Changing With Time: Changing With Time: The Family UnitThe Family Unit

Vicki Lombardo Vicki Lombardo

English 102 Section 5232English 102 Section 5232

When evaluating the family When evaluating the family unit it is important to look unit it is important to look at:at:

HistoryHistory

Major events that have pushed these Major events that have pushed these changeschanges

The roles each member playedThe roles each member played

To see how the family To see how the family unit has changed look unit has changed look at:at:

The 1800’sThe 1800’s The 1900’sThe 1900’s Present Day Present Day

SocietySociety

Arguments

1900's

1800'sPresent Day

1800's

1900's

PresentDay

The Family UnitThe Family Unit1800’s -Present day1800’s -Present day

MenMen

WomenWomen

ChildrenChildren

The 1800’s The 1800’s

Men:Men: During the 1800’s the male played a very During the 1800’s the male played a very

traditional role as the head of the household. traditional role as the head of the household.

““white southerners honored aggressive male white southerners honored aggressive male behavior and therefore encouraged it in their behavior and therefore encouraged it in their young sons.…family ties were stronger, and young sons.…family ties were stronger, and women played a more subordinate role” (Morgan women played a more subordinate role” (Morgan 124) 124)

The males job was to provide for their families, The males job was to provide for their families, which most of the time consisted of manual labor. which most of the time consisted of manual labor.

The 1800’sThe 1800’s

Men:Men: Jobs were held by men, and consisted of: Jobs were held by men, and consisted of:

railroad worker, journalist, political party railroad worker, journalist, political party activist and many more. activist and many more.

Due to jobs only being able to be obtained by Due to jobs only being able to be obtained by males, when organizations made agreements males, when organizations made agreements they were coined as “gentlemen’s they were coined as “gentlemen’s agreements” (Ingui 16).agreements” (Ingui 16).

The 1800’s The 1800’s

Women:Women: Women at this time played a passive role, with Women at this time played a passive role, with

limited education, and whose purpose was to limited education, and whose purpose was to raise a family.raise a family.

Women, who could not work at the time, would Women, who could not work at the time, would “raise their child to adulthood in their home” “raise their child to adulthood in their home” (Flanders 6). (Flanders 6).

Schooling for women was severely limited in Schooling for women was severely limited in the eighteen hundreds.the eighteen hundreds.

““Women were not allowed to continue school Women were not allowed to continue school after grammar school” (Sheffield).after grammar school” (Sheffield).

The 1800’sThe 1800’s

Children:Children: Children were required to do a large amount of Children were required to do a large amount of

manual labor around the house. manual labor around the house.

““Milking the cows, fetching water, watching out Milking the cows, fetching water, watching out for the younger kids, helping unpack and pack, for the younger kids, helping unpack and pack, herd the extra live stock, help cook, help with herd the extra live stock, help cook, help with laundry, and fish and hunt for small game” laundry, and fish and hunt for small game” ((CNTENA)CNTENA) were some of the jobs children did. were some of the jobs children did.

Education for children was very limited and Education for children was very limited and there were few laws that regulated education.there were few laws that regulated education.

1900’s1900’s

Men: Men: During the beginning of this period it During the beginning of this period it

was still male dominated; however, by was still male dominated; however, by the end it was fairly equal. the end it was fairly equal.

It became more common for men to It became more common for men to stay home.stay home.

Marriage fluctuated between its Marriage fluctuated between its highest and lowest points during the highest and lowest points during the era. era.

1900’s1900’s

Women:Women: Women took great strides for equality Women took great strides for equality

during the era.during the era.– Suffrage Movement Suffrage Movement – PoliticsPolitics

Took political officesTook political offices National and American Women Suffrage National and American Women Suffrage

Association (NAWSA) (Ingui 164)Association (NAWSA) (Ingui 164)

Rise in women running the houseRise in women running the house Rise in divorceRise in divorce

1900’s1900’s Children:Children: Segregation during the 1900’s was a Segregation during the 1900’s was a

major issue and was working to be major issue and was working to be solved. solved. – LawsLaws

““sit-in” in 1960sit-in” in 1960 “ “Freedom rides” in 1961 Freedom rides” in 1961 Title Nine in 1972 Title Nine in 1972

They also had to deal with They also had to deal with the emotional and physical the emotional and physical consequences of divorce. consequences of divorce.

Present DayPresent Day

Men:Men: Acceptable for them to remain at Acceptable for them to remain at

homehome A problem not faced previously is A problem not faced previously is

some fathers becoming some fathers becoming “Deadbeat Dads” “Deadbeat Dads” (Cabrera 127-(Cabrera 127-136). 136).

The family unit in turn lacks a The family unit in turn lacks a male role model male role model

Present DayPresent Day

Women:Women: Women are considered equal:Women are considered equal:

– They have rights guaranteeing equality to They have rights guaranteeing equality to obtaining a job and to vote.obtaining a job and to vote.

– They no longer are forced to stay home.They no longer are forced to stay home.– They can work instead of having to raise a They can work instead of having to raise a

family.family.– Fair chance at educationFair chance at education– Hold Political office maybe even becoming Hold Political office maybe even becoming

president in 2009president in 2009

Present DayPresent Day

Children:Children: Have been granted a free public educationHave been granted a free public education

– Segregation not much of an issueSegregation not much of an issue– Have laws regarding Special Needs studentsHave laws regarding Special Needs students

Divorce is still a major issue for children; Divorce is still a major issue for children; according to CNN the divorce rate for the U.S. according to CNN the divorce rate for the U.S. is at 50%.is at 50%.

In a nutshell In a nutshell

In examining the 1800’s, In examining the 1800’s, 1900’s, and present 1900’s, and present society, many changes can society, many changes can be seen in what is known be seen in what is known as the typical “American as the typical “American family unit.” family unit.”

Without such changes the Without such changes the world would not be the world would not be the same that it is todaysame that it is today

Where will America evolve Where will America evolve to next, with the next to next, with the next century behind us?century behind us?

SourcesSources

Angelo, Bonnie. Angelo, Bonnie. First FamiliesFirst Families. New York: Harper Collins . New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2005.Publishers, 2005.

Cabrera, Natasha. "Fatherhood in the 21st Century." Cabrera, Natasha. "Fatherhood in the 21st Century." Child DevelopmentChild Development 71(2000): 127-136. 71(2000): 127-136.

Ingui, Mary Jane. Ingui, Mary Jane. American History 1877 to the PresentAmerican History 1877 to the Present. . New York: Barron’s Educational New York: Barron’s Educational

Mandell, Deena. Mandell, Deena. Deadbeat DadsDeadbeat Dads. Toronto: University of . Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002Toronto Press, 2002

Roberts, Sam. Roberts, Sam. Who We Are NowWho We Are Now. New York: Henry Holt . New York: Henry Holt Company, LLC, 2004Company, LLC, 2004

Scott, John Anthony . Scott, John Anthony . Settlers on the Eastern ShoreSettlers on the Eastern Shore. New . New York: Facts on File Inc, 1991.York: Facts on File Inc, 1991.

Sheffield, Wesley. “The Idea of Women’s Equality and its Sheffield, Wesley. “The Idea of Women’s Equality and its Migration Throughout American Migration Throughout American

Taylor, Alan. Taylor, Alan. American ColoniesAmerican Colonies. New York: Penguin . New York: Penguin Group, 2001.Group, 2001.