Saturday, September 10, 2011

Family of 1950’s vs. Family of Now


Family of 1950’s vs. Family of Now

     Along with the reading in the book, I also interviewed my grandmother. My grandparents were married in 1950 and their two children were born in 1954 and 1956.

     In the 1950’s, the male was the breadwinner while the wife stayed home and cared for the home and children. Now, families are two –income or sometimes it is the wife that is the breadwinner and the husband stays home.

     In the 1950’s, everyday life was more family oriented. The everyday life of today’s family involves parents’ working (both parents, long hours, even sometimes parents working away from the home city or state), television, computers, video games, etc. My grandmother told me stories of my father, uncle and their cousins always being together and playing at each other’s houses and weekends away at the family beach cottage. She notices that my children prefer television, computers, video games, etc.

     In the 1950’s, the divorce rate was low (around 9%). In today’s family, the divorce is common (around 45%). My grandmother commented that in the 1950’s, it was expected of you to work out your marital problems. Divorce was reserved for major, irreconcilable problems. Today, many couples just throw their arms up in defeat at the hint of a problem. Divorce is much more common now and many times could probably be worked out.

     I asked my grandmother the question, “Which family is better: the 1950’s family or the family of now? And Why?” Her answer was the 1950’s family because the values have changed too much.

     In my opinion, both families have their advantages and disadvantages. I think that today’s family is better in regards to family roles. The role of the woman has changed tremendously and for the better. It is now acceptable for women to work outside of the home and even be the breadwinner. It is also now acceptable for the man to stay home and take care of the kids and such while the women work. However, I tend to agree with my grandmother that the values of marriage and family have changed; and not for the better. While some of today’s population does still have the marriage and family values of the past, others do not. 

Plagiarism:
Using someone else's work without giving proper credit, is plagiarism. If you use my work, please reference it. 

No comments:

Post a Comment