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History of Families. Introduction to Family Studies Lecture 2. Announcements. If you are having trouble with your schoolwork, need tutoring or assistance in note taking, writing, managing test anxiety, etc., call or visit the Center for Academic Development and Assessment - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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History of Families
Introduction to Family Studies
Lecture 2
Announcements
If you need psychological help or just need to talk someone, call Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at: 973-655-5211http://www.montclair.edu/caps/Located in Gilbreth
If you are having trouble with your schoolwork, need tutoring or assistance in note taking, writing, managing test anxiety, etc., call or visit the Center for Academic Development and Assessmenthttp://www.montclair.edu/cada/Located in Morehead Hall, Rooms 139-145
History of Families in the U.S.
How have families changed over time? Families have become more private spheres How have the functions performed by families changed? Social institutions have developed that perform the functions previously carried out by families In sum, modern families perform fewer functions than families of the past
History of Families in the U.S.
Are families in decline or adapting to long term trends?
Myths about the past lead to emphasis on decline
The author of your text, Andrew Cherlin, argues the breadwinner/homemaker family of the 1950s faded quickly
History of Families in the U.S.
Images of the “good old days” are largely myths (Coontz, 2000)
Taking a historic, long term approach leads to adaptation conclusion
Don’t make comparisons to the 1950s!
History of Families in the U.S.
Myths about families in the past: Myth 1: Three generation families were
common In fact because mortality rates were high and life
expectancy shorter (people died young) – few parents could expect to live with their grandchildren
Extended families -- that have become folklore-- were rare
FALSE
History of Families in the U.S.
Myths about families in the past: Myth 2: Most families were breadwinner-
homemaker form Most families men and women worked equally hard Men may have farmed but women produced
finished goods –i.e. spun wool, churned butter All family members including children helped
produce food and household goods to meet the needs of the family
-FALSE
History of Families in the U.S.
Tamara Hareven argues:
As social historians, we need to take a long view of family change
We must look at changes over the past 100 to 200 years
We cannot just look at change in the past 40 years, beginning with the 1950s
? Are the changes in the family part of a long-term trend or are they just temporary developments?
History of Families in the U.S.
In colonial America families were also businesses, schools, health and social welfare institutions
Who was living in households during this colonial era? Borders Apprentices Lodgers Servants
History of Families in the U.S.
What major demographic, economic, and cultural changes influenced families?
Industrialization Urbanization
Separation of work from home Families surrendered functions to other
institutions – schools, hospitals, nursing homes Change in economy -- from small-family-based-
agriculture to large industrial capital Immigration increases – 30 million immigrants
move to U.S. from 1830 to early 1930
History of Families in the U.S.
Declining Birthrate Fewer people per room
Rise of Individualism People are free from public scrutiny as family becomes a
more private retreat Cult of True Womanhood – women are supposed to be
“guardians of the homes,” they are morally superior and virtuous compared with the harsh world of men/work
Children become economically worthless, emotionally priceless
Emergence of Adolescence as a separate stage of life
History of Families in the U.S.
Architectural changes – invention of the corridor
History of Families in the U.S.
In sum, important changes taking place in the 1700s through the early 1900s result in:
Changes in racial and ethnic composition of the population
Increasing economic dependence of women on men
Childhood/adolescence becomes distinct stage of life
Families have fewer functions Families are more private
What makes a family?
Let’s coonsider the following questions:1) What is a family? Hint: Think about all the new types of families and all
the ways family members may be related2) What are some NEW types of families that we’ve
seen since the 1950s in the U.S.3) What social changes have occurred over the past
40-50 years and how these have affected families today?
What makes a family?
Do members have to be related by blood?
Do members have to be married?
Do they have to share the same household?
Which picture is a family?
Defining Families
A few definitions of the many: “two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or
adoption and residing together in a household.” ----U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002
Households = families A set of persons related to each other by blood,
marriage or adoption and whose basic societal function is replacement.” --Winch, 1971
Who is missing here?
Defining Families
A proposed inclusive working definition:A family is a relationship by blood, marriage, or affection in which 1) the members may cooperate economically2) may care for children3) and may consider their individual identities to be intimately connected to the larger group”
Seccombe and Warner, p. 6
Summary
Families continuously change over time Families have become more private Many myths about families in the past
based on too few cases We always want to look as far back as we
can when considering a family trend The term families encompasses all types of
families