Evolution Of The Traditional Family In The 1950's

A half-century ago, the concept of family was entirely different than what it is modeled as today. The typical family was generally working or middle class, and it consisted of a husband who worked to support the family, and a wife who stayed home to tend to the house and children. The structure of the traditional family along with the general nature of society, have since changed however. No longer does the word “family” have a universal application in society. The supreme portrait of family is ever changing because societal values seem to evolve and diversify as time passes. Today, much of this evolution in the perceptions of kinship ideals can be attributed to media and advertising influences.
A typical family in the 1950s would probably
Mass media consumption led advertisers to alter the perceptions and preferences of the people because the agencies could make money through their influence. They have since created an overall expectation surrounding society’s views of family. As time passes, that expectation changes and radio broadcasts and especially television have revealed this evolution of family structure and acceptance. At one time, all families generally began with a man and a woman of the same race and from the same ethnic background. Today, however, there is greater tolerance for what was once deemed as an “atypical” family. Families are now more ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse than ever before, and the media seems to support the change. Families now may or may not consist of children while others may have parents of the same gender. All of these examples are relatively new additions to society’s concept of a typical family. I feel that the changes are improvements and that it is important for the media to continue to spread the message of tolerance. It allows for everyone to seek happiness in what they feel comfortable with, and be accepted regardless of how they define a