Is the current economic crisis destroying the structure of the American family?
Throughout the history of America, the family as a social system has served as a primary unit for meeting the basic needs for love, acceptance, approval, warmth, security, protection, and spiritual guidance. As one of the most basic institutions of a democracy, the family must continue to function as:
- A social environment for the loving and nurturing bond of family relationships, where children first learn how to love and be loved.
- An environment where children learn the difference between right and wrong, and how to get along with others
- An environment where children develop a sense of personal identity-emotionally, psychologically, socially, physically and spiritually.
It is within the family structure that most individuals develop a sense of a self-identity. The family is the foundation of true democracy and continues to be one of the best institutions for producing responsible and productive citizens.
In America and around the world we are witnessing not only a global recession, but the constant deterioration of the institution of the family, which is the prototype of all other human relationships. For the sake of the human population and for a healthy society to survive, a unified focus is needed on strengthening family relationships.
According to the 2004 (CDC) Center for Disease Control and Prevention report #351, entitled: “Marital Status and Health: United States, 1999-2002,” healthy relationships “have more advantages in terms of economic resources, social and psychological support, and support for healthy lifestyles.” It has also been concluded by several other studies that people living in healthy relationships are not only healthier physically, but live longer lives.
There are many who believe that in addition to numerous sociological factors, the current world economic crisis is affecting the traditional American family structure. For centuries, men as husbands and fathers have been identified as “sole providers,” “head of household,” and “number one bread winners.”
On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 the Pew Research Center reported that married women have excelled men in higher education and incomes. Their report indicates that in 2007 more married women reported higher incomes than their husbands who are confronting increasing rates of unemployment, underemployment, and temporary or seasonal employment situations. As the increasing number of women continues to enter college for higher education and into the workforce, such studies are bound to reflect women’s educational and economic growth.
Of course, I have heard many say repeatedly that there is nothing new about this news report, “Women have long been the glue that bind family together,” not only during the depression era or the current economic crisis, but for centuries.
Although we live in uncertain times, it is possible for you to gain personal growth and increase the strength of your family relationships through the power of positive attitudes and behavior. What do you think?
Tags: husband and wives, marriage and income, women and family, working women
We have to slow down and take a step back and look at the entire picture.Systems thinking. Many of the decisions we make in our life is based on “reacting” and then adjusting to compensate for any element that causes imbalance. In time we realize that if we took the time to consider the entire environment and the implications of that decision on the entire environment, we would not have made that particular decision. In considering the topic, the declining global economy is one such catalyst that has inspired a number of reactionary decisios.
In many cases, those decisions have caused many families to incur drastic changes, such as one-income familiy converting to a multi-income family to off-set rising costs or because of unexpected unemployment. Also, as I have seen in my job, there are more and more people working twice as much because companies in the U.S. are forced to eliminate cost to remain competitive with global competitition. Extra time at work translates to less time at home with family.
There are many more examples how the declining economy has affected the family. However, as we go through life there will always be something that comes along and affects what you treasure most. But, what we should learn to take a moment, analyze the big picture, and consider the implications of a potential decision on all parts of your life. I believe that if we take this approach, it would or could alter how we make those decisions that affect our family structure.
Just one man’s opinion.
Very good article.
Yes, this global recession is a very important factor in the weakening of the Family structure. However, the family structure has been gradually weakening over the past two decades when economics forced both parents to go in the workplace and sometimes working two and three jobs to stay afloat. It is more troubling to learn that those millions of jobs lost may never return in the same form as before.
This is a very interesting article. I actually saw a special on CNN about something similar in reference to women being the sole provider and backbone for the households through the years. The recession does affect your everyday life, including relationships. Life is hard as it is, then on top of that you have to worry about am I going to get a phone call telling me that I’m laid off. On the other side, the recession does help you put things into perspective and realize what really is important in life, to get past the materialistic things.
Thanks for informing me about your website and blog, which I found to be both informative and thoughtful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I had always believed that my family was the most important factor in my life until I went through a divorce. Then I was forced to focus solely on myself as a route to recovery. It is good to know that someone with your experience cares enough to be helpful. I agree with Anfieldj that the American family structure started on a downward spiral many years ago.
The family unit has been decaying long before this crisis
This crisis may very well be the catalysis that redefines the family unit
Families have been torn apart because of too many choices and new found freedoms. Everyone became so focused on “doing their thing,” that they FORGOT what GOT them there (a lot of prayers and sacrifices)
The multi-income family is fastly becoming the dinosaur … EXTINCT
Just as families were families in the past – families must become families again in order to thrive and survive. The family unit must be redefined – everyone must bring something to the table-accountability and responsibilty