Changes in the American Family
As we have learned through Skolnick 's book, as well as Rubin 's research, the make up of the family is influenced by many factors. The economy, culture, education, ethnicity/race, and tradition all help to create the modern family. The last few decades have heavily influenced the family structure, and while some try to preserve the past, others embrace the future. Through it all, we find you can have both.
The first part of Rubin 's book dealt with "the Invisible Americans." One of the most thought provoking statements from the beginning, states: "Indeed, one of the surprising findings of this study is how much in common all these families have, how much agreement they would find among themselves- even about some of the hottest racial issues of the day- if they could put away the stereotypes and hostilities that separate them and listen to each other talk. For if we set aside race, there 's far more to unite working-class families than there is to divide them." (15) For me, this set the tone for the book. More than once, someone from this study who was of a different culture or race then me, said something I know I had thought or even said before. I found it interesting because with some of them, I thought I was the only one who would feel that way; that it was a problem specific to one group.
Rubin 's research shows that a lot can happen in just one generation. Much has been spoken lately of what Tom Brokaw has declared "The Greatest Generation;" those who fought in WWII. These Americans came back from the war, started families, and worked hard to achieve "The All American Dream." But somewhere they must have missed something because this generation is the generation that produced the "pot smoking, free love hippies" who then produced the adults in Rubin 's study. What changed so much with a generation that was the epitome of hard work, discipline, and structure? Stephanie Coontz 's article, "What We Really Miss about the 1950 's" addresses that.
The first part of Rubin 's book dealt with "the Invisible Americans." One of the most thought provoking statements from the beginning, states: "Indeed, one of the surprising findings of this study is how much in common all these families have, how much agreement they would find among themselves- even about some of the hottest racial issues of the day- if they could put away the stereotypes and hostilities that separate them and listen to each other talk. For if we set aside race, there 's far more to unite working-class families than there is to divide them." (15) For me, this set the tone for the book. More than once, someone from this study who was of a different culture or race then me, said something I know I had thought or even said before. I found it interesting because with some of them, I thought I was the only one who would feel that way; that it was a problem specific to one group.
Rubin 's research shows that a lot can happen in just one generation. Much has been spoken lately of what Tom Brokaw has declared "The Greatest Generation;" those who fought in WWII. These Americans came back from the war, started families, and worked hard to achieve "The All American Dream." But somewhere they must have missed something because this generation is the generation that produced the "pot smoking, free love hippies" who then produced the adults in Rubin 's study. What changed so much with a generation that was the epitome of hard work, discipline, and structure? Stephanie Coontz 's article, "What We Really Miss about the 1950 's" addresses that.
Bibliography: Rubin, Lillian B. Families on the Fault Line, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1994 Taylor, Ronald L Ed. Arlene Skolnick and Jermone H. Skolnick: Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2003. 365-388 Zinn, Maxine Baca Ed. Arlene Skolnick and Jermone H. Skolnick: Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2003. 389-414