An Impossible Dream Family has always been important in America. Families everywhere want to have a perfect marriage, parenthood, and life as it is shown on television. Even though they desired being perfect, what most don’t see is that marriage, parenthood, and having a family is not as dreamy as television shows made it out to be. As times have changed, so has the view of the American family. Homosexual couples are more common along with divorced couples. Instead of a household with two parents and kids, some kids are raised by a single parent. The American family that everyone wishes to be is an impossible dream. To say the least, the average family isn’t average anymore. In “The Changing American Families” Angier says that, “the average
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One of the families fits the external idea of the “model family” with the mom, dad, and three kids. Another married pair is two gay men with their adopted daughter. The other group of the show is a divorced man with his younger wife that is of a different race, and who also has her own child. This popular television show has opened a lot of doors when it comes to the way we view family.
In the 1950s, the idea of a model family was made apparent. The model family was usually shown as being a mom, dad, and kids. The mom stayed home to cook and clean, dad went to work, and the children were mannerly. The model was always displayed as being practically perfect with their lack of arguments and their strong family ties.
What most people do not take into account is that the way a family is set up does not determine whether or not they are a successful and functioning group. Nontraditional families are not always miserable and the stereotypical model family is not always happy. What everyone seems to overlook is what goes on in the inside of the home. What we tend to ignore about the model family is the way they treat each other and their …show more content…
In “The Changing American Family,” Angier tells the reader about what people think of when they hear the word “family.” “When an informal sample of 52 Americans of different ages, professions and hometowns were asked the first thought that came to mind on hearing the word “family,” the answers varied hardly at all. Love! Kids! Mom! Dinner!” (Angier, 3) What people left out was their own personal happiness and success. The idea of the model family, or the idea of having a family at all, is the only focus for some people. In “From Changing American Families,” Aulette says that families need “to bridge the gap between what a household’s resources really are and what a family’s position is supposed to be” (67). Even though a perfect model family can’t be reached, this would bring everyone closer to the impossible dream.
The idea of the model family is unrealistic and unhealthy. The thought that there is only one way to have your family be is horrible for those around us that do not want to live that way. There is no perfect set-up of a family. There is no way that a group can be flawless enough to fit the model. Especially if the model is forever changing. Each family is their own individual group of people and trying to force an idea that is so stereotypical and practically impossible is like telling someone how to live their life. The model family is a thing of the past.
One of the families fits the external idea of the “model family” with the mom, dad, and three kids. Another married pair is two gay men with their adopted daughter. The other group of the show is a divorced man with his younger wife that is of a different race, and who also has her own child. This popular television show has opened a lot of doors when it comes to the way we view family.
In the 1950s, the idea of a model family was made apparent. The model family was usually shown as being a mom, dad, and kids. The mom stayed home to cook and clean, dad went to work, and the children were mannerly. The model was always displayed as being practically perfect with their lack of arguments and their strong family ties.
What most people do not take into account is that the way a family is set up does not determine whether or not they are a successful and functioning group. Nontraditional families are not always miserable and the stereotypical model family is not always happy. What everyone seems to overlook is what goes on in the inside of the home. What we tend to ignore about the model family is the way they treat each other and their …show more content…
In “The Changing American Family,” Angier tells the reader about what people think of when they hear the word “family.” “When an informal sample of 52 Americans of different ages, professions and hometowns were asked the first thought that came to mind on hearing the word “family,” the answers varied hardly at all. Love! Kids! Mom! Dinner!” (Angier, 3) What people left out was their own personal happiness and success. The idea of the model family, or the idea of having a family at all, is the only focus for some people. In “From Changing American Families,” Aulette says that families need “to bridge the gap between what a household’s resources really are and what a family’s position is supposed to be” (67). Even though a perfect model family can’t be reached, this would bring everyone closer to the impossible dream.
The idea of the model family is unrealistic and unhealthy. The thought that there is only one way to have your family be is horrible for those around us that do not want to live that way. There is no perfect set-up of a family. There is no way that a group can be flawless enough to fit the model. Especially if the model is forever changing. Each family is their own individual group of people and trying to force an idea that is so stereotypical and practically impossible is like telling someone how to live their life. The model family is a thing of the past.