Introduction
Family is one of the interesting sociological phenomenon. Studied by many sociologists and psychologists, this concept persists to be one of the most dynamically evolving issues on the contemporary societal landscapes. In particular, traditional conceptions regarding this form of social organizations are being gradually replaced by the modern approaches to understanding a family, delineating the scopes of roles and responsibilities of the family members, as well as determining the family membership criteria (Shepard & Greene 82).
As far as a dogmatic conception of a family is concerned, under this term the one should understand a group of people, which is affiliated between each other by birth (also known as ‘by consanguinity’, i.e. ‘common blood’), through marriage or affinity or by means of sharing the same accommodation of means of living (sometimes referred to as ‘nurturing kingship’). As a rule, members of the immediate family are spouses, brothers and sisters, their children and their fathers and mothers. The extended one also includes grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins etc.
Across many nations and civilizations, family is thought to be the primary solution for socializing and educating children. In addition to that, family is viewed as the primary unit for reproducing the society, thus maintaining and increasing the human population in biological and social aspects, i.e. it is a family, which normally produces, socializes and encultures the new members of the society, although the practice demonstrates that more exceptions from this rule begin to emerge (Forbes 101). In addition to that, some scholars argue that the concept of a family is also an important economic aspect. Specifically, the concept of household is often used to conduct macroeconomic calculations and marketing analysis across many industries (Shepard & Greene 98).
Theoretically, four types of a family can be identified. Conjugal family refers to the traditional family, including a mother, a father and underage children. Matrifocal family means a mother and her children. Foster families encompass the situation, when a child (or sometimes parents/a parent) is adopted, and there are no immediate (or any) blood kinship between the child and the parents. Generally, a family may take many dimensions, but in the majority of the cases, it includes two persons or more persons united by the common kinship or social norms.
The purpose of this assignment is to analyze a typical nuclear American family and to conclude whether the current patterns of family building in the United States evolved and, if yes, to determine the extent of this evolution.
Methodology
This research method is interview-based. A typical American family, residing in a safe and economically stable neighborhood was chosen as the interviewees (they are the parents of one of the friends of this research author). In order to ensure their privacy rights, the identities of the participants of the interview were coded as Mr. and Ms. Black. The family for this interview was chosen in a random fashion, i.e. with the help of special randomizing software a friend of the research author was chosen on Facebook, and then approached with the request to ask his parents for interview.
The interviewed family was ethnically Caucasian and has median American income. The both parents have master degrees. Professionally, the husband is an electric engineer, and the wife is a registered nurse, as well as she is a prolific academic writer. Their child is a college student. In accordance with the existing standards of qualitative research (Fischer 117), The interviewees were informed about confidential nature and academic purposes of the interview, and they gave their full informed consent. The possibility of waiving certain questions, as well the option of terminating this interview at any time was also communicated.
The researcher asked fifteen different open and closed questions, to which the interviewees provided comprehensive answers. The waiver to answer a question was not used, and the research participants were actively involved in the process, being cooperative and willing to take part in the experiment. Following their request, a copy of this research was provided to them.
The Findings
This interview yielded prevalently anticipated results, although in some ways the interviewees differ from the canonical patterns of a nuclear family in the American society. Thus, the following data findings have been collected in the course of this project:
Do you believe that you are a traditional family? How do you understand the concept of a traditional family?
In spite of the dynamic evolution of the American society, the rise of feminism and other societal permutations, this family preserves traditional roles within the marriage, which entirely reflects the old-fashioned, but yet fundamental American values. The key aspect in this regard is ‘who makes final decisions’, when a family has to resolve something.
Who is the decision maker in your family?
All major decisions are made on the family councils, where everyone is entitled to participate and express his/her opinion. For the main decision, a unanimous consent of all family members is required. When the parents believe that a child cannot entirely comprehend the details of a particular situation, the child does not take part in these ‘councils’. Any disagreements relating to a particular course of actions are resolved through family negotiations only.
What do you do, when you face disagreements?
Sometimes, the scandals happen, but the Mr. and Ms. Black declared that they quickly reconcile all their disagreements. Specifically, they highlighted that the sense of unity and solidarity are significantly more important for them, and when the opinion regarding a particular life situation of one of the spouses should be sacrificed, both of them are agreeable to that option. The interviewees also revealed that it is Mr. Black, who decides to change his opinion for the sake of protecting a common interest and unity in the family.
What is your family approach to dealing with the crisis situations?
In times of any crisis (financial, emotional etc.), it is Mr. Black, who bears responsibility for all kinds of ‘emergency management’. In other words, when a family faces different hardships, it is a husband, who is expected to resolve the crisis. In order to do that, he receives almost dictatorial powers, and the family members agree to obey all his instructions unconditionally. Even though his decisions are not always as successful as they expected them to be, the head of the family enjoys absolute immunity for any wrong decisions he may take. Yet, the practice reveals that Mr. Black is a very judicious and experienced man, and all crises, which the family faced, were resolved successfully and without major negative impacts.
Do you believe that career orientation is important for the both spouses?
The family advocates traditional American views in relation to breadwinning and money managing. Thus, in spite of the fact that the average annual income of the husband is slightly higher than the median American one, the both parents are working, believing that by joining the efforts the family can live better. It is also understood that in the event anything happens to Mr. Black, his spouse should be always ready to provide the family with all necessities until he restores his full professional functionality. At the same time, money management is shared between the two spouses on almost equal terms.
Who is the breadwinner in your family? In your opinion, how the partners should divide their financial obligations?
Thus, while Mrs. Black is responsible for daily money management, i.e. deciding how much money should be spend on grocery bills and what is the family monthly recreational budget, the husband is responsible for all strategic expenses, i.e. it is him who decide how much money should be invested and to which cause. The interviewees declared that managing their common finances requires much coordination and mutual understanding. At the same time, each of the partners have a personal budget (which are equal in size), which he or she can spend in any way, without informing the other partner.
What are your main family priorities in life?
As far as the main priorities in life are concerned, the both partners acknowledged that their most important common objective is ‘to be happy’. They further elaborated that the idea of ‘happiness’ has important dimensions. Some of them are rather constant, while others change over time. For example, in the past, the family enjoyed visiting discos, and the substantial portion of the family budget was used to cover these recreational expenses. Today, university education of their only child is the most important priority for them. The Black acknowledged that for the both of them being happy is important, and every week they gather and decide what should be done in order to achieve that state.
How do you divide you house chore?
The house chore is equally divided between them. Thus, while Ms. Black is responsible for making the abode clean, Mr. Black, as a former Navy cook, prepares the meals. Sometimes they may exchange their obligations, but these cases are rare. The interviewees accentuated that the division of their house responsibilities has never been a point of contention between them.
Do you participate in life of your community, or you prefer a more secluded lifestyle?
Both Mr. and Ms. Black are active socially and religiously. Not only are they regular attendants of their local Baptist church, but also they always take part in the various community projects. Because of their activism, Mr. Black was several time appointed as the head of the local charity.
Do you maintain relations with your distant relatives?
The interviewees told that they maintain friendly relations with all members of their extended family. If anyone appears in a dire need, all family members are always ready to help, both emotionally and financially.
Do you believe that the parents should support their adult children financially?
As long as children work hard to make his career, the parents should provide financial and other types of aid to them. At the same time, if children keep idle lifestyle and do not work hard, the parents are entitled to decline any assistance requests.
Who is responsible for upbringing and disciplining your child?
The parents bring up and discipline a child together. Otherwise, a child may not acquire all skills, which are necessary to succeed in life. When only one parent takes care of a child, he may develop ‘lopsided’ mentality.
What upbringing and disciplining approaches you use?
The interviewees emphasized that soft approaches to upbringing and discipline are the most effective. Physical punishments are never used. A understand that a particular type of behavior is necessary because it is right, not because he fears punishment.
Do you have individual hobbies/activities, which are not supported by your partner?
The both partners have hobbies and activities, which are frowned upon by another spouse. Mr. Black has special liking for fishing, which often keeps him out of home for several weeks, while Mrs. Black enjoys watching soap operas. Although the both partners distaste these hobbies of their partners, they are agreeable to tolerating them for the sake of preserving family unity and friendly environment.
In your opinion, is unity and ‘good climate’ in the family more important than individual happiness?
Individual happiness is a critical component of family unity and cannot be discussed separately. Thus, if one of the partners is not happy personally, it means that such family is not united. The Blacks emphasized that both of them are happy individually, that is why their family is a friendly and happy one.
What is your advice to all young couples?
The Blacks advised all newlyweds to respect each other, while remembering that each spouse is an individual. Finding the balance between personal and common interest is of critical importance in this regard.
Conclusions
This research demonstrated that the Blacks are an average, even stereotypical, American family. Duties and responsibilities of the wife and the husband are regulated and both of them observe this division. United by the common interests and priorities in life, the spouses strongly believe that all conflicts should be resolved by negotiations, and that the both partners bear responsibility for well-being of the family.
Works Cited
Fischer, Constance T. Qualitative research methods for psychologists : introduction to empirical studies. Amsterdam Boston, MA: Elsevier Academic Press, 2005. Print.
Forbes, Scott. A natural history of families. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005. Print.
Shepard, Jon M., and Robert W. Greene. Sociology and you. New York: Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 2003. Print.
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