Introduction
Problem statement
Lifelong unions among marriages in the United States remain a significant problem. Contemporary factors such as secularism, materialism, and radical feminism have contributed to weakened marriages across the nation. The high rates of divorce reflect the problems affecting marriages in the US (Esping‐Andersen & Billari, 2015). The overall impact is the deterioration in familial and the subsequent lack of traditional values that defines a family.
Thesis
The lack of lifelong family unions remains the single most important threat to the ordained family institution. The lack of traditional family values means that children suffer the most as their future becomes characterized by drug abuse and other immoral activities.
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Historical Position
The traditional Roles of families
Traditionally, families have been regarded as care institutions that not only vary across cultures but change over time (Foner, 2012). Historically, the role of the family has been to contribute to the fundamental economic survival of the members. Other than the economic aspect, the families have been identified as the building blocks of societies without which a community becomes threatened (Kyalo, 2012). The families had a crucial role in preparing individuals to occupy their role in society.
Changes that families have undergone
According to Ibson (2019), diversity and the deviation from the traditional American families have meant that the initially strong and stable bonds have now deteriorated. Marriages have continuously adopted a social and ideological meaning. Contemporary laws such as the no-fault divorce laws have contributed to the shifts, thus contributing to marital misconduct (Marianna, 2014).
Current Conflict
Impact on Children
The weakened marriage institutions and family ties have the most significant impacts on the children. Gustavsen et al., 2016 asserts that there is a 10% higher probability that children from broken families will enter drug abuse as compared to their counterparts in stable families.
Inevitable factors
The hard economic times have indirectly played a crucial role in the deteriorating family values. Clark & Lisowski (2017) believe that life course events such as job commitments can divide families as a result of their impact on necessitating mobility. As such, this denies families the much-needed social order to remain intact.
Recommendations
Enhancing lifelong marriages
Lifelong marriages come with a host of benefits for the family. Enhancing lifelong marriages require a sense of commitment and understand of one's role and the repercussions of failure to comply with them. Sassler et al. (2016) assert that solid families can teach children reproductive functions, which in turn shape their behavior as they become adults.
Proper conflict Resolution
It is important to note that conflict can be inevitable in the family setting (Wood et al., 2019). Strong mediatory skills, coupled with meaningful divorce laws, will prevent unnecessary splitting up and immoral behaviors that limit that jeopardize the traditional values. Sassler et al. (2016) believe that stable marriages will act as the precursor for more ethical behavior and moral values on the part of the children.
Proper Childhood Development
Stafford et al. (2019) propose proper early childhood development as the basis for compensating for the deteriorating traditional values within the family. Guarendi (2013) asserted that lifelong unions depend on both the macro and microenvironments, which have an impact on the well-being of the children.
Conclusion
Thesis: The lack of lifelong family unions remains the single most important threat to the ordained family institution. The lack of traditional family values means that children suffer the most as their future becomes characterized by drug abuse and other immoral activities.
Summary: The major findings include the fact that lifelong marriages are becoming less of a reality in contemporary life. Children tend to suffer the most in the event of these happenings. Lastly, the focus should be placed on conflict resolution and properly childhood development.
References
Esping‐Andersen, G., & Billari, F. C., (2015). Re‐theorizing family demographics. Population and development review, 41(1), 1-31.
Guarendi, R., (2013). Back to the family: How to encourage traditional values in complicated times. Villard.
Marianna, M. (2014). Traditional values and modern families: legal understanding of tradition and Modernity in contemporary Russia. Журнал исследований социальной политики, 12(4).
Kyalo, P., (2012). A reflection on the traditional African values of marriage and sexuality. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 1(2), 211-219.
Foner, N., (2012). The immigrant family: Cultural legacies and cultural changes. The new immigration (pp. 171-180). Routledge.
Clark, William A. V., and William Lisowski. 2017. “Decisions to Move and Decisions to Stay:
Life Course Events and Mobility Outcomes.” Housing Studies 32 (5): 547–65. doi:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/chos20.
Gustavsen, G. W., Nayga, R. M., Jr., & Wu, X. (2016). Effects of Parental Divorce on Teenage
Children’s Risk Behaviors: Incidence and Persistence. Journal of Family and Economic Issues , 37 (3), 474–487. https://doi.org/https://link.springer.com/journal/volumesAndIssues/10834
Ibson, A. H. (2019). Not My Fault: Morality and Divorce Law in the Liberal State. Tulane Law
Review , 93 (3), 599–643. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=a9h&AN=135701023&site=eds-live&scope=site
Lichter, D. T., Michelmore, K., Turner, R. N., & Sassler, S. (2016). Pathways to a Stable Union?
Pregnancy and Childbearing among Cohabiting and Married Couples. Population Research and Policy Review , 35 (3), 377–399. https://doi.org/https://link.springer.com/journal/volumesAndIssues/11113
Wood, N., McMunn, A., Webb, E., & Stafford, M. (2019). Marriage and physical capability at
mid to later life in England and the USA. PLoS ONE , (1). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=edsgov&AN=edsgcl.570752462&site=eds-live&scope=site
