The Empty Nest Syn: Article Analysis

In the article, The Empty Nest by Lillian Rubin discusses how middle aged women look at the idea and notion of their children leaving the home. The Empty Nest syndrome occurs during a transition phrase when a mother's child is coming of age and about to leave the dwelling. Studies now show that this "depression" was once thought to have the same wide spread negative effect, but recently has been viewed as the direct opposite. This article depicts how women of different social classes and marriage arrangements feel about the idea of their children leaving the home. It was thought that depression occurs in mid life women were due to what is now known as Empty Nest Syndrome. This theory has been analyzed and proven wrong. A sense of freedom or relief is felt by most women, when their children leave their households. A heavy burden of responsibility is lifted off the shoulders of many middle aged mothers when this transition occurs. The feeling of having freedom gives them the opportunity to look more at their own needs then the needs of their children. The interactionist perspective is clearly shown in Lillian Rubin's article, The Empty Nest. The interactionist perspective views
People often say things that sometimes can be misleading. When a father or mother tells their child "I can't wait till the day you leave", this often times is not the case. "Contrary to all we hear about women and their empty-nest problems, it may be the fathers more often than mothers who are pained by the children's imminent or actual departure".(Rubin, p.173) Due to the fathers social obligations he is the one who truly misses out his children's upbringing and growth. Lillian Rubin, points out how the father is often times the one who mourns the most when his son or daughter leaves the house. The second question being answered is different when looking at the male and female perspective of a child leaving the home. For the father it is more of a