Introduction
Andrew Cherlin’s (2009) account of the ‘Evolution of Marriage’ within the American society in his work Marriage-Go- Round forces readers to stop and contemplate the value of this institution in twenty-first century America; how necessary it is in upholding family values and the effects changing elements has on the institution in determining the way younger America perceive marriage.
In the following pages of this document the writer will offer a book review which will encompass a summary of Cherlin’s work; show how it connects with the course being undertaken in sociology and finally give my personal opinion on this masterpiece as a text for this course as well as a guide to interpreting the evolution of marriage in the twenty first century America.
Summary/Overview
This text discusses eight pertinent issues, which ought to be addressed when relating the Marriage go-Round scenario in American culture. First the writer accounts for, how America Family Life is different; next an historical background of the American Marriage Pattern tracing it from 1650-1900 is outlined.
In a third section the author highlights the rise of Compassionate Marriages emerging form 1900 through to 1960. Thereafter, inevitably following this is an account of Individualized Marriage and Expressive Divorce of 1960 through to 2000.Fifthly; the author advances a new American Way of Marriage. In a sixth section the M-Factor is discussed in its entirety. Immediately, forging a falling action the author integrates the Blue- Collar Blues/White- collar Weddings, finally showing readers the Slow Down episodes within the institution. The text culminates with charts, notes, bibliography and an index.
Precisely, in relating how American Family life is different, Cherlin (2009) presents to readers various ways in which there is a contrast among a number of countries including Italy, France, Sweden, Australia and Germany.
The author alluded to the fact that Americans cohabit and marry earlier than people living in these countries previously mentioned. Also that more Americans marry compared to other Western nations; but the institution is far more fragile. Consequently, more American children often witness divorce or separation within family structures (Cherlin, 2009).
In tracing the American marriage pattern Cherlin (20090 takes readers down the road of scrutinizing structure and function of the American family comparatively with those in the Western World. The emphasis was placed on how religion influenced roles and responsibilities within the function and structure (Cherlin, 2009).
Compassionate marriages are related to marriages arising out of pregnancies and perhaps rape in order to protect women’s dignity in the relationship. Cherlin (2009) projects the ideology that the compassionate disposition stems from the fact that men often want to have children fro progression of their hereditary. As such, women are wooed into marriage so that this could be possible.
Then the church plays an important role in this aspect of social life as well since when compared to Great Britain to be considered a faithful church member within good standing childbearing outside of marriage becomes prohibited. Whereas individualized patterns accompanied by expressive divorce arise from an egocentric basis which is characteristic of the American pattern which is now prevalent within many societies since divorcee can be obtained at anytime for any good reason for a divorcee to be granted by the Judge (Cherlin, 2009).
The American way of Marriage according to the author is one in which divorce can precede marriage as was depicted in the triangle affair among Richardson, McFarland and Abby which eventually claimed the life of Richardson. Infidelity does not matter any longer. M-Factor, then defines how marriage is integrated as a requirement for holding some political positions within the society as well as is done to establish a formality of being straight compared to gay (Cherlin, 2009).
However, with the emergence of Blue- Collar Blues/White- collar weddings, marriage seldom goes beyond a wedding since the emphasis is transferred to the wedding rather than marriage which is completing unique institution between two people. Finally, the slow down depicting situation where celebrities having relationships without even thinking of marrying especially in the presence of high divorcee rates in the society (Cherlin, 2009).
Connection to course
Connections regarding Cherlin’s (2009) ‘Marriage-Go Round’ and the course ‘Evolution of Marriage in America’ can be highlighted under the captions History of the American Family, the influence of European settlement, courtship, household structure, parenting ,Eugenics Movement, modern family mutations and the application of sociological theoretical perspectives.
Precisely, when relating topics from this course to Cherlin’s (2009) account of Marriage-Go- Round, in total, it can be perceived from the conceptual framework of a longitudinal evolution whereby a historical view only would be considered. Alternatively, there could be cross sectional approaches through which the evolution distinct from history has its basis in acculturation. As such, in making inferences from the course towards Cherlin’s Marriage-Go Round, the writer will adapt an eclectic paradigm in viewing the impositions therein.
History of the American Family from Cherlin’s point of view is mainly historical in its evolution. While this is true that history plays a very important role in understanding evolution, it must be clarified; this is not the only vehicle through which changes within institutional structure could be perceived.
As was discussed in class, Cherlin’s (2009) historical account, especially from 1950-2000 is merely relating phases of marriage within the social context of his model of the American Society regarding marriage. One wonders whether America has a family history of its own or it is now trying to build one.
The sociology of American family primarily is the sociology of families across the world, primarily, Great Britain, Western Europe and to a lesser extent the Caribbean, which was largely under British rule for a period of their history. Then, to accept Cherlin’s analogy of the history of American family is to accept an analogy of the history of family globally since it can be concluded that there is no exclusive American Family History distinct from its global impositions.
When transposed into the European settlement typology from this course the etiology of marriage and family development was interpreted in the same way as business, school, health and social welfare. They were all institutions in society which had rules for their establishment based on tradition and culture.
Cherlin’s (2009) account of the American marriage pattern offers suggestions that it evolved out of a Western Culture, which can be considered Eurocentric since the founding fathers traveled with their values to the New World and these were part of the cultural impositions reflected from European settlement.
Nonetheless, mutations have occurred not merely due to historical events, but more importantly, immigration from other parts of the world. Hence, supporting institutions such as courtship, house hold structure and parenting have all undergone social change in America within the context of immigration.
Therefore, when Traditional versus Contemporary roles, responsibilities reflecting rights of parents and children within family structures today in America it is quite clear that acculturation overtime has provided America with a family form which is unique to its sociology.
For example, Cherlin’s (2009) Compassionate marriage highlights where pregnancy formed a basis for marriage when a child is conceived out side of marriage (Cherlin, 2009). Barbara Risman (2010) in relating ‘families as they are in America’ addresses issues of single parent households created outside of marriage whereby women are birthing children outside of wedlock without considering the sanctity of both parents being in the home (Risman, 2010).
This practice has become so common place to the extent that single parent households are swiftly replacing nuclear family structures. Also, of note, sterilization (Eugenics) of males or females who do not desire to have children is another twist to the family structure in America that was presented in this course. Traditionally, children within a family were the ideal family type. In Contemporary society women take authority of their children since many African American men today live in America’s prisons than are found in the homes. Some notably from child support non payment and drug affiliations (Alexander, 2010)
Thus, with changes in household structures come adjustments in what traditionally was called marriage between two heterosexual people. While marriage remains a consensual union between two persons of the opposite sex; twenty-first century America has emerged into the Blue- Collar Blues/White- collar weddings, whereby same sex marriages are competing with heterosexual unions becoming very popular among celebrities and other ordinary class individuals in the American society. This social phenomenon can be likened to the foregoing analogy advanced by Cherlin (2009)
Similarly, parenting roles must be adjusted to meet this demand for same sex parents since even though biologically these unions cannot produce offspring they desire to be parents. According to Risman (2010) this is what it is in the twenty-first century American context (Risman, 2010).
Another observation regarding the ‘Marriage-Go Round’ and contemporary life in America is the inescapable pressures encountered by family structures be it same sex, heterosexual or single. Divorce rates accordingly among heterosexual marriages are escalating adding to the single parent households. In many instances children are caught in the cross fire of divorce proceeding and disruptions in roles and responsibilities. Cherlin (2009) pointed out that more children witness separation between parents in twenty-first century America than in 1900-2000 (Cherlin 2009). A similar point of view was raised in the course from Risman’s (2010) account of, Families as they are in America.
In concluding this section of the presentation, connecting Cherlin’s (2009) “Marriage-Go-Round” to the course, ‘Evolution of Marriage in America,’ inevitably reference to functionalist theoretical perspective of marriage as an institution in society must be advanced. It is clear that the movement from traditional forms of marriage, family types/roles; parenting and reverse family values expressed today all function to make society compatible with itself.
Further theories suggest that these changes are necessary for the advancement of society since social change is inevitable and is the only constant universal law. Social structures and social function intertwine to create social order. Therefore, typologies of marriage traditionally as well as contemporary versions all function to build the society necessary for human interactions to remain stabled ( Turner and Sets, 2005).
Opinion and review of the book
Cherlin (2009 has presented a magnificent account of ‘The evolution of American Family’ in his book “Marriage-Go Round.” He took the courage of exposing readers down historical patterns through which the American family travelled. In my opinion from the beginning there was no real history of American family, especially, in the way he referenced other traditions in order to highlight what it was then.
It seemed that he had some difficulty in establishing this exclusivity from tradition. However, as he proceeded later in the text correlating events of the past and linking the present it was clear that America now has a unique exclusive family pattern. Blue- Collar Blues/White- collar weddings, became one of the greatest highlights of the book along with compassionate weddings arising, out of pregnancy issues and social obligations.
The pathetic scene whereby Richardson was murdered, but married his sweetheart who was ex-wife to someone else is a twist in marriage sanctity, which occurs in our societies even today. It confirms the quote which says that “there is nothing new under the sun.”
In scrutinizing, the structure of the text it links novel with history. Some parts appear boring within its language context, but the stories which interspersed each account pushed readers to moving through to the end. As such, it can be recommended as both for reading relaxation and a history text book.
Conclusively, the author offered a powerful piece of literature for young America to scrutinize when researching the American family, where we are today, where we seem to be heading and how far away from our goals we are if we do have any. It can be recommended to people around the world who are planning to migrate with family to know how modernization and social change can affect Family life, generally.
Conclusion
In the foregoing pages of this document the author presented a book review of Andrew Cherlin’s (2009) Marriage-Go-Round. Subsequently connections between his work and the course lectures completed in, ‘the evolution of the American family’ were related and my personal opinion about the text was delivered.
Works cited
Alexander Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of color blindness. New
York: New Press 2010.Print
Cherlin, Andrew. Marriage -go-round: the state of marriage and the family in America today.
New York: Vintage books. 2009. Print.
Risman, Barbara Families as they really are. 1st ed. New York. WW Norton 2010. Print
Turner, Jonathan and Jan Stets. The Sociology of Emotions. Cambridge. Cambridge University
Press. 2005). Print
