Due to a wide range of opposing viewpoints, Americans' perceptions of the family as an institution have drastically altered over the years. A typical family in the past consisted of a male parent—the dad—and a female parent—the mother—along with their offspring. Due to societal pressure, families today can include married couples, gay couples, single parents, cohabiting partners, and occasionally grandparents. As a result, the definition of the word "family" has changed. In addition, many other things, such as having children outside of marriage, divorcing, and separation, have replaced traditional household values. In this essay, the meaning of the American Family is explored through an analysis of two images and writings. Andrew J. Cherlin’s article “The Origins of the Ambivalent Acceptance of Divorce” focuses on the manner the society consents to divorce and has altered people’s view on familial values. On the other hand, James Q. Wilson’s text “Cohabitation Instead of Marriage” discusses the subject about cohabiting and married couples. The images and texts share the meaning of why the Family is now different because the old-fashioned family values are changing, divorce becoming a norm, and children being raised without both parents.
The first image (Photo 16-3) by David Heath produced in 1956 is about a vengeful sister who has seemingly struck his brother who wallows in pain on the floor. The image demonstrates a common occurrence in many families, which are not brought up by both parents. It is highly likely that their parents have divorced and for the reason the children lack a role model to guide them through what it means to live in a harmonious manner as family. On the other hand, the other image shows two couples in New Jersey walking alongside their kids through a street in Nassau past an assembly held against the gays. In this image, the gay cruise shows the way family values have changed in the modern world and that people can choose to pursue their own sexual identities. Even though there are couples who subscribe to the traditional family values as then one in the image, there are also others who choose to engage in gay and lesbian relationships rather than settling with the opposite sex to have their own children. Therefore, lesbians and gays are not considered as a family because they are unmarried and are of the same sex.
The two texts describe that having children within marriage generates the most positive outcomes for the children. When a cohabiting couple gets a child and opts to go separate, it will be hard for the child because the parent will choose whom they will stay with whereas in a marriage, the judge specifies the parent who will have the custody of children (Wilson 430). Cherlinis in agreement with Wilson in the decree that the common law of England holds a modest principle that bearing children should always happen within the structure of marriage (436).
Andrew Cherlin adds individualism to the “Family” term by quoting Stephen Field, the judge of the Supreme Court, that marriage is the most significant relationship in life and one that has a lot, which concerns the civilizations and morals of individuals than any other institution (437). In lay terms, the quote suggests that marriage is dependent upon the culture in which an individual lives in and the society’s regard for marriage. On the other hand, James Wilson offers a diverse perspective on the definition of marriage, which is a way of curtailing people’s freedom such that financial and emotional investment in the union seems more sensible (430). Wilson’s assessment is a darker opinion on the marriage union than that of Cherlin. Wilson’s belief is that marriage occurs only to up bring children and maintain the life of the traditional family. He states that the cultures determine the marriage rules that were only established to guard the child but to attain a variety of other objectives (431).
According to Cherlin, criticizing divorced couples will be low but a stable counter concern about the influence a divorce has on a kid remains (437). The issue becomes problematic for a kid who is used to living with both parents at all times. The mother’s presence as the caring nurturer, and lover of the house while the father represents a male role model for his son who might one day wish to be like his daddy or for the daughters who may set a particular standard for herself regarding her expectations in a man. Ultimately, remaining in marriage is the best scenario for a kid as it allows both parent to contribute actively in the child’s life alongside the dedication with each other for the sake of the child. Wilson continues by adding that the interest groups and the voting booth have substituted the normal family. Cherlin’s personal view is that although some few traditional family customs have remained, many have vanished from the society.
Wilson considers that the society in America is accommodating cohabitation allowing more of it to occur and that in the end; its stay in America is short-lived. The result is that it will end up with a separation and the family splitting apart (430). The traditional family continues casting its shadow over diverse families in the present society because all other thing is considered as normal (425). Wilson further argues that numerous partners are considering the benefits of remaining single parents so that they may get government assistance with no worries about being married. It is only through marriage that certain great values can be natured. Marriage forms the basis for a successful society (Cherlin 437). Many people have deviated from the major familial values and have settled to the current societal views while others are stuck to moral individuality and making marriage a success.
The rates of divorce have increased over the years. Some states started allowing spouses to divorce over any issue thereby permitting couples to divorce whenever the going becomes tougher as opposed to ironing out issues through more stringent laws. At one point, divorce was considered as unfortunate but with time, it is more acceptable (Cherlin 435). Wilson differs with Cherlin in stating that love is aided by marriage. Once partners begin to cohabit, they then get the incentive of loving their spouses less than they would in case they were married and this is considered as the main reason that leads to the high rates of divorce because of the less strict laws on divorce (430).
Wilson continues to state that marriage should form a strong relationship between partners. Marriage enables people to be aware that the individuals they are with does not just love them but they are also dependent upon them. The issue explains why marriage much more than the society’s expectations of what it is (431). Marriage is a solution to ensuring that people stay united for their children’s sake. Many families face the challenge of a lack of commitment in the marriage and it is for the reason that many couples attempt find a way out when the going gets harder (Cherlin 421). The idea of many people cohabiting is altering the people’s view of marriage because other people are living happily together without the need of signing a huge marriage contract. Because if this, cohabitation is more readily accepted within society.
Cherlin, Wilson and the two images share their perspectives on what they agree or disagree as the changes that have occurred to the American family. Even though the society has made couples to become more comfortable with living together and starting a family with each other, there are families who have maintained the principles of the traditional family values and sire children in marriage. The authors share the idea that traditional values of family are altering, divorce is becoming a norm in the society and that bearing children should occur inside a marriage for the sake of the children. The manner in which the society considers a family is turning into a huge topic because many children grow up without both parents and as a result, the rates of divorce are skyrocketing. All the texts and the images mean that people are looking away from the real value of a family and choosing to go the way of everybody else.
Works Cited
Cherlin, Andrew J. “The Origins of the Ambivalent Acceptance of Divorce.” Journal of Marriage and Family, Vol. 71, no. 2, 2009, pp. 226-29. Web. Rpt. in Writing in the Disciples: A Reader and Rhetoric for Academic Writers, 7th ed. Mary Lynch Kennedy and William J. Kennedy. Boston, MA; Pearson 2012. 433-37. Print.
Wilson, James Q. “Cohabitation Instead of Marriage.” The Marriage Problem: How Our Culture Has Weakened Families. New York: Harper Collins. (2002); 38-41. Rpt. in Writing in the Disciplines: A Reader and Rhetoric for Academic Writers, 7th ed. Ed. Mary Lynch Kennedy and William J.Kennedy. Boston; Pearson 2012. 429-32. Print.
