This paper will address the impact of family and marriage. The paper will focus on the TV show “Desperate Housewives” (especially the Scavo and Van De Kamp families). The paper will address whether the families feels positive, effect on the sense of responsibility, character, and social context of families.
The social context of a family is usually determined by their cultures. Kim & McCabe indicate that the Scavo and Van De Camp family are close since they both live in the same area (24). The women have a meeting every week where they discuss some of their family issues. Most of the women in the show are housewives and their husbands are working (Kim & McCabe, pp 56).
A husband role in marriage is usually influenced by many things as argued by Guarendi (40). In the show, we see the husbands as hardworking. They work hard to provide for their families. The men also help in solving domestic issues between their wives and children. Bree Van De Kamp (wife) has great issues with her teenage kids and the husband helps her solve them. Men are supposed to protect their families. This is evident throughout the show. Love is one of the greatest roles of husbands in a marriage. The men in this show love them and try very hard not to lose them (Kim & McCabe, pp 45).
Women are considered the heart of a family. In referring to Bruce (pp 10) the success of a family is usually accredited to the wife in many cultures. One of the major roles is taking care of the kids. Lynette Scavo and Bree Van De Camp take good care of their kids and are more concerned of their welfare than their husbands. Some cultures believe women should sacrifice a lot then men. Both women sacrifice they careers in order to rise up their children. Lynette scarified her vice president position in a multinational company to raise her kids (Kim & McCabe, 12).
They are many types of families in the show. Kim & McCabe ( 3) describe both families as nuclear families. A nuclear family is usually made up of two parents and two children. The Scavo family is made up of Tom, Lynette, and they two twins. Rex, Bree, and their two kids make up the Van De Camp family. However, Scavo family experience some changes as the program goes on.
The economic status of a family usually determines their lives. The Van De Camp and Scavo family are close since they are in the same economical class. The men of these families have well paying jobs and drive classic cars. Their children attend good schools although Scavo’s children are troublesome (Kim & McCabe, 89).
Social issues are one of the greatest issues of marriage as argued by Guarendi (57). Scavo and Van De Camp families have different social issues. Bree is a control freak and this drives her marriage to divorce. Her son eventually becomes gay to piss her off. Their daughter also becomes pregnant will still in high school. These actions led Bree to be depressed and she becomes an alcoholic. Tom’s competitive career and her children affect Lynette social issues. Her irritating children cause her a lot of embarrassment and most of her neighbors consider her week. Lynette nearly sues Bree for spanking her son when he left them at her place (Kim & McCabe, 102).
They are no political issues that affect the families in the show.
Works Citied
Guarendi, Raymond. Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards. Cincinnati. Boston: Saint Antony Messenger Press. 2011. Print.
Kim, Akass & McCabe, Janet. Reading “Desperate Housewives”: Beyond the white Picket Fence. New York: I.B Tauris. 2009. Print.
Williams, Bruce. Marriage: its origin, uses, and duties. New York: Princeton University Press. 2008. Print.
