Paradigm Shift Essay: Outline
TOPIC: How the concept of the American family has evolved over time
INTRO: Definition of “traditional family”; ask thought-provoking question or use
anecdote/lead into thesis by challenging this definition
ROUGH THESIS: Shifts in nation’s interpretation/ideological views of familial
norms have occurred based on revolutions/changes in gender roles, ethnicity/sexual
orientation within marriages, and how these factors have impacted younger
generations.
Body Paragraph(s) 1: Gender Roles
Traditionally/Historically: nuclear family consists of husband+wife, children
Wife=homemaker; domestic
Husband= makes $/works, more edu. opportunites, head of household
(ex.) Victorian Era’s “Cult of Domesticity”
(ex.) 1950s “American Dream” lifestyle
(ex.) religious values
Social Changes causing shift: absence of husbands due to war, jobs, etc. makes
women more independent; Women’s movement/feminism; increased divorce rate
(ex.) women earn right to vote, more job/edu. opps
-women becomes leaders in the workforce; political figures, etc
(ex.) after Baby Boom ends, birth rate declines and divorce rate rises
-single working mothers support family
(ex.) The Feminist Movement
-Books such as The Feminine Mystique, or Born Female
(ex.) Introduction of birth control?
-Margaret Sanger
Result: Female roles within families are much more prominent/equal to men, and
this is now more of a cultural norm
(ex.) Stay @ home fathers vs. stay @ home moms
-women=main source of family income
(ex.) single mothers/women=common
Body Paragraph(s) 2: Marriage Characteristics
Traditionally/Historically: marriage exclusively between man and wife;
marriage+reproduction= expected
(ex.) In colonial and Victorian society, marriage=determination of
class or status
-determines/dictates financial stability+survival
-maintains lineage and family power
(ex.) religious beliefs
-marriage=sacred and should be only between male and female
Social Changes causing shift: interracial marriage/relationships become more
common; fight for gay rights begins, people become more open about their sexuality
(ex.) Abolition movement through Civil Rights Movement; African
Americans gain increased rights/equality
-First interracial marriage dates back as far as 19th century
-Frederick Douglass and his last wife, Helen Pitts
-1967: marriage of State Secretary’s daughter Peggy Rush to
Guy Smith, and African American
(ex.) Arrival of immigrants; as diversity in country increases, ethnicity
of spouses/partners within a marriage also changes
(ex.) People become more open about homosexuality/transgender
qualities
-1970: Jack Baker+Michael McConnell=first same sex marriage
in U.S.
-Celebrities/public personalities begin to “come out”
-Neal Patrick Harris
-Chaz Bono
Result: Many families in the U.S. are now extremely diverse, in terms of race, sexual
orientation, etc.—this has become common/more widely accepted
Body Paragraph(s) 3: Effect on Future Generations
Traditionally/Historically: Children have been raised to follow their parents
beliefs; through the process of enculturation, they possess the same values and
morals as those who raise them
(ex.) carrying on family lineage
(ex.) having the same faith/religion, political affiliation, etc.
Social Changes causing Shift: changing views on gender roles and increases in
interracial and gay marriage have altered younger generations biologically and
ideologically.
(ex.) new ethnicities/”races” have been created
-half black, half white, or other phenotype variant
(ex.) children are raised by 2 fathers or mothers
-increase in adoption
(ex.) The media portrays these diverse new families as typical
-shows like “Modern Family” and “Glee”
-celebrities adopting children from many backgrounds
Result: Younger generations, having already been exposed to or raised by a diverse
family, are more likely to accept and carry on this trend in the future, creating even
more familial variation in America.
Additional Body Paragraph?: Those who continue to stick to tradition
-comment that some people continue to observe more “traditional” familial
ideals/values
(ex.) religion
-Christianity, Catholicism, Mormons, etc.
(ex.) Political Ideology
-Liberal vs. Conservative views on topics like gay marriage
CONCLUSION:
-Restate thesis, etc.
-End with thought-provoking statement or question?