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Redefining the American Dream: The Evolving Family Dynamic in Modern Society

Explore how changing gender roles have reshaped the traditional American Dream, influencing family dynamics and societal values. Discover the shift from the 1950s ideal to contemporary aspirations, impacting work-life balance, marriage, and parenthood.

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Redefining the American Dream: The Evolving Family Dynamic in Modern Society

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  1. The New Family  The Fading American Dream By: Emily Miscannon

  2. Thesis • As the family dynamic in America shifts from a traditional two parent household to a more contemporary dynamic, the traditional American Dream changes as well. Instead of the 1950s stereotypical house in the suburbs with a white picket fence and a happy family, people strive to be better than those before them, to be economically well off, and find true happiness.

  3. American Dream in the 1950s • For Men: • “breadwinning career’ • Able to support family (wife can stay at home) • For Women: • Married to a successful man • Not all families could afford good life • Books, magazines, advertisements, etc, depicted women and men as homemakers and breadwinners, respectively • All is well on the home front

  4. The Shift • Women’s movement • Equality, jobs, housework • Economic hard times • Can’t afford to have both parents not work • Change in order • Pregnancy comes first (typically not followed by marriage) • Only one parent homes, no marriage at all

  5. Why? • Kids seen as inadequate in today’s society • Today’s generation is different than our parents • Not expecting “happily-ever-after” • House in the suburbs is no longer goal • All kids are problem (war on kids from adults); never good enough • Education hindering family life • More people go to college after high school instead of getting a job and settling down (college education required in most jobs now) • More people want to start career before starting family

  6. Why? • New parental roles • American Dream required two parents, one breadwinner and one housekeeper • New family dynamic is not always two parents • Most families have both parents work; no fulltime housekeeper • Women expected to share more housework responsibilities no matter what kind of job (want men to have equal responsibility)

  7. Conclusions • Changing gender dynamics within a family have shifted family life, which, in turn has caused the traditional American Dream to fade • Changing gender dynamics within a family have shifted family life • New future goals are shaping the way people see themselves in the respect of family

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