The Risman & Rutter chapter, “The Evolution of American Families,” by Stephanie Coontz explains how families have changed over time in the United States. The Benokraitis text and course content guide also describe many of the changes in family structure and roles since the founding of the United States. Begin your discussion by selecting and summarizing some of the characteristics of families in the US prior to the 20th century. How did the family change throughout the 20th century? How have families changed during the first two decades of the 21st century? What are the reasons that these transformations have occurred? Have the transformations changed the stability and importance of the family in the U.S. society? Support your comments by citing specific evidence from this module’s readings and videos.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Evolution of American Families: Changes in Family Structure and Roles
Introduction
The concept of family has undergone significant transformations throughout the history of the United States. This essay will discuss the characteristics of families in the US prior to the 20th century, examine the changes that occurred throughout the 20th century, explore the transformations that have taken place in the first two decades of the 21st century, and evaluate the impact of these changes on the stability and importance of the family in US society.
Characteristics of Families Prior to the 20th Century
In pre-20th century America, families were predominantly nuclear, consisting of a married couple and their biological children.
Families were often larger, with multiple generations living together under one roof.
Gender roles were highly segregated, with men as the primary breadwinners and women primarily responsible for domestic duties and child-rearing.
Extended family networks played a crucial role in providing support and assistance during times of hardship or adversity.
Changes in the 20th Century
The 20th century witnessed significant changes in family structure and roles due to various factors such as industrialization, urbanization, and women’s liberation movements.
The rise of industrialization led to a shift from agrarian to urban societies, resulting in more nuclear families and increased geographic mobility.
Women’s entry into the workforce during World War II and subsequent feminist movements challenged traditional gender roles and increased women’s autonomy.
Divorce rates rose significantly throughout the 20th century, leading to an increase in single-parent households and blended families.
The advent of contraception and declining fertility rates led to smaller family sizes.
Changes in the 21st Century
The first two decades of the 21st century have seen further changes in family structure and roles.
There has been a rise in non-traditional family arrangements, including same-sex marriages, cohabitation, and single-parent households.
The concept of family has expanded to include chosen families, where individuals create familial bonds based on shared values or support systems.
There is a growing recognition and acceptance of diverse family structures, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes a family.
Reasons for Transformations
The transformations in family structure and roles are influenced by various societal factors such as changing gender norms, economic shifts, advancements in reproductive technologies, and evolving cultural values.
Increased gender equality and women’s empowerment have led to more women pursuing education and careers, altering traditional family dynamics.
Economic factors, such as the need for dual incomes to support a household, have contributed to changes in family structures and roles.
Cultural shifts towards individualism and personal fulfillment have also played a role in redefining family relationships.
Impact on Stability and Importance of Family
While these transformations have challenged traditional notions of family, they have not diminished the stability and importance of family in US society.
Families continue to be vital sources of emotional support, nurturing environments for children, and networks for socialization.
The definition of family has expanded to accommodate diverse needs and circumstances, promoting inclusivity and support for individuals who may not fit into traditional family structures.
However, it is important to recognize that these changes have also raised concerns about social inequality, as not all individuals have equal access to supportive family networks or resources.
Conclusion
The evolution of American families throughout history reflects the influence of social, economic, and cultural factors. From larger multi-generational households to smaller nuclear families, changing gender roles, and diverse family structures, families have adapted to meet the demands of evolving societies. While these transformations have altered traditional notions of family, they have not diminished its stability and importance. Instead, they have expanded our understanding of what it means to be a family and emphasized the significance of supportive relationships in US society.
