The 1950s: The Myth Of The American Family

Having been around for centuries, the American family is the oldest cultural institution. It would seem that by now, our notions and ideas about what constitutes a family should have been solidified. However, this is not the case as family life continues to evolve. The myth of the traditional, nuclear family, with a breadwinner father, stay-at-home mother, and two kids who live a generous middle-class lifestyle, has not always been the cornerstone of American society. In fact, it only emerged in the 1950s and since then has been the source of nostalgia for Americans and the ideal model of what a typical family should look like. Today, with the rise of same-sex and interracial marriages, the fall of birth rates and the rise of divorce rates,

Coontz explains that the stability of family life in the 1950s rested on pervasive discrimination against women, gays, non-Christians and other minorities. But, by the 1970s, the country saw a rise in both individualism and consumerism, resulting in backlash from minority groups, especially women and Americans of color (Young). Family life began to evolve once again, yet the myth of the traditional family remained, perpetuating unrealistic ideals. Minorities and other groups who do not fit the mold of the nuclear family are described as being less family oriented and less committal. Gerstel’s essay “The Color of Family Ties” talks about the different ways ethnic groups cope with the emotional and financial challenges they face and how they maintain family solidarity (Gerstel 45). She describes how the myth of the nuclear family has created stereotypes like the belief that black and latino families are “more disorganized and have weaker family ties” (Gerstel 45). This is due to the fact that latino and black families have higher rates of non-marriage and single parenthood, in comparison to the average white family. Gerstel’s essay argues that these higher rates of non-marriage and single parenthood are not a rejection of traditional family values but rather a realistic assessment of how little a woman may be able to depend upon marriage and the financial support of her significant

For the majority of Americans, the term “family” is subjective and can mean different things to different people. In her essay, “The Changing American Family,” Angier looks at seven different diverse and unconventional American families to help establish multiple models of family life in modern day America. As mentioned previously, only a quarter of the population can be described as “nuclear” and is included in Angier’s essay. The other 75% of American families are like the Jetsons, who are two married men living together with their six adopted kids, or like Mrs. Perez, a single mom and the primary provider for her three children (Angier). She talks about the rise of interracial marriages due to immigration and looks at how drastically the white, middle-class American family has evolved since the 1950s. She analyzes the paradox in valuing marriage as the “center of civilized society,” while at the same time valuing liberty, the pursuit of personal happiness and the right to a divorce (Angier). The American family is stuck between wanting to encourage a free-spirited and unconventional definition of family life, while also yearning for the comfort of traditional family life. For this reason, Americans can’t seem to let go of the traditional 1950s model of