In what way is the American family changing?

Answer 1

• For centuries to decades right up until the 1960's families in the past for the most part had a family unity where everyone had a chore to do; they had more quality time together because generally the father worked and the mother stayed home; sat together every evening for dinner as a family; most went to church on Sundays; rules for raising children were far stricter which lead to more well adjusted children that turned into mature adults. Unwanted pregnancies happened even back then, but on a much smaller scale and the young woman either went to stay with out of town family to have the baby and come home as if nothing happened. Young men who fell in love with a young woman came to the door to meet the parents and asked permission to date their daughter and young people didn't live with the opposite sex. Schools were strict and teachers had more control over the students. However, like every generation there were mistakes made by families where discipline could be too strict to poverty causing disruption in the family unity.

Answer 2

A number of factors might have influenced changes in family structure in the USA.

I'm convinced that boys and girls have sought extramarital activities since the beginning of time. And, in the past it was widely accepted for girls, and perhaps also boys to get married as young as 16, or even younger.

And, because of wars, deaths, divorces, separations, or absentee parents, single parents have raised families for generations.

However with a changing social structure and social awareness, the government is now providing assistance to single parents. Single parents (frequently single mothers) are now able to raise a family on their own with government assistance, rather than relying on their own parents for assistance. And, single parenthood is more widely accepted. Furthermore, there is much less tolerance for domineering or even violent relationships.

So, there is less pressure to seek out or maintain a relationship just for support.

Women have also entered the workplace as equals. This provides additional independent support. However, it also takes away from some of the 1-1 interactions that may have happened in the past with a 2 parent family with one working and the other caring for the family. What little time a family has left together may get displaced by shuttling kids from one activity to another.

In some cases, sit-down dinners have been replaced with TV dinners and everyone heading in their own direction.

Drive-Throughs & Instant meals rather than home cooking.

Perhaps entertainment has also changed.

Group Board Games and Card games, perhaps a town theater....

Gets replaced with a single family TV....

And, over time... everyone gets their own TV or computer. Walkman stuck in the ear. Games interacting with computers rather than interacting with people.

It is hard to say that everything is bad... and some views of the "past" may be more fantasy than reality.

Answer 3

The American family is changing in terms of structure (more non-traditional family arrangements), diversity (increasing representation of different family types), and roles (shifting gender dynamics and responsibilities). Factors like evolving social norms, economic pressures, and advancements in technology are influencing these changes.

Answer 4

The American family is drifting apart over time. 100 years ago family members were much closer together with one another than they are now. Who knows what'll be like in another 100 years.