10/26/17

Johnathan Lopez
English 1S

The representation of the model family in the twenty first century is failing to recognize

the problems families actually face, such as single parenting or raising children in mixed status

households. Because of the modern day politicians and poor advertisement towards this myth of

the model family, as a society, Americans have become adjusted and fixated on ideals that

misinterpret the realities of everyday families .Failing to realize the struggles and hardships that

Americans of these single parent, mixed-status, or low income households are challenged with

is damaging to the representation and the way other American citizens perceive these families.

With the atmosphere of modern day politics and what kind of politicians represent Americans,

the family value ideals held by most of them are those that can be associated to the 1950’s

model family, or a “Nuclear Family.” Believing that most of American families are a mother,

father, and their dependent children with a pet. Living in a regular home. A happy and

wholesome family that usually wouldn’t share the same experiences that a typical american

family might have.

When continuing to elaborate on negatively impactful stereotypes on the myth of the

model family, it is important to note that in the year of 2017, not all families fit the mold of a

white picket fence house. It is said that the model family from America’s “good old days” as

stated by our President, would typically be a white family from the 50’s era. For some odd yet

understandable reasons, there seems to be nostalgia for the 1950’s from a large amount of

people. Typically from people who were raised during or near that time period. From the book

“Rereading America” there is an article by Stephanie Coontz titled “What We Really Miss About

The 1950’s” here it tells details of the 50’s and what causes many to become so reminiscent of

the era for the birthplace of the “model family.” The article states “it’s easy to see why people
might look back fondly to a decade when real wages grew more in any single year than in the

entire ten years of the 1980’s combined, a time when the average 30-year-old man could buy a

median-priced home on only 15-18 percent of his salary.”(pg #25) During the 50’s a man could

make good money to live off of while supporting a family with nothing but their high school

diploma. With this factor in mind it’s easy to understand the nostalgia for this aspect of the 50’s,

now families are barely swimming above or are falling below the poverty line. But since this

brand of a middle class family sort of signifies the model family, it is often overlooked that those

who are less fortunate are as well a families and should be recognized as such. Another issue

among the myth of the model family, that should as well be recognized is the heavily impacted

idea of gender roles among family members.

While gender roles play a huge part in discussing these myths, I as well believe that

gender in itself can be an underlooked issue. Not all homes have a father and mother, homes

can as well have same sex parents, which isn’t portrayed much in media as well. With

heterosexuality as the norm for today's society it’s a bit harder for same sex couples to be

accepted in society by other families or others in their community. For almost a majority of

history, same sex couples have been frowned upon. Since they’re typically so looked down

upon, in social media and television not until recently have Americans standards been more

lenient and understanding to the exposure of the American same sex families. While during the

“good old days” as I stated previously, the everyday household was a mother and father, It

becomes a bit clear that most Americans during this era held homophobic ideology. As passed

down through religion as a sin, same sex couples were banned from the right of marriage,

disincluding them the same passage other families usually take before actually becoming a

family. Same sex marriage became legalized in many but not all U.S. jurisdictions on June 26,

2015. Although legalized in many states, the recentness of the legalization, as well as the

complication that comes with the law, continues to prove that American politicians still have a
long way to go before they are able to acknowledge all familial issues. Continuing to address

familial issues that divert from the myth of the model family, it becomes important to note that

children in the foster care system are as well seeking families.

Children that lose their loved ones or are left in the care of the foster system are usually

never fully depicted in social media or in politics. The U.S as well fails to recognize the

mistreatment of foster children in foster homes, due to lack of investigation on these families

prior to adoption. During the 1950’s there were 98,082 children in the foster care system. In

2015, there were 427,910 children in foster care, according to Johnstonarchive.net and their

statistics report. The myth that children are all raised by their biological parents can be harmful

to children growing up in foster homes. Due to the ignorance or misunderstanding that some

people may feel towards adoption, children in foster homes may feel a somewhat out of place or

outcasted for not being raised by their own parents. Considering that this is the norm for most

U.S families, it may hurt for these children to see other families with their biological parents,

because being raised in foster care is different. A television show titled “The Fosters” by the

network “FreeForm” helps to bring awareness to issues that challenge foster homes. It touches

topics such as children growing up in mixed ethnic households and how this can be confusing

and sometimes an issue for other families of the U.S. The show as well gives insight on what

prejudice these families can face that can cause them to become pushed aside and viewed as

an unofficial family.

Considering not all families are as well made up of U.S citizens, it is typical for

Americans to ignore our families of mixed-status, and what they are facing daily. When

discussing matters dealing with families that are of mixed-status in the United States, it is said in

the research study titled “Mass deportations would impoverish US families and create immense

social costs” by Robert Warren and Donald Kerwin, the article gives factual information in
regards to the reality for a large part of United States families. The article states “There were 3.3

million mixed-status households in the United States in 2014” (pg #1) the year is now 2017,

considering there is a 3 year difference between that study to now, the numbers have only

increased in mixed-status households. There are many harmful stereotypes that negatively

impact the perception of these households. It is usually said that families who are of mixed

status tend to lack family values or are said to have a tougher time at getting ahead in life than

others who live in an all american home. From my own personal experience of being raised in a

mixed status household, I can say for me, relatives who aren’t born in the U.S. hold much

stronger family and cultural values. For these mixed-status families, it is typically immigrant

parents with their american children. Immigrant parents strive for them to gain a higher

education. Considering that only the children are residents of the United States, most white

americans or american born citizens who hold a tight grip onto the idea of the myth of the model

family, aren’t pleased with the way this family roots themselves into america. Although these

families strive to give their children better, this is shadowed by the legal status of the parents or

relatives.

Not only do these immigrants want better for their children, but they also are creating

and seeking new work opportunities for themselves and others around them. As stated in the

article by Warren and Kerwin, “Of the 7.6 million undocumented residents in the labor force,

three-quarters of a million are self-employed, having created their own jobs and in the process

creating jobs for many others.”(pg #3) With being an immigrant there comes this stereotype that

all immigrants are lazy, and that they come to America to get things handed to them for free. But

this goes to prove that while keeping their legal status anonymous while being employed in the

U.S, but they are finding and creating better jobs for themselves and many others just like them.
Not only does this help to defeat the stereotype of immigrants being lazy, this helps to bring

other immigrant families out of poverty by providing new jobs.

No amount of statistics can tell every story that families of the U.S face on a daily basis.

With trying to describe the families and their colors that help paint the the U.S, it’s plain to see

that while some families do appeal to the myth of the American model family, most don’t.

Instead of just viewing this painting from one perspective, it’s important to recognize and be

aware of all colors of the spectrum of familial issues across America. While these colors can be

sometimes harsh and hard to discuss, it’s important that we do discuss them. Due to

continuously casting these issues of mixed-status, low income, or single parent families aside in

the shadows. It causes the discussion of the myth of the model family to arise and become

quintessential to people who try to define these families. Although not every family fits the mold

of the myth, it still doesn’t invalidate them and their right to being a family.