Appeals And Ideals Of American Family Culture

Eva Mastrocola

Mrs. Adams

AP Language and Composition

13 January 2023 Appeals and Ideals and of American Family Culture In the past decade or so, classical family life in modern America has transformed from an ideal to a debate. With a growing rate for divorces, remarriage, and cohabitation, many question the relevance and benefit of bearing children. However, family is vital to the sustainability of a society, and while its traditional concept has diversified and expanded in recent years, the appeal of such remains constant. The function of a family is to fulfill the natural and societal desire to procreate, considering the influence of commercialization, and the values that raising a child instills.

From a biological perspective, the human species is hardwired to desire companionship and the creation of offspring. The family provides the perfect environment for this to occur, as it allows for the raising of children in a stable and nurturing environment. Furthermore, it provides a sense of continuity for future generations and perpetuates the survival of the human race. Additionally, there is a societal guide toward procreation. Society places a great deal of value on the creation of families, as it is seen as a vital aspect of social stability. Along with having responsibility over the well-being of future generations, families provide a sense of community and belonging. With the vast consumption of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, users are continuously fed photos and videos of happy family moments or trends circulating the web such as elaborate marriage proposals and weddings, baby showers, gender reveals, etc. Either way, watching these milestone events in someone else’s life can compel or even coerce the viewer to eventually follow suit since it is seemingly their duty to do so as functioning members of

The family serves as the foundation for the teaching moral and ethical values. These values are essential for the development of well-adjusted individuals who can contribute positively to society. In fact, at the eve of the American nation, the eighteenth century term “Republican Motherhood” emerged in order to encourage women to fulfill their duties as child-bearers and citizens of the arising United States. This political notion called for mothers to serve as the primary educators for their sons, teaching them virtues and academics that would allow them to participate in the public sphere. Hence, the ideal that parents are responsible for raising their children to be productive members of American society was set in stone. Families also provide a safe and stable environment for children to learn and grow, both physically and emotionally. Whether it is a slight chastising for hitting your sister, a goodnight hug, or driving you to school and handing you your brown-bag lunch, parents are expected to teach children how to navigate the world around