What is Family?

In the assigned readings, all authors agree that the concept of family is, in fact, changing. However, Popenoe, Stacey, and Cowan fail to agree on a common ground for the change. Popenoe takes a radical stance and proclaims that family is not only changing, but is more importantly declining at a fast and severe rate. He fears that family may not easily recover from the demise since it has already so negatively impacted family from a demographical, institutional, and cultural approach. Stacey and Cowan, on the other hand, criticize Popenoe's argument and claim that it is incomplete and is largely nostalgic for the ideological family of the 1950's, which may have never actually existed.
Popenoe argues that the american family is in decline and is evidenced by the demographical, institutional, and cultural aspect of family. He takes into account the decrease of birthrates and marriage and the increase on the amount of time focused on the individual, rather than on the family as a whole. Instead of investing time, energy, love, and commitment, whether is be economical or social, in the family, Popenoe believes that in this generation more effort is focused on the individual. This leads to a lack of family bonding and provision of care, love, and affection for parents, sisters, brothers, children, and extended family.
Stacey argues against Popenoe in stating that his assessment of the declining family institution is incomplete. In addition, Stacey further argues that Popenoe is nostalgic of the 195o's sense of family, in which the male is instituted as the breadwinner and the mother as the homemaker. However, Stacey claims that the idea of "the family" was an ideological symbol defined by history and politics. This symbol of a perfect family may, in fact, cause more damage to the family as a result of their dissimilarities. In conclusion, Stacey believes that it is necessary to recognize the change in family and rebuild social environment to accept the diverse forms of family. It is necessary to disgard the ideological view of "the family" because it no longer exists in our society, if it ever actually did.
Cowan takes a similar stance to Stacey and agrees that Popenoe did not support his argument enough and should have delved more into the reasons for the change, such as violence, drug abuse, mental illness, loneliness, and emotional disturbances. However, he did recognize the increase in divorce, increase of the age of marriage, decrease in birth rate, and decrease in the rate of marriage but did not agree with his argument. Cowan felt that an argument so strong should not be ignored and instead should be analyzed further. On the other hand, he feared that family scholars preocupation with the argument would deter them from focusing on answering major questions on family difficulties. Questions included focusing on the source of the changes in the structure and function of family life, such as increased use of birth control, decrease of birth rate, introduction of the "me-generation," and the growing independece of women. Secondly, do the changes always negatively affect family members? The affect on children is not actually tested, it is only assumed. It is important to recongnize the reason for the change and then evaluate the affect on the family. Most importantly, interventions in response to the changes must be implemented. This means that families with different values must be accepted and the definition of family must be reconsidered. Research models should be re- invented to accomodate for the change in society and change in family. I addition, gender roles and their evolution must be considered in evaluating the family.
After reading the articles, I analyzed my view of the concept and agreed with Cowan and Stacey. I do not believe that the family is in decline but I do believe that it is evolving as our society changes. It is necessary to take into consideration the improvement in technology, increased independence of women, and the actual function of the family in order to successfully adapt. However, I do feel that the spiritual aspect of marriage may be diminishing and fear that people are failing to recognize the symbolism of being married. At times I believe that couples are less hesitant to get divorced rather than work on their marriage. Although, I am not opposed to divorce if the marriage is detremental to not only the couple but their children as well. At this time, I believe that the couple is better off separate to provide better care for their children and for themselves. In conclusion, I found that all three articles were very interesting and allowed me to expand my views of family and its evolution.