Topic: Ideal Family Forms
Source: The obsession with the “Perfect Family”
Relation: I have been raised by a single mother, and I have
encountered firsthand the stigmas associated to a Family that others perceive
as not a family
Description: I was talking with my mother the other day, and
she sounded as if she was upset, apparently someone had commented to her that
they were surprised that I had “made it” this far, especially considering the
family I came from. Unfortunately there is this stigma in existence that because
a child doesn’t have a “man” in his life he won’t be able to grow up well-adjusted
and is prone to drug abuse. This type of talk from people who consider
themselves in the “perfect” family is what causes these stigmas to continue to
be spread.
Analysis: I have seen for the longest time people look down
upon my mother for choosing to remain unmarried. There is this concept of the Perfect
Family being a Husband, Wife, Two Kids, and a Dog. And for some reason this
view of a perfect family is the only view of a family that can produce active
members for the future generation of a society. I myself find this concept a
bit dated considering the number of single moms and dads is on the rise. This
change in what is considered an “Ideal” family should allow stigmas regarding
children of single parents to die out
I grew up most of my life with just my mom and siblings. So many times I have people feel sorry for her and think that we are struggling because we don't have a father in our lives. I feel this is false, my mother raised us well and she was not to be felt sorry for she was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad that someone said that to you're mom. My mom remarried so I didn't have quite the same family situation as you, but my Dad has been single since my parents split when I was 2. I dont know of any situations of people looking at my family as that person had looked at yours, but when I was younger my step brother and sister had a hard time with me coming into the family and Im sure it was hard for them. Then people would say that my step brother and sister weren't my brother and sister at all, which was hurtful to me when I was younger, because even though they arent blood related at all, the love is still their.
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