Reconstructing the Family

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

Andrews University Extension of Affiliation Programs
P.O. Box 175, Port of Spain
Trinidad West Indies

Reconstructing the Family

An Assignment
Prepared in Partial Fulfilment
For the Requirements of the Course
ENGL215English composition 2

INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Kevin Holder

By
Kerwin Alexander

Date: 21st April, 2009.

Approval_______________

Reconstructing the Family

Abstract
The various types of family constructs both contemporary and traditional were investigated as to
examine their strengths and weaknesses, in the context of microcosm and macrocosm- that is,
families affecting society. The goal of this research was to present to the reader the various
arguments made by society, the media and notable scholars and authorities on the issue of family
format. The research examined what is a family, its importance and function, the major formatsboth traditional and contemporary and the issues surrounding them. A balance outlook on the
subject was derived using authoritative sources on the matter, including prominent advocates and
adversaries as well as objectivists on the issue. The findings cited the effectiveness or
ineffectiveness of the various family constructs and tended to show the effects as being relative.

Reconstructing the Family

Reconstructing the Family

The family is a social institution that is found in every culture. However, families differ across
societies, culture and throughout history. It can be said that the relative strength or weakness of
any country depends heavily upon that of its families, which can be seen as a microcosm of the
macrocosm that is society. Today there are varied views on the relevance and types of families
that society needs and should embrace, with many persons being fixed to the traditional views of
the nuclear and extended family structure, whilst others vouch for what they term as a much
needed change in the family constructs or format and advocating new forms such as the single
parent, gay and lesbian families among others. The effect that these entities are apt to perpetuate
to society is today an issue of mammoth significance in almost every part of the world,
especially the western hemisphere. As a result, this research paper will be geared towards
investigating the various types of traditional and contemporary family constructs and their
strengths and weaknesses.
The traditional family according to David Blankenhorn is on the rise (Ojeda, A. 2000, pp. 28).
In his argument, David presented recent findings from research done by American Census
Bureau and also by independent scholars from the years 1996 - 2000, which showed the
traditional family form being once again on the rise in relation of other format, since the
beginning of its drastic fall from favour in 1967 (Ojeda, A. 2000). The traditional family has
been stated as the most stabilizing of all family constructs, with its values not limited to the preindustrial era. The typical traditional family forms includes, those consisting of a married couple
of opposite sex, and their biological, dependent children living together, referred to as the nuclear
family (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. ) and of course the most dominant of all pre- industrial family the
extended, which is basically the nuclear family horizontally or vertically extended. The extended

Reconstructing the Family

family in order words can be seen as those nuclear families inclusive of the third generation
(spouses parents) or persons of the same generation as the spouses - spouses brothers or sisters
and their dependent children (Haralambos, M., Holborn, M. & Heald, R. 2000. pp. 504).
The traditional family is an important component to any society providing stability and the
morals and values essential for its sustenance. This family provides its members among other
things with care, affection, protection, self worth and plays the most important role in socializing
its members all of which if absent from the family would have to be provided by the state
through welfare programs, inevitably costing taxpayer millions annually (Zastrow, C. 2008).
Traditional families prior to the industrial age were according to Zastrow, (2008) provided
economic stability for its members and society, and they were apt to have lots of children as
these would add hands to the work to be done, as these families tend to depend heavily on
subsistence farming and agriculture. Families were expected to have children; this social
expectation was a societal testimony of the fruitfulness of the wife, thus maintaining the
population. In traditional families children we seen as assets, not only in terms of the more work
around the home that would be done but also as a gift from God. The traditional family
according to George Peter Murdock was described as being a universal entity, with only slight
variations, with its basics roles being universal that of sexual reproduction, economic and
education (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000. pp. 508). Zastrow (2008) stated traditional families
tended to put family in front of individual and members were willing to sacrifice for other
members. The family provided a mental, social and psychological safe haven for its member
even in time of adverse societal conditions as evident in the families minority groups in the
United States, as the African, Latinos and Asian Americans, who despite facing racial
discrimination and prejudice are able to empower its members and establish their self esteem and

Reconstructing the Family

pride in themselves despite of. Zastrow (2008) continued by stating that marriages were
organized and were based more on economy rather than romantic love. They were use as to
obtain dowries (assets-usually in exchange for the male who is to be wedded) and to quell feuds
between family, tribes and even nations. Divorce was almost unheard of; sexually transmitted
diseases were rare in traditional families (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 186); as the microcosm (the
family) which inevitably perpetuates its values to society the macrocosm, held in high regard the
sanctity of sexual relation inside the forum of marriage. Homosexuality, beastiality and all other
perverse family and sexual feat was abhorred by traditional oriented society. Traditional families
and their traditional view point held firmly to the principles of family before self, and in essence
guided its members in placing community, state and consequently nation before self.
With the turn of the industrial revolution, with its technological advancement, dominance of
science, where the protestant ethics was introduced by and did flourish, where individualism was
rang through every society by thinker such as Karl Marx , Darwin and Herbert Spencer in his
notion of survival of the fittest evolution and the inevitability of change, (Haralambos, M. et
al. 2000. pp.11-13, 686, 1025) together with concepts like urbanization and specialization, the
traditional family was force to make drastic adjustments in its norms.
However persons termed conservatives who may also be associated with the label the
republicans or residuals, in their large and effective groups and organizations stress that the
traditional family is still the most suitable entity for the survival of even this post industrial
world, they loathe any institution, concept, practice or principle that seeks to undermine the
value and function of the traditional family (Zastrow, C. 2008).
Contemporary family constructs are on the rise (Ojeda, A. 2000. pp. 28), no longer are
individual needs being adequately met by the traditional family forms. It is clear that new forms

Reconstructing the Family

of family are needed in this post industrial era and can provide the same function of reproducing,
caring for its members socialization, providing affection and regulating sexual behaviours as
effective and even more effective than traditional ones, as they are better suited for this post
industrial period (Ojeda, A. 2000). In a world where large factories and business organizations,
has replace the role of traditional small family farms and have become the centre of economic
production, where goods produced on traditional family farms cannot compete with those
produced by large industries that are automated, producing vast amounts of standardize goods at
a much cheaper cost to society (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 182). The woman is no longer needed to
do traditional roles as washing and ironing through rapid technological advances, that are
available at a relatively cheap price.
Prominent contemporary family structures and their practices include the single parent family
where a person divorces or is legally separated, assumes custody of one or more children and
chooses not to remarry, (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 34) cohabiting couples also known as common
law relationship where parties live together as married couples but are not married (Haralambos,
M. et al. pp.564). Other forms includes that of same sex marriages- this term is use instead of the
common term homosexual because it is more inclusive, that is, it includes bi-sexual and
homosexual individuals (Robinson, B. A. 2009), blended families also known as reconstituted
families where one or both spouses have biologically produced children from a previous
relationship, (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 34) open marriages that entails partners agreement to which
parties are free to do just about anything including having extramarital affairs, (Zastrow, C. 2008.
pp. 31) group marriages where resources are polled together and serial and contract marriages a
pattern of successive, temporary marriages, where negotiations for separation are clearly
stipulated before marriage, (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 30). Notable contemporary practices include

Reconstructing the Family

artificial insemination where the sperm of a womans husband or any donor (male) can is used to
artificially impregnate her; (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 21) another practice similar to insemination is
surrogating which involve one woman who is usually paid carrying the foetus produced by the
egg of another woman, after birth all parental rights are terminated by the surrogate and the child
is legally adopted by the sperm or egg donors, (Haralambos, M. et al. pp.540). The practice of
test tube babies is similar to that of surrogating. Other constructs include childless couples,
transracial adoptions (adoption of children whose race is different to that of the adoptee(s)),
comarital sex which unlike traditional extramarital affairs that tended to be a clandestine
matter, involves mate swapping and other extramarital affairs where both spouses agree to
participate (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 34).
Contemporary families according to Linda Nicholson in her work published in 1997 entitled
The Myth of the Traditional Family was better able to withstand the demand of modern
society, facilitated to the liberation of women, personal choice, individualism, self fulfilment and
easy mobility (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000. pp.520). Feminists and anti-discriminatory groups
argue that these contemporary structures are essential to ensuring the human rights of all persons
(Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 421- 45).
Both the traditional and contemporary family structure appears to have their strengths and
weakness, some of which would be discussed hereafter. As mentioned earlier traditionalist state
that their propagated family construct is in no wise obsolete for the present period whereas
contemporary advocates refute this claim.
The traditional family is viewed by women movement groups many of which are of feminist
orientation such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) as being patriarchially
dominant, sexist, discriminating, and as establishing and maintaining the male status perpetuated

Reconstructing the Family

from generation to generation (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 441). They believe all groups including
women should have the right to self determination and not have their roles dictated to them.
Feminists movements have been so adamant in their cause that they are now classed as a
minority group in the United States. They now experience privileges associated minority groups,
one of which is called affirmative action where preferential hiring and admission are given to
members of minority groups, such that employers or those in authority of institutions are
obligated by law to make active efforts to locate and recruit qualified minority group members
and in some cases having stipulated quotas which they are obliged to adhere to (Zastrow, C.
2008. pp. 425). Traditionalist points to the negative effects of affirmative action as ground for
disposing feminist views such as reverse discrimination that occurs when because minority
groups members (females in this case) must be employed in stipulation of affirmative action
many persons of the majority group (those in society not labelled minority) who may be more
qualified for jobs are being unfairly overlooked (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 421- 45).
Traditionalists states that it was never the goal of the traditional family to promote the image
of male dominance and though this has led to the traditional family being perceived as a
religiously propagated entity (Edwards, N. W. 1993). Traditionalists condemn the contemporary
notion that devalues the role women who remain at home play, which they state as the very core
of society (Zastrow, C.). Traditionalists points at the increase rate of divorce with statistics
showing over 50 % of every marriage in America ending in divorce, (Ojeda, A. 2000. pp. 20).
Traditionalist points to statistics that showed that divorce tended to be less in traditional family
setting as those by the Roman Catholics (Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 187). They blame the ease at
which divorce can be obtained, sexual liberation and the ambiguousness of sex roles as
responsible for the rise in the divorce rate. Contemporary advocates however, states the rise in

Reconstructing the Family

the divorce rate does not necessarily mean that more marriages are failing but simply that
persons are choosing to dissolve their marriages rather than remaining unhappy, in empty shell
marriages (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000. pp.566). They point to the increase in the divorce rate as
having a positive effect in that this tends to offset the rate in spousal and child abuse, and incest
that was prevalent in the traditional form of the family; here they stated member felt so trap
because of the stigma attached to divorce long ago, they simply accepted their plight as normal
(Zastrow, C. 2008. pp. 187).
Reporting on arguments surrounding the traditional family in the United States, the
Witherspoon Society Network News September to October, issue 5 of volume 13, presenting on
The Atlantic Monthly Magazine Dan Quayle Was Right showed that children of two-parent
families (traditional) tend to do better in school, and have fewer problems with drugs, gangs and
illegal behaviour, than those from single-parent families- a contemporary construct (Edwards, N.
W. 1993). All these deviant behaviour have hidden costs to society, in that tax payers finances the
states justice system, welfare systems, rehabilitation system, penitentiaries, hospitals and the
many public service announcement and other services that becomes necessary as result. The
increase in sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and other acts that quells the normal
functioning of life is attributed to those who favour the contemporary form of family.
Contemporary practices today allow for many possibilities not dreamt about long ago, such as
granting previously unfruitful couples the chance to have that much wanted child through
surrogating or artificial insemination. Traditionalists argue this leads to the rich making the poor
their baby carriers, and undermining the reproductive function of the family. They point to cases
of ethical dilemma, where the surrogated mothers after birth became emotionally attached to the
child and had to be forced by the courts to hand over to biological donors and where both the

Reconstructing the Family

10

surrogated mother and the biological donors did not want to have custody of the child because of
birth prematurity.
The cost of social welfare programs are likely to decrease due to adoptions which evidently
results in less children being in foster homes. Race acceptance due to transracial adoptions is
likely and the liberty of individual to live in a way that makes them happy according to their
orientation should increase the standard of living (in terms of quality of relationships). With
contemporary thinking, no longer are persons limited to specific sex roles stereotypes as men
become carpenters and women hairdressers but that everyone can perform that which he or she is
good at.
Traditionalist points to the increase in the number of abandon children, as being directly
related to the increase number of foster homes and adoptions, as persons as less reluctant to
abstain from irresponsible sexual practices, knowing that the foster homes and adopters will
clean up after them. Traditionalists points also prominent theories as those by many behavioural
scientists who state that we learn most behaviour as a result of person in environment (Zastrow,
C. pp. 51). If children are born "tabula rasa (blank slates) (Knight, R. G. 1980 p. 52) then its
stands that gays and lesbians should not be able to adopt children as their behaviour would be
affect the adoptee (Ojeda, A. 2000. pp. 143).
Traditionalist condemns the practices of abortion, euthanasia and the likes, submitting the
notion to those who advocate such are already alive. Children can be deemed either as assets and
investment for the future or they can be viewed as liabilities, with motherhood being a
disadvantage (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000 pp. 518). The cost of raising a child up until eighteen
is approximately $241,777(Zastrow, C. pp. 30) and the amount time taken to do such decreases

Reconstructing the Family

11

the chance of women getting job promotions and being able to compete successfully with men in
the workplace (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000. pp. 518).
Contemporary family activists state that marriage should be bases on love and that
contemporary families allow for relationships to be built on love and affection not on obligation
and stereotypes roles, whereas traditionalist states marriage should be in terms of needs of parties
involved and for the well being of society.
In conclusions many sociologists argue that the family has lost a number of its functions.
Overall, the shift from the traditional family forms to modern ones is likely to continue along
with the values they advocate. The divorce rate has stabilized though at a high level, non marital
birth has stop rising and may be falling. The sexual revolution, womens liberation movements,
the relaxation and de-stigmatization of divorce laws and divorce, increase mobility, the
downplaying of elderly wisdom, science and other post industrial factors ensure that the family
systems will be changing continually. Talcott Parson stated that the family has become:
on the microscopic levels, almost completely functionless. It does not itself, except here and
there, engage in much economic production; it is not a significant unit in the political power
system; it is not a major direct agent of integration of the larger society. Its individual
members participate in all these functions, but they do so as individuals, not in their roles as
family members (Haralambos, M. et al. 2000. pp. 505).
Few areas of society have changed as much as the family has over the last generation (Ojeda,

Reference
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