Is the family in decline?

One theme that threads through these very different opinions and approaches to the “family wars” is the inevitability and sometimes dangerous nature of individual opinions in social research and policy formation. However the different approaches presented, from Popenoe’s “traditional definition” and correlational studies to Coontz’s historical examination, illustrate the importance of considering multiple definitions and research methods to attempt to gain a broader picture. This highlights an issue that I imagine will reoccur though our studies of the family: reconciling the practicality of limited definitions and personal views with attaining a multidisciplinary, global, and hopefully more “complete” research.

These reading also made me think of the prominent American rhetoric to “protect the children and family”. On one side, this greatly influences political policy regarding controversial issues such as abortion and pornography, while governmental social programs like the “No Child Left Behind” program, which uses much of the same rhetoric, remains chronically under funded. I agree with Hochschild that more social programs are needed, not just because the institution of the family is in “decline”, but to create stronger versions of what we already see as important socializing forces, such as education. In America there is a strong stigma around government intervention, however the unique social times that Coontz addresses calls for an acceptance of greater social programs (both for the family and outside of it), and with this a change in what the family represents in society. Canada is leading the way somewhat with greater parental leave, child services, and health care, and America could use this as an example for institutional and cultural reform.

Questions:

1. Can there ever be one coherent definition of the family? What are the drawbacks and benefits of creating this definition? How has globalization affected research surrounding this definition?
2. Has any society reached Stacey’s state of the “post modern family”? Is it attainable in our current political and cultural climate?
3. How does the need to reconcile individual family structure with societal expectations of the family affect individual happiness? Familial happiness? Is there even a need?