Can the American Family Be Saved? : A Study in the Evolution of Family Life in America

             The American family and the way its members interact have evolved throughout the history of this nation. As we examine this evolution it becomes evident that over the past several decades this evolution has accelerated and there has been a dramatic shift in the dynamics of the roles of the members within the American family. Where as the majority of American families still consist of the traditional make up of a father, a mother and children, there are now an increasing amount of variations upon this theme which have become accepted as recognizable family units. Even in traditional families comprised of father, mother, and siblings, the roles of these individuals have changed with the invention of new technologies and economies. With these new roles come different relationships the family unit has between their greater communities and political entities they are interdependent with. All of these changes have been well documented by the media in the form of art as well as acade!
             mic writings. Television, music, magazines, novels and the Internet all record and promote this acceleration of change.
             Before the 1950s, families in America consisted of not only the "nuclear family" (father, mother, and children) but also the extended family (grand parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins) living as close units. If not living within one household these extended families were close by in the local communities, making a close nit frame work which the individuals within the family interacted with on a daily basis. This was not only for social reasons but for economic reasons as well. Many industries were family run and all members contributed to the welfare of the extended family. "The 1950s were the first time that a majority of Americans could ever dream of creating a secure oasis in their immediate nuclear families. There, they could focus their emotional and financial investments, reduce obligations to others that might keep them from seizing...

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Can the American Family Be Saved? : A Study in the Evolution of Family Life in America . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 08:15, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/69783.html