Political and economic functions of marriage began to erode
The family was emerging as its own institutional arena, becoming a place for
emotional relationships
“Traditional” breadwinner/ homemaker family structure emerged
o
Never the case for African American couples – even if they were free
they didn’t get good jobs, so both had to work
Women were considered free, but their role was to love, care for, and nurture
their husbands
Youth began to consider love and affection when seeking a spouse
Courtship emerged as a compromise between parents and young couples
conflicting ideas concerning the selection of marriage partners
Involved supervised contact in public – compromise
Couples had fewer children as infant mortality rate decreased
Children’s individuality emerged as a valued ideal, emotional bonds between
parents and children strengthened
Children began to be seen as innocent and requiring nurturing

o
You couldn’t just raise a kid for the family, they had to be raised as
individuals to go out into the world
Widows and orphans created a dilemma in the new male-centered wage
economy
Specialized institutions (orphanages) early pension and welfare programs
were developed to care for those without (male) family connections
The Modern Family (1900-1960s)
Companionship family: characterized by the mutual affection, equality, and
comradeship of its members
Companionate marriage: view of marriage as a companionship, friendship,
and a romance, rather than as a practical platform for cooperation and
survival
o


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- Fall '08
- Kamo,Y
- American Family – Colonial America