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“Fam’ I∙Ly”

Stephanie Coontz wrote an article that offers helpful insight on the types of stereotypes we place on the word family. She disagrees with the existence of the “ideal family” that so many Americans believe once was present throughout the country. Then the article goes on and shows how the “typical family” changes many times over the course of several years. When it comes to the topic of the “ideal family,” most of us will readily agree that these stereotypes were and still are provided by the media. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the facts and truths portrayed by the media of the “ideal family.” Whereas some people are convinced that in one way or another every family is dysfunctional and the “ideal family” never did and never will exist, others maintain that the media is right in the thought of an “ideal family” and a “golden age.” The media does not help the public, but actually makes life harder. With the media always in your face and breathing down your neck it is hard to come across someone who has their own personal opinion, not only on the issue of an “ideal family,” but on life in general. I feel the idea of a “typical family” or “perfect family” is wrong in all aspects. A family is made up of love and emotions therefore no family would be “perfect”, emotions are uncontrollable. Families are not breaking apart but instead are adapting to the economic and social changes of life, of course the media never publishes this.
Coontz shows how extended families follow traditions that teach their children the way they were raised, "The way it's always been" claims Coontz. However nuclear families belittle the "old fashion" ways of the extended family, even though both stem from older styles of family. It is said, older methods of family form the “traditional family.” Over the centuries, these methods have changed. These methods changed because of sevaeral events in history. Such events like the Industrial...