and depression among low-income rural women, the results could not be reflected on the entire US population, due to the possibility of bias.

References

Huddleston-Casas, C., Charnigo, R., & Simmons, L. A. (2008). Food insecurity and maternal depression in rural, low-income families: A longitudinal investigation. Public Health Nutrition, 12(8), 1133–1140.

Introduction

Fabiansson (2010, p. 102) defines gambling as betting of money or any other material item that has value in an event whose outcome is unpredictable with the main objective of getting extra money and or other material items. In most cases, gambling usually turns out to be addictive despite the fact that people initially perceive it as a social activity. In the United States alone, the National Research Council reports that the problems associated with gambling have far-reaching impacts that extend beyond the gamblers themselves to include employers, workmates, the taxpayers and social friends (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 1999, p. 36).

The family turns out to be the most affected by the direct impacts of compulsive gambling. Some of the fundamental effects associated with gambling on the family members include material deprivations, increasing cases of domestic violence, potential divorce, family separations and increasing cases of child abuse and neglect. It is arguably evident that gambling poses a significant threat to the family unit and cohesion. This paper discusses the potential impacts that gambling imposes on the family.

Main Body

The first notable effect of gambling on families is that it results in material deprivations, which pose significant constraints towards the provision of basic needs for the family. Gambling usually turns out to be more than just a game, and people who are more consumed in gambling usually find it hard to control the urge of gambling (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 1999, p. 35).

The basic implication of this observation is that addicted gamblers can bet virtually anything at their disposal to satisfy the urge associated with gambling. Sustained gambling habits imply that such an individual is likely to bet all the financial savings, material assets such as houses, cars and any other property, which are supposed to provide basic needs for the family (Fabiansson, 2010, p. 104). The situation is worsened by the fact that gambling is usually hard to realize until the time when an individual has nothing to bet. In such cases, it is usually too late to salvage what has already been lost during gambling. Material deprivation is also imposed because people who gamble cannot engage in productive work, which significantly affects their earnings in cases of constant losses (Makarchuk & Hodgins, 2002, p. 126).

This usually has an effect on the provision of basic needs for the family. People who are addicted to gambling perceive it as a solution to their problem. As a result, they are likely to bet even important assets hoping that they will recover their losses. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reports that families having gamblers are at a high financial risk, usually associated with large amounts of credit card debts, illegal loans, multiple mortgages, misappropriated loan and mortgage funds. This is likely to result in cases of eviction and even misappropriation of family savings. Craft-Rosenberg & Pehler (2011, p. 125) assert that a combination of the effects associated with deprivation of the basic needs at the family level has the potential of imposing negative consequences on the family unit and cohesion.

The second notable effect of gambling on families is that it results in the increased cases of domestic violence. According to the studies conducted by the National Research Council, 25-50 percent of spouses of gamblers have been subjected to physical abuse. In addition, studies conducted by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported that the establishment of casinos in communities resulted in an increase in the prevalence of domestic violence. For instance, the establishment of casinos along the Mississippi Gulf Coast increased the needs for assistance relating to domestic violence shelters by about 100-300 % (Orford, 2011, p. 45).

Compulsive gambling is considered as a high risk factor for domestic violence in the same manner as alcohol abuse. The increase in domestic violence due to a gambling behavior in the family can be significantly attributed towards lack of the ability by the gambler to control his/her impulse, poor tolerances to frustrations and increased aggressiveness (Aykac, 2008). Other potential causes of domestic violence and physical abuse associated with gambling can be attributed to the antisocial behavior of the gamblers, cases of mood disorders. Makarchuk and Hodgins (2002, p. 130) assert that a combination of dysfunctional personality characteristics, mental disorders, addictive traits and the complicated financial and social issues found in families having gamblers play an integral role in accelerating violence and physical abuse.

Gambling problems such as losing and lack of material items to bet are usually redirected to the family (Orford, 2011 p. 47). Anxiety and depression are core characteristics of people who gamble implying that they cannot effectively meet the demands imposed by their family members. Because of this, most gamblers resort to domestic violence. Denial of gambling also plays an integral role in increasing domestic violence because impulsive gamblers are quick to deny their addiction and are hostile towards any interventions that may be deployed by the family to assist such a person out of the gambling problem (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2011). The inference that can be made from this observation is that gambling threatens the family unit and cohesion since it is a high risk factor for domestic violence (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 1999, p. 40).

The third notable effect of gambling on the family is that it increases child abuse and disregard. Studies conducted by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission outlined that children in families that have compulsive gamblers are susceptible to physical abuse and neglect; this is primarily due to parental problems imposed by pathological gambling (Darbyshire & Oster, 2001, p. 185). A review of the records by the state of Indiana Gaming Commission reported that about 72 children were left in the casino buildings within duration of 14 months. Deaths of children have been documented primarily due to gambling problems (Makarchuk & Hodgins, 2002, p. 130).

Gambling has the potential of increasing cases associated with child abandonment. A survey conducted by Makarchuk & Hodgins (2002, p. 129) reported that approximately 2.5 million children in the United States are affected directly by the gambling behavior of their guardians. Notable effects of gambling in include emotional, physical abuse and imposing significant impacts on their respective educational lives. In addition, children who come from family units that have pathological gamblers constantly witness role conflicts and find themselves in family tensions (Grant & Potenza, 2011, p. 126). Studies conducted to evaluate the impacts of gambling behavior on children have also reported that such children are at risk of developing individual behaviors that are health-threatening, extreme psychological problems, emotional disorders and difficulties with the law and education.

In addition, the children are at risk of adopting gambling behavior, which is due to the positive correlation that exists between parental gambling and adolescent gambling. Such family conditions usually have an effect on the psychological, physical, mental and emotional well-beings of children in families that have parental gambling, which in turn imposes significant threats in maintaining the family unit and cohesion (Grant & Potenza, 2011, p. 127).

The fourth effect associated with gambling on the family is that it tends to increase the divorce rates. A survey conducted by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission on 400 gamblers reported that 28 percent of them were either divorced or separated, which was mainly associated directly with the gambling problems (Davis, 2010, p. 47). The report also concluded that compulsive gambling tends to increase the levels of stress and tension within the family set up and between the married couples, which ultimately results to divorce and increasing evidence of family disharmony. For instance, the establishment of casinos in Mississippi has tripled the rates of divorce in Harrison Country.

Gambling behavior usually imposes psychological effects on the spouse of a habitual gambler, which mainly imposes significant effects on the sense of trust and the marital harmony. In addition, spouses of compulsive gamblers are susceptible to emotional distress and health problems due to the underlying problems caused by the gambling attitude of their respective spouses (Craft-Rosenberg & Pehler, 2011, p. 130). A notable characteristic of gambling behavior is that its results into isolations and diverse emotional problems. The situation is worsened by the fact that people who are consumed by gambling rarely accept it as a problem, making it difficult for the spouse to adopt any helpful interventions that may be fruitful in eliminating the gambling behavior. Coping with gambling behavior is usually difficult, and most people burn out early enough and resort to divorce and family break ups.

Physical abuse and domestic violence associated with gambling can also compel spouses to consider divorce instead of coping with gambling problems that are less likely to be stopped early enough (Grant & Potenza, 2011, p.128). The effects of divorce usually extend to affect the lives of the children regarding their educational, psychological and emotional well-being. In addition, divorce implies that the children will lack the parental support, which will in turn affect their well-being during adulthood. Compulsive parental gambling implies that spouses consumed in gambling forget their family commitments to engage in gambling, this threatens the family unit and cohesion that ultimately results in increasing cases of divorce and family separation (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 1999, p. 45).

Conclusion

It is arguably evident that gambling imposes significant effects on the family that are bound to threaten the family unit and cohesion. The paper has highlighted the notable impacts of gambling on the family including material deprivations, which poses significant constraints towards the provision of basic needs for the families, increased cases of domestic violence, child abuse and disregard and increasing rates of divorce. All these effects affect the family unit or cohesion in one way or another. In the light of this, it can be concluded that habitual gambling is a significant threat towards the existence of the family and cohesion. Interventions should be adopted early enough to curb problems associated with gambling.

References

Aykac, M. (2008). How Gambling Addiction Affects the Family. Web.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2011). The Effects of Gambling. Web.

Craft-Rosenberg, M., & Pehler, S. (2011). Encyclopedia of Family Health, Volume 1. London: Sage Publications. Web.

Darbyshire, P., & Oster, C. (2001). Children of parent(s) who have a gambling problem: a review of the literature and commentary on research approaches. Health Soc Care Community , 185-193. Web.

Davis, S. (2010). The Family Therapy Treatment Planner. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Web.

Fabiansson, C. (2010). Pathways to Excessive Gambling: A Societal Perspective on Youth and Adult Gambling Pursuits. New York: Ashgate Publishing. Web.

Grant, J., & Potenza, M. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Impulse Control Disorders. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Web.

Makarchuk, K., & Hodgins, D. (2002). Development of a brief intervention for concerned significant others of problem gambling gamblers. Addict Disord , 126-134.

National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. (1999). Gambling Impact and Behavior Study: Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Chicago: National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Web.

Orford, J. (2011). An unsafe bet?: the dangerous rise of gambling and the debate we should be having. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Web.

The issue of social equality of men and women has been one of the most for the last couple of centuries. In her book, Susan Okin explores this problem from the point of view of social, political and interpersonal justice, focusing on that in the modern progressive “post-feministic” society gender division and discrimination still exist. While being formally recognized as rightful members of the society, women remain at a significant disadvantage because of their alleged moral obligation bring up children, to sacrifice their professional development and to take primary responsibility for the functioning and preservation of the family.

Reflecting on the issue of gender, one may note that the current state of affairs is caused by the fact that many people find it convenient to save the unspoken order of interactions between the genders. Political and socio-political structures play a primary role in modeling the conditions of social life and in this regard, often institutionalize the gender inequality. A specific policy and traditional social and institutional structure establish the fixed order of things. In Okin’s words, gender becomes far more that simple sexual difference, but “the deeply entrenched institutionalization of sexual difference” (Okin 1989, p. 205).

The long history of discrimination and restrictions, associated with the roles of the two genders, invisibly and involuntarily affects the everyday actions and decisions of the individual. Moreover, male and female inequality also stems from the traditional logics of the relations between them. The concept of belonging to one or other sex includes hierarchical element according to which men are considered higher beings in comparison with women; the tasks, functions, and values attributed to men are, thus, considered more significant. This “norm” becomes a common standard for the whole society.

Another serious issue is that men do not take the same amount of responsibility to bring up their children in such gender-based families. The vast majority of incomplete families resulting from a divorce are those where the woman is forced to carry the burden of the child’s maintenance. It becomes harder for the woman to support her career and contribute to the social-political and economic development of the society. The woman often has to work more than men, think like man and act like men, in addition to her functions prescribed by gender. And those women who wish to make a significant impact on the life of their country opt for the variant of not having children at all.

The author’s suggestions to establish new social order, where the concept of gender, simply does not exist, is quite reasonable. From the humanist and democratic point of view, it is crucial to ensure justice and equality for every human being. A patriarchal family seems to come to an end, especially in the Western world. The outspoken critics may claim that this is nothing more that moral and spiritual degradation, but in fact, this is the transition to a qualitatively higher level of development, where no discrimination and humiliation based on sex and gender are acceptable. The new type of family where a man and a woman share equal responsibilities will benefit both for them and for the children (Okin 1989).

Overall, it can be seen that the current gender injustice contravenes the very essence of a democratic society which most of the developed world had chosen as the only possible mode of its existence. To make this change, the society and the government should reject the concept of gender and establish equal conditions of participation in the family life for both men and women.

Reference List

Okin, S 1989, Justice, gender and family, Basic Books, New York.

Control and Violence in Intimate Relationships by Michael Johnson

Johnson discusses the issue of violence in intimate relationships since research shows that many families have broken up mainly because of the aggressiveness of partners. In his view, Johnson underscores the fact that violence is used as a control mechanism in intimate relationships. He gives an example of one of the newly wedded individuals who engaged in violence to ensure that he has full control of the other partner. Violence in marriage is justifiable in many societies since it is believed that women are properties of men. However, some other partners do not use violence to control relationships, but instead, they employ it to achieve their interests. Johnson distinguishes between four basic types of violence in intimate relationships.

One of the types of violence is intimate terrorism, which takes place when the individual employing it seeks to control the other partner. In this form of violence, the individual is aggressive, as well as controlling, but the partner is not. Violent resistance is another form of intimate violence that arises in reaction to intimate terrorism. It takes place when an individual attempts to resist the actions of the aggressive partner meaning that the partner is violent and controlling, but the individual is not, even though he or she might be violent. Mutual violent control is the third type of violence that takes place in an intimate relationship whereby both partners tend to be violent while attempting to control each other. In the last type of intimate violence, situational couple violence, the individual might be violent, but the partner is not, even though the aspect of control is not present.

In many cases, the male partners would want to control the entire family, including children and even workers. He will always ensure that children give him maximum respect and they have to know that he is the head of the family. Johnson suggests that this is one way of instilling fear in the other partner. Some men force children to support their violent acts, leading to more conflicts in the family. Male partners in intimate relationships employ several strategies in intimidating women, one of them being isolation. They try as much as possible to keep their wives away from family decision-making hence rendering them irrelevant. For some men, they will ensure that they are the only source of money and information, an act that discriminates against the female partner further. As men continue frustrating their wives, they will accuse them of the existing state of affairs, yet they know that they are the main source of the problem. Since women would want to make themselves relevant in front of other members of the family, they will fight back. While some women will take legal courses to resolve the issue, some would simply take shortcuts by coming up with ways of killing the husband.

Johnson accuses an attempt by many researchers to justify the claims that women are too violent, just as men. He notes that such researchers tend to justify only the existence of a single type of violence, which is situational violence rather than intimate terrorism. The major question to ask is “does violence play any role as far as controlling the affairs of the family is concerned?

Grandparenting by Suzanne Bianchi and Lynne Casper

The two scholars note that family life in the United States is changing since marriage was considered something special in society meaning that it had to be undertaken at an early life, but the case is different in modern society. Before the Second World War, marriage was universal in the country implying the rules governing it were general and applicable to each group and community. Currently, the case is different since other forms of marriage are acceptable in several states. For instance, homosexual relationships are considered normal and are recognized in various states within the country. They further observe that the changing economic organization is to blame for the restructuring of family life in the country.

Modern society is more open-minded on issues related to living arrangements, family configurations, and standards of living. With improved health standards in the country, the old can continue enjoying their lives, but the young generation is threatened since birth rates are below par. While people can live longer, the young ones are not born because many people are cautious of the tough economic situation and they would not want their young ones to go through many problems. The fertility rate in the country is ever decreasing while life expectancy increases on yearly basis. Currently, lesbian and gay families are on the increase, with many analysts claiming that the situation affects the population growth of the country. The number of unmarried Americans in the 21^st century is the highest and this is expected to affect the productivity of the future generation. The main question to ask would be “does the changing family patterns suit the needs of many Americans?