Violence is a problem which concerns people’s amorality and criminal actions. Society is not protected from it totally following the proverb “every bean has its black”. However, in the United States cases of violence done to adolescent category of the society aging fewer than 18 is one of the most burning issues in present times. The statistics terrifies a single observer with the total number of cases of violent attitude within youth in the US. In accordance with the Journal of Social Work Education: “… youths 18 and under represent 26 percent of the U.S. population, but account for approximately 50 percent of the witnesses and victims of violent acts.” (JSWE, 2007) Many social figures and policemen blend such statistics to the content of American society full of multinationals. Such coloring tends to behave several prejudices as for the attitude of one racial group towards another. In return this leads to formation of gangs varying in number of representatives. In fact, the harmful effect of violence reflects on the surviving ability of the society. “Violence is among the leading causes of death for people aged 15-44 years worldwide, accounting for 14% of deaths among males and 7% of deaths among females.” (World Health Organization, p. 2009) Furthermore, the violence has its biological and physiological roots inside peoples’ minds: “…a human psychic imbalance (which includes violence and criminality) stem from an acute frustration of pleasure drives, initiated by a pleasure-fearing social system.” (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, p. 4).
Another source shows that the cases of violence among youth fall into three categories of their implementation: “child maltreatment, community violence, and interparental violence.” (Annual Review of Psychology, 2000). Thus, children are not protected from each of offences lying in wait for them every now and then. The situation is more emphasized when listening to news. This can be made out adhering to one of the biologically grounded theory on facts of domestic violence, which states that both genders can violate and be violated, but men due to the higher level of testosterone are designated as those who make far more violent actions than women (Buzawa, p. 39). Such a harmful effect of this very horme is similar to appearance of rage and hatred within men.
For the US it is not surprising when a pupil takes a gun and begins shooting his peers. Of course it is because of the fact that America is the most armed country in the world. Still should not we stand for weapon’s reduction in every family and other communities on a voluntary basis supported by the governmental guidelines? Or are we to work out some effective strategies immediately concerning the morality and social benefits which America possess? According to the report of Rachel Blash the roots of maintaining strategies fall into three: “individual-level interventions, neighborhood-level interventions, and gun and police strategies.” (Brash, p. 2). To make out these three concept one should estimate all spheres of youth’s possible location and communication as well. These three prospects fully encompass the ways of designing the right strategies due to people’s and governmental social activity.
Thus, the cases of violence within youth are still a dramatic issue which needs to be resolved immediately. The government and social figures along with officials from different departments representing authority should find out and realize the programs aimed at the reduction of adolescent violence provided in three areas of youth’s activity: peers, family, community.
Works cited
Brash, Rachel. Youth Violence Prevention and Reduction: Strategies for a Safer Baltimore. 2004.
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Vol. 32; № 2, 1976, p. 4
Buzawa, Carl G. Domestic violence: the criminal justice response. Edition 3, SAGE, 2002.
Margolin, Gayla & Gordis, Elana. The Effects of Family and Community Violence on Children. Annual Review of Psychology. Vol. 51: 445-47, 2000.
Schwartz, Wendy. An Overview of Strategies To Reduce School Violence. ERIC/CUE Digest No. 115. ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education New York NY, 1996.
Voisin, Dexter R. The effects of family and community violence exposure among youth: recommendations for practice and policy. Journal of Social Work Education. 2007.
The Diverse Population and the Unique Characteristics and the Distinctive Needs of the Population
During my fieldwork experience, I noted that immigrant families, especially those from Arab countries, create a population that deserves the specific attention of social workers. When in the US, this diverse population has a few unique characteristics, and racial discrimination is among them because such people face difficulties, for example, finding a job. Simultaneously, immigrant families also experience challenges because American society is more developed and democratic compared to their homelands, meaning, for instance, that women have equal rights to men. This information demonstrates that immigrant families face oppression in the USA.
How the Life Model Can Be Applied for the Population
The life model can be applied to the population under analysis. According to Piedra and Engstrom (2009), this model explains that the problem sources refer to the environment, maladaptive interpersonal processes, and stress. These factors are interrelated and make individuals feel vulnerable and oppressed. Social workers should develop competencies in social and legal spheres to help the oppressed population, which obliges them to “practice at whatever levels a particular situation begins and wherever it may lead” (Turner, 2017, p. 288). This model is considered to provide sufficient assistance to the population.
The Gaps in Applying the Life Model for the Population
The life model leads to essential gaps when applied to immigrant families. It is excessively generalized because it focuses on three broad spheres, including the environment, interpersonal relationships, and internal processes, to identify the problem source. Furthermore, the model does not offer any specific interventions that social workers should take to improve the situation.
The Theory That Might Be Helpful in Filling the Gaps of the Life Model When Working With the Population
The psychosocial theory can be a practical approach to fill in the gaps above. This theoretical lens introduces the concept of person-in-situation, meaning that the environment affects peoples’ psychological development. Since immigrant families live in a new situation, they need assistance to cope with its challenges. Social workers can organize structured counseling to provide the diverse population with the necessary support.
References
Piedra, L. M., & Engstrom, D. W. (2009). Segmented assimilation theory and the life model: An integrated approach to understanding immigrants and their children. Social Work, 54(3), 270-277. Web.
Turner, F. J. (Ed.). (2017). Social work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
This research study wishes to consider the current scope and resultant impacts of gender bias in the context of family courts in the United States of America. According to a recent report, “gender bias is reflected in attitudes and behaviour based on stereotypical beliefs about the sexes’ “true natures” and “proper roles” rather than on independent evaluation of each individual’s abilities, life experiences and aspirations” (Karlan, 1987, para.2).
Thesis statement
The scope and resultant effects of gender bias in the context of family courts in the United States of America is the thesis statement. This being said, it is now necessary and expedient to conduct a medium scale research, in order to assess the present facts and data surrounding this critical component of social living and how it impacts lives of ordinary Americans
Purpose and relevance of study
The chief objective of this study is to assess the current situation regarding the scope of gender bias in family courts, its resultant impact on the prevailing jurisprudential system. It also needs to take cognisance of how these issues could impact academic students, the legal profession and also the common view that would be held by beneficiaries of such research studies. Apparently, contemporary legal jurisprudence laws and practices are divided on this issue of gender prejudices in the jurisdiction of family court, and my studies are expected to throw fresh light and provide newer perspectives on this vexatious public issue.
Review of current dated Literature
This research needs to make compulsory library searches to gain literature on the Subject, Newspaper reports, journal articles and publishes sources of previous researches would also be reviewed and reported on a case-to-case basis. This being a subject within the legal ambit, this research would also need to take recourse to disseminate information from Law Journals, pronouncements of legal luminaries and documented verdicts from different courts arising from legal issues in the matter of gender discrimination and bias.
Who could benefit from this study and its findings?
For one thing, litigants appearing in family court cases could be benefited. For another, this could provide food for thought to sexist and chauvinist authorities who need to be guided on the correct and authentic procedures for hearing and pronouncing cases coming within the sphere of family courts
What potential impact could this study have on hearings in legal field?
This study could serve as an eye-opener on the ills that confront the justice delivery system in family courts and enforce remedies in its workings.
Methodology of conducting research
The preferred method for conducting research on subject of scope for, and resultant effects of gender bias in family courts would be in terms of surveys, interviews and questionnaire-based research of select respondents. The modus operandi would need to consider whether, at all, gender bias exists, and if so, the degree of impact on the workings of the said court. Through group interviews and discussions with authorities in this institutions and clients, these facts need to be ascertained in unbiased and proven manner.
Analysis and discussions
Would be based on the deliberations and findings of conducted research. Besides, the limitations of the research of this genre also need to be reflected through the progress of this study. Moreover, matters like who would be chief beneficiaries from this study and its findings, and how this could negate, or nullify current beliefs is also a matter of special interest in this research study. Despite its limitations, the contribution of this research to existing knowledge also needs to be understood in its proper perspective.
Conclusions and Recommendations
What the researcher hopes to learn through conducting the study, both personally and professionally?
The closing part of this study would summarise the deliberations of this study and also throw light on the enhanced learning that has been gained for the researcher, both in his/her professional or personal standing. Besides, this paper needs to offer concrete and viable solutions to major issues resulting from gender bias in family court settings in the US. “However summarizing findings across states is a crucial undertaking in order to determine the degree of today’s gender bias within our courts, as well as any changes across time due to feminist interventions” (Kathy & Magali, 2008, para.1).
This focus of this work is to explore the published literature about military families in order to determine what forms of communication prove successful or unsuccessful. The writer has analyzed each article presented for the types of research preformed as well as the effect that the research either could or did have on these family units. Research articles were chosen that covered a wide variety of topics including ones that specifically focus on the military, as well as communication in large companies and family research. At the conclusion of this paper it is the hope of the writer that the reader have an increased understanding of the difficulties experienced by individuals under contract with the military as well as what forms of communication will decrease these difficulties creating a family unit that enjoys a better rate of adjustment.
The military family has a unique family structure in that at any time depending on the needs of the nation one or more family members can be deployed to distant locations. This research is exploring the effect these deployments had on the family structure. It is an important research study because it examines the effects on the family when the male or female parent deployed and compared those results. The Gulf War provided these researchers with an opportunity to study the effect of long deployments on family structure. These researchers studied the 1992 Survey of Officers and Enlisted Personal to determine the occurrences of divorce and children disability rates. When the male parent deployed there was no statistically significant increase in the divorce rates. When compared to the divorce rates when the female parent deployed there was an increase. This shows that families respond better when the male parent is away for significant periods of time rather then when the female parent leaves for a similar period of time. This research will be useful in order to understand the communication style of military families.
The military understands that when a deployed service member returns home the assimilation process can be difficult. In order to assist with the transition various programs have been established. The research in this article examines the Navy’s Return and Reunion program that occurs aboard U.S. Navy ships prior to their return from deployment. The program is based upon three assumptions the first being that separations due to deployments while normal are stressful events in the lives of Navy families, the second is that Navy families are not pathologically and the third assumption is that by focusing on increasing the level of family cohesion, adaptability and communication will increase the success of the deployed sailors return. During this training the Navy personal are taught coping skills that assist them when confronted with the joyful yet stressful events that occur upon returning. While this program was designed especially for Navy and Marine Corp personal the information provided can be used to assist members of the Army and Air Force as well. The information provided in this research is important for the research topic of military families and communication because it examines the preparation that military service members undergo in order to minimize the conflict that could arise from poor communication during this transition.
Family life educators are professionals who focus on improving the lives of families especially those that are balancing the requirements of both a career and family. Military families deal with the common problems associated with all families, child care, elder care, and education and career choices. In addition to these challenges they are also subject to challenges unique to military life. These stressors include repeated relocations, frequent separations and other factors that result in the reorganization of the family. In addition to these stressors military life is defined by a strict set of rules and obligations that the family members are also expected to follow.
This research will enhance the research on military family and communication because when a military family does not communicate properly there can be negative repercussions for the service member as well as their family. By learning how best to communicate under these circumstances is important in maintaining the quality of life that military families experience.
Hahlweg Kurt, Kaiser Andrea, Christensen Andrew, Fehm-Wolfsdorf Gabriele and Groth Thomas. (2000). Self-Report and Observational Assessment of Couple Concordance between the Communication. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 62(1), 61-67.
This study was attempting to create a cross-cultural replication between the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ) Constructive Communication Subscale and an observational measure of constructive communication. The participants were required to answer a brief questionnaire and then have a conversation with their spouse about a problem they were having in their relationship. The conversation was recorded to assist the researchers.
It is believed that by observing how a couple communicates in public will indicate their level of satisfaction in their relationship. It is also possible to use these conversational cues to predict the future levels of their satisfaction with their relationships.
Any research that increases the body of knowledge on maintaining and predicting the success of a relationship would be useful to incorporate into the military family. By understanding the problems that are involved in a relationship and being able to recognize the conversational cues issues in a relationship can be resolved before an additional stressor is added to their situation. Due to this the research article is included.
This research is focused on understanding the way communication occurs throughout an organization with members both internal and external to the organization. By increasing the support systems for both old and current technologies communication processes can be enhanced. These types of communication include the telephone, voicemail and email technologies. In order to facilitate the level of communication many organizations have the ability to support several forms of communication technology including telephone, fax machines, voice mail, email and videoconferencing. This increase in communication makes it possible to maintain contact where ever the organization sends the individuals that work for it.
Communication technologies can be ranked by how well the different types of communication can be transmitted through the device in order to enhance the exchange of information among various individuals. By enhancing the communication individuals will be able to prevent miscommunication amongst individuals. Preventing miscommunication is important in any organization but is increasingly important in regards to the military.
By preventing miscommunication and allowing external communication with family and friends the military as an organization will enhance the time that military service members are deployed and apart from their families. While no form of distance communication can make up for the time spent apart the impact on the family structure can be minimized allowing the families to maintain their structural integrity.
During the time spent apart from their family’s military personal still need the ability to communicate social information across long distances. While telephone, voicemail and email all provide different levels of social interaction which impacts how much social information can be conveyed. The telephone provides the best form of conveying social information when compared to voice mail. However voicemail provides more social interaction then when compared to email. By allowing deployed service members a wide verity of communication avenues all levels of social communication can be maintained and the family structure and integrity will experience less of an impact.
The lessons learned after deploying large amounts of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq after the terrorist’s attacks of September 11, 2001 included the increased understanding that deployed troops needed ready access to health care professionals trained in diseases and medical conditions that are prevalent among military personal. This lesson was learned after the return of many troops from Afghanistan and Iraq many of who were members of the National Guard or the Reserves as they went through the transition process they lost access to military medical coverage unless they could show that their illness or medical condition was the direct result of their active duty experiences. However many of these service members were exposed to harsh conditions in the desert as well as endemic infectious diseases. While the service members appeared healthy on their return within several months they were experiencing a varied of illnesses and symptoms regretfully these individuals were no longer covered by the military medical care. Because the problems were so wide spread military benefits were extended to cover these situations.
An additional result of this experience was the creation of the Force Health Protection which is a program implemented by the Department of Defense in order to increase the emphasis on military families to stay healthy and fit which will increase their protection from common illnesses and injury. This program is administered after the military member returns from a deployment and increases their awareness of preventive measures, health surveillance and risk assessment and communication strategies. This allows both the military service member and their families to benefit from the increase in education allowing them to increase the levels of communication during the stressful period of readjustment.
Additional protections of the health of deployed military personal have been to increase the level of attention that is paid to the health and environment situation in the areas were the deployed troops are serving. This includes the addition of preventative medicine, environment surveillance and forward laboratory teams becoming additions to the list of personal deployed to combat areas.
This research article is focusing on the transmission of emotions between family members. The emotional transmission of the individual is evaluated by assessing the circumstances surrounding the event as well as the emotions that are present in the family member that experienced the event. The researcher then evaluated the effect that these feelings created in other members of the family.
The family is made up of a series of interchanges among the family members themselves and external situations. These interchanges can cause positive situations or negative situations that will affect the family members differently. This research is important when considering military families and communication because the success of the family depends on the close interactions between the family and the military service member. By being able to map how the emotions of one family member affect the other members of the family the level of understanding among military families and families in general will be increased. Emotions have the capability of both influencing and limiting an individual’s perceptions, thoughts and actions and because they have such a large influence on individuals being able to understand it as fully as possible is an important area of research.
This research examines two social institutions that have the possibility of affecting each other in significant ways but have little research linking the two. These institutions are war and the family. How wars are fought and reported through the media has changed significantly since the Civil War. During the Civil War, the media did not posses the ability to inform the civilian population of the location, number of wounded and number of dead as they can through the abilities of mass communication. During the Vietnam War the civilian population was able to receive the status of specific units through common media sources. Due to this increase in communication abilities this research focused on the effects that the Vietnam War had on the families of the soldiers deployed to combat locations throughout Vietnam.
In this study changes in the marriage, birth and divorce rates, child care arrangements and the role of women were examined in order to determine the effect that the Vietnam War had on military service members and their families. As this study continued it was not possible to determine if the effect of war situations created a negative or a positive situation. While the effect on the deployed service member’s families was significant the effect on the society was significant. The Vietnam War was able to affect the entire range of human and family affairs such as education, health, law, civil liberties and the economy.
This article focuses on a model of parental involvement in family support programs that is based on a combination of ecological and family system frameworks. This article focuses on the parental decision to enroll and maintain their enrollment in family support programs. While the research shows that the decision to enroll in these programs is influenced by several different factors the benefits of participation in the programs are significant.
The support provided by these programs is invaluable to at risk families. They provide support and educational opportunities that can assist such families at increasing their communication skills and coping skills. As military families have many additional factors that increase their level of risk it a method of lessening the risk would be to increase the availability of family support programs. This research will assist the development of the topic military families and communication because these family support programs will enhance the level of communication among family members.
The research in this article is focused on clarifying the concept of family resilience. There is confusion among the research and practitioner communities. The confusion over the meaning of family resilience is due to a difference in use. Practitioners use the term in order to refer to the strengths of the family rather then the weaknesses. Researchers have focused their research on examining how the outcome of a family that has been exposed to a significant risk. The confusion is increased by the lack of research in determining the difference between resilience as an outcome, the characteristics that contribute to the family’s level of resilience, the nature and extent of the exposure to risk and the process of resilience itself.
This research is important to the research of military families and communication because the resilient family has an increased level of communication. This is an important component of the military family because communication is such an integral part of maintaining the relationship across extended deployments and separations.
In this study the researchers were applying a social constructionist perspective to analyze the role of American soldiers deployed on peacekeeping missions. As this is a recent development in the user of American troops it is important to examine the effects that these types of deployments have on the soldiers and their families. Through current social practices young men are conditioned to view military operations as a form of war. This occurs through television shows, movies and even children’s games. Due to this previous experience when these young men volunteer for military service they are mentally prepared for situations that occur during a military operation.
This research is focused on the effects that serving during a military peacetime operation has on both the service members and their families. In military situations in which the soldiers are being deployed to engage in warfare the soldiers know that once a specific military objective has been achieved the soldiers can return home. In a peacekeeping situation the service members do not have the military objective as an end goal the length of service time is extended. Due to this indefinite period of deployment the research is focusing on understanding the effect that this type of military deployment has on both the service member and their family. As the United States military is deployed on more peacekeeping missions this research will allow the Department of Defense to create programs that better fit the needs of both the service member and their families to increase the levels of communication and family cohesion.
Police officers and military personal both have the risk of encounter traumatic events during their daily employment activities. When researching how individuals employed by the military communicate with their families an additional avenue of research would include police officers and their communication strategies. Traumatic events can increase the stress levels of the individuals affected by the event. This research focused on the communication strategies used by individuals who experienced different levels of traumatic events. When the research was analyzed it showed that the effects of traumatic stress on symptoms showed that some types of communication, such as the ease of talking about trauma or positive communications about work moderated the effects of stress for police officers. Higher levels of communication associated with a weaker trauma were shown to strain relationships. However, some types of communication only buffered stress at moderate levels and other types may not provide protective coverage.
Social support while a broad construct has the ability to increase the recovery rate of the individual experiencing the traumatic event. It has also been documented that if the individual who experienced the traumatic event is able to disclose the details surrounding the event a positive outcome is more likely to occur. This research can then be extrapolated to military personal and programs that will increase the ability of military personal to discus traumatic experiences with trained personal. If a person associated with the military is able to successfully move past traumatic situations then the level of family cohesiveness will be strengthened rather then torn apart by the traumatic incident.
References
Allen, Katherine R, and Baber, Kristine M. (1992). Starting a Revolution in Family Life Education. Family Relations. 41(4), 378-384.
Angrist, Joshua D and Johnson, John H IV. (2000) Effects of Work Related Absences on Families: Evidence From the Gulf War. Industrial and Labor Relations Review. 54(1), 41 – 58.
Blalsure, Karen R. and Arnold-Mann, Jeanne. Return and Reunion: A Psychoeducational Program Aboard U.S. Navy Ships. Family Relations. 41(2), 178-185.
Drummet, Amy Reinkober, Coleman, Marilyn and Cable, Susan. (2003). Military Families under Stress: Implications for Family Life Education. Family Relations. 52(3), 279-287.
Hahlweg Kurt, Kaiser Andrea, Christensen Andrew, Fehm-Wolfsdorf Gabriele and Groth Thomas. (2000). Self-Report and Observational Assessment of Couple Concordance between the Communication. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 62(1), 61-67.
Hinds, Pamela and Kiesler, Sara. (1995). Communication across Boundaries: Work, Structure, and Use of Communication Technologies in a large Organization. Organization Science. 6(4), 373- 393.
Hyams, Kenneth C., Riddle, James, Trump, David H., and Wallace, Mark R. (2002) Protecting the Health of United States Forces in Afghanistan: Applying Lessons Learned since the Gulf War. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 34(5), S208- S214.
Larson, Reed W. and Almeida, David M. (1999). Emotional Transmission in the Daily Lives of families: A New Paradigm for Studying Family Process. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 61(1), 5-20.
Lieberman, James E. American Families and the Vietnam War. (1971). Journal of Marriage and the Family. 33(4), 709-721.
McCurdy, Karne and Daro, Deborah. (2001). Parent Involvement in Family Support Programs: An Integrated Theory. Family Relations. 50 (2), 113- 121.
Patterson, Joan M. (2002). Integrating Family Resilience and Family Stress Theory. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 64(2), 349-360.
Segal, David R., Segal, Mady Wechsler and Eyre, Dana P. (1992). The Social Construction of Peacekeeping in America. Sociological Forum. 7(2), 123-145.
Stephens, Christine and Long, Nigel. (2000) Communication with police supervisors and peers as a buffer of work-related traumatic stress. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 21, 407-424.
Family therapists help people address the issues that deteriorate their relationships with their most close ones, bringing peace and happiness. In addition to the use of effective tools and techniques that have been developed throughout decades, family therapists have to use ethical standards and values to ensure the provision of top-quality care (Nichols & Davis, 2020). This paper includes a brief analysis of the ethical aspects of family therapy.
Values in Family Therapy
Ethical decision-making often implies using a set of values a person relies on. However, adherence to values in family therapy has become a topic of heated debate (Katafiasz et al., 2020). Researchers and practitioners have expressed doubts that a family therapist can ground interventions on any values as they can contradict the principal goals and approaches in the field or clients’ beliefs. However, these concerns are irrelevant as the positive effects of value-based therapy outweigh the negative ones (if any). Clearly, it is necessary to adhere to a set of fundamental values that are often incremental in significant religions. These values include beneficence, respect, trust, dignity, and causing no harm (American Association of Christian Counselors [AACC], 2014). These are some of the most common values shared by millions or rather billions of people across the globe. By grounding therapies on these values, the family therapist can ensure the provision of care that brings ultimate change, essential for clients’ wellbeing and resilience building.
Family Therapists’ Personal Values when Working with Clients
As mentioned above, the therapists’ values have an impact on the way therapy is developed and implemented. My central belief regarding the family is that it is the domain for a person’s complete peacefulness. This belief has an effect on my practice and the approaches I find the most preferable for clients. Thus, I try to make sure that clients will work hard to save their families and themselves. At that, I admit that separation or even divorce can be the only option in some cases, although these cases are quite infrequent. My firm belief is that having a family equals working on its prosperity in all respects. Hearing other family members and articulating one’s concerns and aspirations are indispensable parts of this work.
Values to Develop a Proper Therapeutic Relationship with a Family in Treatment
Such values as dignity, respect, and benevolence are three pillars of proper communication between the family therapist and the family. These values are critical for becoming an influential figure that can encourage clients to grow and contribute to the sustainable development of their families (Triplett et al., 2022). Family therapists, respecting their clients and having families’ welfare as their highest priority, express their respect and ensure that clients’ dignity is maintained. This attitude is instrumental in creating trusting relationships and effective communication between therapists and families. Sincerity and rapport are critical components of this communication, but they can hardly be achieved without the therapists’ adherence to the abovementioned values.
Codes of Ethics
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) developed a code of ethics for family therapists in 2017, and it is still relevant. This code of ethics was chosen as it is consistent with my values and worldviews. In addition, this document is helpful in following the principles that guide the development of effective therapies for a broad audience as they are based on the principles of beneficence, dignity, and competence (AACC, 2014). Although some people have doubts about the focus on the so-called White and Christian value basis, this code can be utilized with diverse ethnic, cultural, age, and socioeconomic groups. Of course, family therapists must enhance their cultural awareness by implementing continuous research and self-developing. In some cases, due to cultural peculiarities, some approaches can be inapplicable, but the central ones (mentioned above) will always be beneficial.
Christian Worldview and the Ethical Treatment of Families
As mentioned above Christian worldview can contribute considerably to the provision of high-quality therapy and helping families to endure the most difficult situations. Eppler et al. (2019) stress that the use of a set of values and religious beliefs is beneficial in family therapy if cultural peculiarities of family members are considered. Christianity is one of the most widespread religions, which can be explained by the principles it promulgates. Therapists adhering to major Christian laws and values can assist families in finding the reason for the difficulties they experience and develop ways to address these issues. Being patient, respectful, dignified, and compassionate are all Christian values that are pivotal for the establishment of lasting peace in any family.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that value-based family therapy is the most effective approach to bringing peace and welfare to people. Family therapists should validate that their values are consistent with some major principles promoted by significant religions in the world. These values include but are not confined to respect, goodwill, compassion, competence, and dignity. Family therapists will be able to help families to address all issues if these principles are applied. To make certain that the family therapist sticks to the chosen values, this professional should choose a code of ethics and follow the rules and principles on the list.
References
American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). (2014). AACC code of ethics. Web.
Mention of the word slavery still evokes deep outrage and sadness among most African Americans today. This is because they remember the millions of Africans who were shipped and sold into slavery and cut off from their cultural background centuries ago. Slavery was very high between the years 1815-1920 (Benita 33). During these years, Africans went through oppression that had no mercy. They got beatings from their masters with little or no food. They were also required to work for long hours with little pay. This has had an effect on their lives and families in various ways. Marriages are changing so is the divorce rate increasing among African Americans. This paper will focus on how slavery in the earlier years has affected the lives and families of the African Americans in the year 2009. It will also look at a narrative of Fredrick Douglas who was a slave at the climax of slavery in the African Americans history.
Frederick Douglass is one of the slaves who wrote a narrative of his life concerning slavery that he went through. He was born around 1817-1818 at a time that slavery was at its peak. He was alienated from his mother Harriet Bailey at birth and high chances were his father was their master who was white and he was known as Captain Anthony. He was the clerk of a wealthy man whom was popularly known as Colonel Lloyd. Lloyd had many plantations spread over the country so he had hundreds of slaves working for him. Slaves who worked for him were beaten with or no mistake and on top of that, they received tiny portions of food, no beds, they were overworked and had few clothes. By Douglass being a child, his life at the plantation was not as hard as the other slaves were. He did not work in the fields and instead attended to duties that were household related. At the age of seven, Hugh Auld who is a brother in law to Captain Anthony took him. Douglass was then taken to Baltimore where he enjoyed more freedom than his counterparts whom were neighboring him. Hugh’s wife had never come close to slaves until she met Douglass and she even started teaching him how to read. She was ordered to stop teaching him by her husband because he said that education would make him not tolerable. She started loosing her kindness and opened up her mind to slavery. Even though Mrs. Hugh stopped teaching him how to read, he went on to teach himself with the local boys. When he had known how to read and write, he discovered the oppressions the slaves were going through he decided to escape to the north (“Narrative Fredrick Douglas” 1).
African Americans living in 2009 can relate to habits that Douglass had even though they have lived in different centauries. Looking at his narrative, a clear distinction can be seen of his determination to make it in United States even under the harsh conditions. They may have not gone through the slavery African Americans living in 2009 are said to be hardworking and have a lot of determination. Another comparison that is easily noted is the determination to achieve higher levels of education.
It has been said that slavery is the lowest point that the Blacks have gone through. During this time, the African Americans went through pain, strong desire for freedom and suffering. Looking on the brighter side, if slavery had not happened then the Story of African Americans would have not been heard. It would have been viewed like any other race in the United States. Ironic as it may seem, they went through suffering that made them the strong people that they are today. This has had an effect on the African Americans because they tend to pass through their daily lives with the strength that was passed on to them by their ancestors (Cabiness 1-2).
African Americans marriages in 2009 in the United State have increased rapidly. Marriages are viewed as a civil right to any citizen living there and anyone is allowed to marry at the time they are of age. Due to this fact, no one is restricted when it comes to marriage issues. Comparing with other races, black marriages tend to have discontinuity and at times continuity. It is highly believed, that slavery has played a major role in how the African Americans view marriages in 2009. At the start of the 20th century, there has been a notable increase in the marriages taking place. This has improved drastically and the number of African Americans getting married in 2009 has surpassed the number of marriages taking place in the whites (Yiye 1).
Divorce rate in African Americans is considered the highest in all ethnic groups in the United States. The General Social Survey found out that 36 percent of African Americans are divorced compared to 34 percent of the whites. 36 percent is a high number bearing in mind the African Americans are not many in number comparing to the whites (Peterson 1).
It was also noted that the young African American women nowadays prefer going through with their school and build up their careers. The African Americans have come to an understanding that the more Educated they are, the less oppression they will get. African Americans now value education and have managed to hold high positions in offices. The young African American men have also not been left behind when it comes to improving their education (Peterson 1).
Barrack Obama made history on November 4 2008 by being the first African American President of the United States. This was the furthest that any African American had ever reached in politics and his occupying the top office is a way of showing that the African Americans education has paid off. President Obama’s election to the top office is seen as a stepping-stone to African Americans freedom from slavery (Ellis 2-3).
In conclusion, the African Americans living in 2009 did not go through slavery but they have kept the values it brought along. They are now stronger and know what they want. Their families are keen to teach their children on what undertook for them to get freedom from slavery so that they do not take it for advantage. Marriages are important to them but at the same time, divorce is the highest in African Americans than any other ethnic group.
Works Cited
Benita, Johnson.(2007). African-Americans and American Foreign Policy. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 1, 33-49.
Cabiness, Marlene. Linking African American History to heritage through great African American Speeches, n.d. 16. 2010. Web.
Ellis, David. Does the Election of President Barrack Obama represent the Fulfillment of Dr. Martin Luther King? 2010. Web.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. 2002. Web.
Peterson, Karen. Black Couples Stay the Course. 2000. Web.
Since the formation of the United States, the family unit has occupied a central position. This unit has been hailed as the most important component of the society and it is considered to be the basic building block of the society. This idea is informed by the fact that the aggregation of families is what led to the advancement of the human civilization.
Governments all over the world have therefore taken a keen interest on the family unit. In the US, there exists a legal definition of the family construct. This definition is provided by State and Local laws and ordinances. The US government has historically provided the legal definition with the aim of maintaining a civil society.
However, there have been recent debates on how the family should be legally defined in the US. These debates have been sparked by the feeling that the government should not have the sole role of defining what constitutes a family. There are already calls for the government to abolish the universal definition for the term “family” in the US. Such a move would lead to a more flexible definition of the term to suit the needs of individuals. This paper will set out to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of not having a universal definition for the term “family” in the United States.
Advantages
Not having a universal definition of “family” will ensure that individuals are able to enjoy more meaningful relationships with the people they choose to relate to. When using a legal definition, people are connected to other people they might not even know of. A legal definition binds people to relatives even when no emotional, physical, or economic attachment exists between or among the individuals (De Lamadrid, 2013).
Without a universal definition of the term family, people can form unions based on tangible things. The connections could occur based on the emotional, physical, and economic dependency of individuals on one another. These unions would be stronger and more meaningful than those formed based on blood ties or kinship.
An important benefit of not having a universal definition of family is that it would overcome the current discrimination experienced by individuals who do not fit into the traditional family model. The legal definition of the family contributes to the bias against minority groups such as gays and lesbians. By defining the family unit, the government effectively stipulates what is to be considered “normal” or “acceptable” (Kelly, 2009). In so doing, the authorities inadvertently contribute to the stigma towards these minorities who are regarded as deviant.
Kelly (2009) observes that there has been an increasing prevalent of “alternative” family forms and heterosexual family breakdown. These non-traditional families are discriminated against by the presence of the legal definition of a family. As it currently stands, the same-sex couples who form families continue to struggle with being legally recognized in the majority of the United States. Not having a universal definition would ensure that the bias against non-traditional families is reduced or even abolished.
Lack of a legal definition would increase access by individuals to certain social services currently offered only to units that fit the legal definition of family. In the US, there are many benefits offered to families that fit into the mainstream definition of family (Luppino & Miller, 2012). These include social welfare policies such as social security. However, the same benefits are denied non-traditional families include stepfamilies and even families formed by same-sex couples (De Lamadrid, 2013).
These legal definitions of family can have the devastating effect of denying many Americans access to health insurance, housing, social, and health programs provided by the government. Many individuals who consider themselves part of a family unit are not recognized by the government due to the existence of the legal definition.
Without this universal definition of “family”, these individuals, whom for all intents and purposes operate as a family, would be eligible to the social services provided by the government. De Lamadrid (2013) reveals that there are already calls for the universal legal definition of “family” to be expanded. Not having a universal definition would overcome the inadequacies of the current definition and benefit all members of the society.
Not having a legal definition of the term “family” is more in line with the realities of the modern times. The modern society has been characterized by a changing nature of the family construct. De Lamadrid (2013) notes that according to recent survey reports, only 17% of families in the US fit the definition of the “traditional family, which is made up of a heterosexual couple and their children. There has been an increase in gay and lesbian families, and families created through assisted reproduction technologies (Kelly, 2009).
In addition to this, the number of separated and reconstituted families is on the rise. These factors have led to the emergence of different forms of families not currently covered within the universal definition of a family. Without a universal definition, it will be possible to accommodate the many new forms that the family unit has taken in modern times.
Disadvantages
Without a universal definition for the term family, it will be hard to determine who is eligible for some of the legal rights enjoyed by family members. The family unit by default provides some legal rights to the family members including inheritance, guardianship and power of attorney (Holtzman, 2006). This default provision of legal rights is important especially when an individual is not in a position to make decisions on his/her own.
The government resorts to the default rights attributed to the people included in the legal definition of “family”. This ensures that decisions on important issues such as inheritance and custodianship to children after the death of the parents are easily resolved (Holtzman, 2006). The legal definition ensures that property can be allocated and transmitted successfully from one generation to the next. Without the universal definition, it will be hard to make these decisions since court officials will not have a strong basis for ruling in favour of particular individual.
The lack of a universal definition might be detrimental to the well being of children. The importance of children is well articulated in the law with their position in the family being well established (Solomon-Fears, Falk, Fernandes-Alcantara, 2013). The law is constructed to ensure the best interests of children are always taken into consideration in cases of disputes or loss of parents. By having a universal legal definition of “family”, the government is able to dictate the rights of children in the family setting.
Holtzman (2006) states that the protection of children’s rights is one of the main reasons for maintaining a legal definition of the family. The definition ensures that every child can have a set of legally recognized parents who are responsible for his/her well being. When contentions arise in the family, the government, through law courts, can intervene and take measures in the best interest of the child. Without a legal definition of “family”, it will be hard to ensure these rights for the children.
Another significant demerit from the lack of a universal definition of family is that it would damage social stability in communities. The traditional family unit was a source of stability in the society due to its static nature. Holtzman (2006) explains that this static nature of families was due to the emphasis on the social and material benefits of the unit to all its members.
Without a legal definition, people are likely to form unions based primarily on emotional attachments. Such unions are unlikely to last especially during hardships. The emphasis on the emotional side of relationships in modern times has been the greatest contributor to the large number of divorces. Having a legal definition ensures that the family unit is mostly made up of individuals who are together for social and material reasons.
Conclusion
The Family unit continues to be an important construct in the society. However, its composition has changed and this change is not reflected in the universal definition for the term family in the US. This paper has highlighted the merits and demerits of not having a universal definition for the term “family”.
For many people, the issue of family is a personal one and as such, the legal definition should not have primacy. From the points made in the paper, it is clear that not having a universal legal definition would have many advantages for Americans. Such an approach would ensure that the numerous limitations created by the universal legal definition of family are overcome.
References
De Lamadrid, M. (2013). Expanding the Definition of Family: A Universal Issue. Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, 8(1), 170-179.
Holtzman, M. (2006). Definitions of the Family as an Impetus for Legal Change in Custody Decision Making: Suggestions from an Empirical Case Study. Law & Social Inquiry, 31(1), 1-37.
Kelly, F. (2009). Producing Paternity: The Role of Legal Fatherhood in Maintaining the Traditional Family. Canadian Journal of Women & the Law, 21(2), 315-351.
Luppino, G.A., & Miller, J.F. (2012). Family Law and Practice: The Paralegal’s guide (3rd ed.). NJ: Prentice Hall.
Solomon-Fears, C., Falk, G., & Fernandes-Alcantara, A.L. (2013). Child Well-Being and Noncustodial Fathers. Washington: Congressional Research Service.
The division of labor and traditional gender roles in the family usually consists of men doing the work while women take care of the children, other relatives, and housekeeping. With such a division of labor, a man usually does not prepare food, and his interaction with children is not constant. It is generally reduced to the same type of operations. At the same time, a woman does not necessarily deal only with household chores and children: she can also work in a low position with low wages, thereby falling into financial dependence on a man.
Over time, gender roles in families have changed, and women can increasingly afford babysitting or daycare services; schools offer childcare services during parenting. Modern women are more likely to talk about equality in the performance of household chores and argue this (Andersen & Witham, 2011). Their arguments include a desire for self-development and participation in social activities, and they also call on men to take responsibility for starting a family and having children. Increasingly, it is possible to meet young fathers who go on maternity leave instead of their wives or share this period with them.
I lived for about a year in the Italian countryside as a child. People mainly live without education in these places, and Catholicism influences their culture. They vehemently practiced their religion, learning patience and humility, especially in women. I can say that specific patterns of family gender roles and behaviors persist in the cultures of different countries and peoples. The women from the Italian village where I lived cannot call themselves progressive or modern, and they are more inclined towards traditional family values. They dreamed of marriage and saw men as support and support, while men fully agreed with such a role. However, this seems to be a grave issue, and each culture in the context of gender roles should be considered uniquely.
Reference
Andersen, M. & Witham, D. H. (2011). Thinking about women: Sociological perspectives on sex and gender (9th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.
The four articles generally analyze gender disparity in families depending on a particular community’s prevailing cultural beliefs. Gender inequality exists in each family because their traits and competencies vary (Sullivan et al., 2018). Categorizing men and women in opposite-sex marriages based on cultural beliefs makes them more or less appropriate for particular roles (Yavorsky et al., 2015; Bianchi et al., 2012). Similarly, Goldberg (2013) researched on same-sex marriages and found that homosexual couples understood family roles based on relational attitudes. Both partners do not follow the norms of heterosexual couples when they enact house arrangements. This paper summarizes gender theory and findings of sexual orientation and the division of labor in families.
There are discordant theories about the normative duties of men and women in a traditional family. For example, feminism is among the gender revolution theories implying that both men and women should have equal rights and opportunities in society. On the same note, Yavorsky et al. (2015) argue that men initially dominated the labor force, and higher education attainment and societal expectations concerning parenthood have shifted. Moreover, today’s conceptualization of fatherhood emphasizes fathers’ economic roles alongside the need to engage in the emotional development of their children. Women’s responsibilities have changed to include financial support to the family, urging more men to perform part of the housework (Yavorsky et al., 2015; Bianchi et al., 2012). Therefore, gender roles have transformed and included equitable divisions of domestic responsibilities.
Despite the insights mentioned above, women still play fundamental roles in a family. Sullivan et al. (2018) and Yavorsky et al. (2015) noted that women shoulder most home tasks apart from participating in paid labor as men do. They perform routine chores such as laundry, cooking, and childcare, apart from their employment. Bianchi et al. (2012) found that “mothers on average (with wives averaging 1.7 times the housework of husbands, and married mothers averaging 1.9 times the housework of married fathers” (p. 56). There are assumptions that attitudes predict the behavior of each person in a family. For instance, couples in a same-sex marriage perceive house roles as belonging to both of them, while those in a heterogeneous marriage view the duties based on their cultural construction. Women perform more tasks in a home to express femininity, while men are reluctant to complete similar assignments to portray masculinity.
The research findings can be referenced when empowering women and creating equal rights policies. It is evident that both genders have similar capabilities in homemaking and participating in paid labor. Yavorsky et al. (2015) note that a third can be included in a family to distribute housework. This idea helps women to avail more time for participation in professional roles, contributing to economic development and eradicating poverty. In policy creation, the findings help advocate for equal employment opportunities and treatments in the labor force.
Conclusively, the articles presented exciting insights on gender and division of labor. Traditional theories viewed women to be more responsible for housework as opposed to men. However, the roles have changed to include women participating in paid tasks. Women in heterogeneous marriages still perform most house chores to express femininity while men sparingly engage in them due to masculinity. Homosexual couples do not follow the notions of their counterparts. The theories discussed are fundamental in empowering women to increase their participation in paid labor and create equal rights policies.
References
Bianchi, M. S., Sayer, L. C., Milkie, M. A., & Robinson, J. P. (2012). Housework: Who did, does or will do it, and how much does it matter? Social Forces, 91(1) 55-63. Web.
Goldberg, A. E. (2013). “Doing” and “undoing” gender: The meaning and division of housework in same‐sex couples. Journal of family theory & review, 5, 85-104. Web.
Sullivan, O., Gershuny, J. Robinson, J. P. (2018). Stalled or uneven gender revolution? A long‐term processual framework for understanding why change is slow. Journal of family theory & review, 10(1), 263-279. Web.
Yavorsky, J. E., Kamp, C. M., & Schoppe-Sullivan, S. J. (2015). The production of inequality: the gender division of labor across the transition to parenthood. Journal of marriage and family, 77(3), 662-679. Web.
Bale, Kjersty, and Hilde Bondevik. “4 Magical Thinking: Experiences of Grief and Mourning in George Saunders’ Lincoln in The Bardo and Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing.” Exploring Grief Towards a Sociology of Sorrow, edited by Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Anders Petersen, Routledge, 2020, pp. 69-84.
This chapter analyzes Leonie’s feelings for her husband and her own children. Next, the authors proceed to analyze the feelings of children whose sadness is caused by the fact that it is difficult for them to live with a drug addict mother. This is especially difficult for them in the conditions that there is no trusting relationship with their father, since he is in prison. Heroes experience the whole spectrum of negative emotions, while they do not have the opportunity to talk about their problems or get advice. The authors note that this interweaving of feelings – anger, embarrassment and fear – as a result leads to a feeling of universal grief. The quote from the article that I want to use as an argument is “Throughout the novel, Leonie’s sense of guilt increases”(Bale and Bondevik 73). I want to use this chapter in my research work as an argument for why Leonie chose a certain model of behavior towards her children. The article is quite difficult to read, and is not quite concise, as it contains a large number of terms from psychology.
Evans, Rebecca. “Geomemory and genre friction: Infrastructural violence and plantation afterlives in contemporary African American novels.” American Literature, vol. 93, no. 3, 2021, pp. 445-472.
In this article, the author addresses the traumatic situation of the African people. Citing various examples from the literature, Evans dwels on how it influenced the collective consciousness. Using the situation of Leonie, who sees ghosts, the author reveals the close connection of African history with the present. Evans interprets the ghost as a metaphor for the colonial past. Despite the years that have passed, the injuries of the ancestors still have their effect. The quote from the work that I would like to use is “Without realizing it, Leonie carries the traumas of past generations of African Americans” (Evans 452). I plan to use this article for my research work, as it explains in a deeper sense why it was impossible for Leonie to choose another model of behavior. The article has a rich imagery, so it is not fully clear and concise.
Leader-Picone, Cameron. “On The Whiteness of Post-Blackness: Colson Whitehead and Racial Individualism.” Black and More than Black: African American Fiction in the Post Era (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies), University Press of Mississippi, 2019, pp. 3-44.
This scientific paper dwells on the influence of racism. The family of heroes faces it during a trip to pick up their father from prison. The quote I chose sounds the following way: “Racism affects the fate of not only the whole society as a whole, but also the micro spaces of individual families” (Leader-Picone 10). I plan to use this article in my research paper to show how the pressure of society from the outside influenced the relationships within the black family. In my opinion, this chapter is the clearest and most concise of all the sources I have used.
Li, Stephanie. “Learning to Listen in Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing.” Reading Contemporary Black British and African American Women Writers, edited by Jean Wyatt and Sheldon George, Routledge, 2020, pp. 88-104.
.This chapter analyzes the problems of modern black society raised in the book. The quote I plan to use is “Drugs, single-parenting and racism have unfortunately become the norm in many African-American families below the poverty line” (Li 89). It characterizes all the problems that author mentions. I plan to utilize this article for my research paper to more clearly identify the range of problems raised in the introduction. The chapter is clear and concise, its content was easy for me to understand.
Olah, Natalie. “Cruel Brittany.” Steal as Much as You Can: How to Win the Culture Wars in an Age of Austerity, Repeater, 2019, pp. 175-199.
This chapter draws the connection of modern racist realities with what is happening in the book. Olah touches on the issues of racism in the everyday life of a typical African-American family. The quote I will use is “The atmosphere of racism does not cease to affect the lives of ordinary people”(Olah 190). The article itself will be utilized by me in research paper in order to highlight how the surrounding social environment influenced the formation of Leonie’s character. The chapter is written in clear and concise manner.
Works Cited
Bale, Kjersty, and Hilde Bondevik. “4 Magical Thinking: Experiences of Grief and Mourning in George Saunders’ Lincoln in The Bardo and Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing.” Exploring Grief Towards a Sociology of Sorrow, edited by Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Anders Petersen, Routledge, 2020, pp. 69-84.
Evans, Rebecca. “Geomemory and genre friction: Infrastructural violence and plantation afterlives in contemporary African American novels.” American Literature, vol. 93, no. 3, 2021, pp. 445-472.
Leader-Picone, Cameron. “On The Whiteness of Post-Blackness: Colson Whitehead and Racial Individualism.” Black and More than Black: African American Fiction in the Post Era (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies), University Press of Mississippi, 2019, pp. 3-44.
Li, Stephanie. “Learning to Listen in Jesmyn Ward’s Sing, Unburied, Sing.” Reading Contemporary Black British and African American Women Writers, edited by Jean Wyatt and Sheldon George, Routledge, 2020, pp. 88-104.
Olah, Natalie. “Cruel Brittany.” Steal as Much as You Can: How to Win the Culture Wars in an Age of Austerity, Repeater, 2019, pp. 175-199.