The American Family: Then and Now Essay -- Sociology, American History

What simply is a family? Some would say it is a father, mother, and possibly children, but is this an overaged definition? With the world adapting and changing at such a spicy rate, it proves difficult to create definite boundaries for what constitutes a family. As events that are any detrimental or beneficial to society occur, family lives adapt to better grammatical case the current state. The differences in culture, religion and traditions can offer possible explanations for why families are non the same, loc on the wholey and globally. Sociological relationships change to fit the commonwealth involved in them, so it only makes sense that family groups would differ by location. This paper will discuss the ways that families in America have evolved over time. Also, I will explain what occurrences caused the need for such changes.The erudition of any new concept starts with a basic definition. According to Macionis, family is a social institution found in all societies that unites people in cooperative groups to care for one another, including children (2009375). The diversity of families in America dates seat to the colonial period. There were a variety of different family types that coexisted or competed in colonial America (Coontz 2005 27). In this time period, the husband would work all day and leave the children at home with the mother. The mother, however would rarely hightail it to the children. She would do house work and leave the children with an older sibling or servant. This caused a lack of sentimental feelings in childhood because the mother was not the nurturer. Coontz states that among wealthy, white families specifically, the basis of the relationship was built on power, not hunch over (2005 28). The modernization and industrialization ... ...order for America to continue as a prosperous country, there will need to be strong family units who are lively to nervus the downfalls that will come due to a changing politics and econo my. The success rates of a family, however, are some(prenominal) deeper than economic or government issues. Hard work, compassion, and communication are components that can be seen in almost any successful family at any time period. In striving to achieve these aspects of a family unit, Americas families would find much more stability than previously seen and be better equipped to face hard times. ReferencesCoontz, Stephanie. 2005. The Way We Werent The Myth and Reality of the Traditional Family. depicted object Forum The Phi Kappa Phi Journal Summer 27-34.Macionis, John J. Society the Basics with supernumerary Readings in Sociology. UpperSaddle River, NJ Prentice Hall.