Let’s talk family… #SOC111
- What are some of the key issues in Family & Society today? [Growing Pains intro]
- Hint 1: gay marriage and/or sexuality
- Do you think gay marriage is more contested because of its basis on union formation or sexuality practices?
- Who contests the sexual practice? (religious right, but can you think of others?)
- Who contests the union formation? (many heterosexuals whose benefits may be compromised)
- Why do some heterosexuals, whose benefits may be compromised, feel that homosexual unions are okay?
- Choose from union formation or sexuality practices
- Which is more behavioral based?
- Which is more legally based?
- Do you think this affects the raw emotion when individuals discuss this topic?
- Hint 2: childhood obesity
- Do you think it is the parent’s choice what their children eat?
- Who gets most upset over childhood obesity? The parents? Non-profit agencies? Government officials?
- Why does it even matter if your neighbor has an overweight child? Does that even affect your life? How?
- Are you concerned about the child, who may not have the choice?
- Hint 3: abortion
- Is abortion regulation a legal practice, a medical decision, or a personal act? What’s the basis behind it?
- Who contests the legal practice? (supreme court or someone else?)
- Who contests abortion as a medical decision? (doctors or someone else?)
- Who contests abortion as a personal act? (religious right or someone else?)
- Activity: Draw a table on your paper like the one below. Label the headings. Start listing some family issues and categorize them into the appropriate columns. I’ll start with some examples:
| Legal Issues | Medical Issues | Personal Rights | Religious / Education |
| Parental rights / custody | How parents medicate their children | Eating choices | Church in schools |
| Age of consent or marriage | Allowing youth sports (concussions) | Clothing / appearance | Home schooling |
| - | - | - | - |
- Did you have a difficult time categorizing? Were there any crossover of issues?
- Is almost everything in America a family and societal issue?
- What shaped you the most growing up? school, church, family, friends, or other
- Things to think on…
- Why do we give tax credits to people for having kids?
- Who benefits the most? Who has the most incentive? Who is $1,000 more enticing to?
- Why is there a “Moms Like Me” section of the local newspaper? Who reads this and why? What is the effect?
- Why are there so many family TV shows?
- All In the Family (racist comment)
- Brady Bunch (does society take cues for mimicry from TV shows?)
- Everybody Hates Chris (mothers day)
- How many of these cultural customs are accurate?
- FINAL QUESTION: Does the family shape us more as individuals… or does the media shape our family first, therefore having more power over what becomes of us?
- What do these shows say about American society?
- Class theme song of the day – Peter Gabriel’s Growing Up or The Wonder Years Intro
