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In 1980, Arlene Skolnick's The Paradox of Perfection was published in Wilson Quarterly around the time when the ideal family was highly regarded. The article expresses the idea that the perfect family dose not exist. This essay is a prime example of how society views on what a family should be, subconsciously affects the behavior and attitude of the average family. As a psychologist from University of California, Skolnick presents her views through a series of historical contexts and statistics. Skolnick ironically exemplifies through the media that the picture perfect family is nothing more than a myth; in other words she uses the media concepts of a family as a foothold to convey her thoughts. Although the article was written more than 20 years ago, Skolnick views projects a future representation of society and how their portrayal of the ideal family has not change.
The essay covers an array of periods; a historical view to give a background to the essay, a present view to elaborate her thoughts and a future outlook to tie it all together. Through this process, the reader is able to follow and understand the authors views, which are refurbished by historical evidence. Skolnick stated in the beginning of her essay, Can the family be at once a cherished value and a trouble institution, (paragraph 4) as a way to establish her agreement. The statement basically means that what was once thought as the ideal family is now the main reason for typical families downfall. Through a variety of metaphorical strategies, Skolnick is able to support her claims; the media and other image of the perfect family is an unrealistic model that average family use as a form of comparison. The author first address a general audience with her opening statement, which states the divorce rates, births out-of-wedlock, and presents a down to earth impression that captures any reads attention.
Even though Skolnick is psychologist, she is able to express her views in a matter that appeals to the general-mass. I am able to understand and agree with Skolnick's arguments to a point, due to the fact that I have lived in two different cultures and therefore able to appreciate her ideals. I can see why the author believes so strongly in her arguments because it is easily seen that the American life-hood is bases on the output from the media and a collection of society's regulations that force the average man to behave in a certain matter. There are various statements that present the authors claims throughout the reading. Skolnick employs the idea that even in colonial times the concept on the ideal family did not exist.
She bring into play the idea that society restricted certain behavior and force families into behaving in a certain matter because the community then was very small; Unusual behavior rarely went unnoticed, and neighbors often intervened directly in a families affairs, to help or chastise. (Paragraph 10. ) Skolnick manipulation of certain words and phases helps her in illustrating and formulating a colonial image that suggests a period of oppression. The most dramatic example was rural charivari, prevalent in both Europe and the United States until the early 19 th century. (Paragraph 10. ) The word charivari is used in this statement to project a vision of mockery and serenade that a colonist would be force to bare, if they did not keep up with or follow society's rules. Throughout, Skolnick's personal feelings are implied but not stated directly. Skolnick uses an array of straightforward statements; Family advisers sally forth in syndicated newspaper columns to uphold standards, mend relationships, suggest counseling, and otherwise lead their reader back to the True Path. It is not just media images that affect the views of the individual, but educated psychologist who present people with the ideas that a family has to be a certain way. Therefore if the typical family does not uphold that image, they are faced with the contemplation that their families are failure.
This actually creates more problems for the family where what should be the norm for the changing society is actually discarded. The statement also brings into mind the question, what is the True Path? The author explains farther in her essay that there is no such thing as the True Path/ ideal family, only mythological idea that is reflected in the precepts of religion, the conventions of etiquette, and the assumption of law. (Paragraph 7) It is also clear that each coming ear brings with it a change in society, standers, and a new viewpoint on life. In the 19 th century the sentimental model of the family was introduced into the social order. In the sentimental model, the gender roles were more distinguished. The role of womanhood took on a more professional outlook, where the idea of being a housewife took on two different forms; one was motherhood and child rearing and the other was home economics that deals with the scientific accept of homemaking.
Although the family rows were more defend, the author uses this example to clarify the ideal family image still shaped and affected the modern family. Although, I agree with the author on many occasions in the essay, there are still some accept that stands out in my mind. I believe there are other reasons for problem in family which has nothing to do with their views of what a family should be. Even if the ideal family model did not exist, it is human nature to compare ourselves. The author had many good points, but her views were too narrow in a way that she balms the media and other mass-produced images for families problems.
There is still a force that holes a family together either it may be a signal family environment or homosexual family. Like the author stated, the family will survive, no mater what may come their way. It is human nature in one form of the other to stick together.
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