The standard nuclear family is becoming an idea of the past since families with a father, as the breadwinner, stay at home mother, and their biological children, is no longer the norm. Wells (2015) stated that “new social phenomenon changes the rules – the emergence of gay and lesbian families is a good example of this”. The traditional nuclear family is being replaced with all different kinds of families. Is this a positive change? I SAY YES.

Even in our supposedly modern society, this trend remains quite controversial. Some religions believe that being with someone of the same sex is a sin and frowned upon. Some older generations have still not come around to the idea of same sex couples and are stuck on this idea of the nuclear family being the only appropriate or acceptable form of a family. Same-sex marriages have been subjected to scrutiny when applying for health or social benefits. There is much debate surrounding issues such as transgender individuals, and the many gender identities that have been recognized recently. Despite these repressive ideas of social conservatism, the change to inclusiveness in modern family structures prevails.

Today, we have a wide range of different family structures, some of which include same sex couples, adopted children, extended families, fostered children, and the list goes on and on. For over 5000 years, the nuclear family has been known as the ideal family. In the 20^thcentury, the family structure with a heterosexual married couple and their biological children was known as the ontological family type. The male head of the family would go out to the workforce while his wife stayed home with the kids or to do housework. This began to change with industrialization, and became prevalent when men went to war, creating the need for women to take over the workforce. Today, men and women share all tasks that were previously only designated for one or the other, therefore same sex couples are just as capable of completing tasks in and out of the home. The times are changing and different family structures are becoming more common and widely accepted. Until recently, the LGBTQ+ community was not understood or accepted as an appropriate lifestyle.

Today, society is becoming much more accepting of this community. As a result of this new acceptance, we also see many unique families being formed openly. Same-sex couples who wish to have children can now adopt or foster a child. This provides many children around the world who are in need of a family, the opportunity to be a part of one. If two people love each other and have the ability to care for and love a child, is there any reason why they should be denied the opportunity to adopt or foster a child in need of a loving home? Should same-sex couples be denied access to surrogates for reproduction? I believe that the paramount consideration is what is in the best interest of the child, to ensure their rights and protections, NOT to condemn or exclude adults based upon their personal sexual orientations

Of course, there will be some same-sex couples who are not fit to be parents just as there are heterosexual couples who are considered unfit parents. Therefore, all potential parents are on an equal playing field. Studies have shown that children raised by same sex couples are just emotionally and socially adjusted as their peers from traditional nuclear families. (Click Here For More Information)

Furthermore, Statistics Canada states that in 2011, there were 7700 children aged 24 and under living with female same sex parents and 1900 children aged 24 and under living with male same sex parents. Yearly statistics show that modern family structures are on a steady incline. (Click Here For More Information)

Today, we are seeing much more acceptance of diverse couples starting their own families, as demonstrated through adoption and fostering on television. This truly illustrates how the times have changed, as you would never have seen this represented in television shows in the past. In the past, television series about families had almost always shown a nuclear family structure. For example, shows such as “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Brady Bunch”, depicted the stereotypical nuclear families of the 1950’s through to the 1970’s. Although “The Brady Bunch” challenged social norms by having a blended family, it still showed the stereotypical family unit with a mother, father, and their children. Continuing with this tendency, television production has constantly evolved so that today we see sitcoms such as “Modern Family” or “The Fosters”, which both display the lives of same sex couples with adopted children as well as fostered children. What we see on television mirrors the norms that are prevalent in society at the time. These very different decades have brought their viewers many diverse interpretations on what can constitute a family.

 

Resources Used:

• O’Neill, T. (2018) Lecture 5 (PowerPoint). Retrieved from Brock University
• Wells, K (2015). Childhood in a Global Perspective. Cambridge: Polity
• Shanahan, S. (2005). The Changing Meaning of Family: Individual Rights and Irish Adoption Policy, 1949-99