Alternative Family Settings

Alternative Family Settings Can Provide the Same Support As Nuclear Families Do

Modern American society today is gradually changing its customs concerning family models. Astonishingly, there are a lot more childless and single parent families than ever before. This fact is strictly connected with the socioeconomic situations and tendencies in the United States. Two-parent families with one or more children are still considered to be the traditional family, but the definition of a family has broadened considerably since the first half of the 20th century. Today children are raised by a variety of caring adults, such as, single parents, grandparents, kin-networks, same-sex couples, as well as foster parents. Today, there is not the same consensus of family structure and lifestyles that existed in the 1950s. A traditional nuclear family is not the only model to look up to anymore. An analysis of alternative family settings questions the idea that the nuclear family is the only acceptable model, and substantiates the fact that alternative family settings can provide the same support as nuclear families do.

In Roger Jack’s, “An Indian Story” it talks about Jack, a Native American boy who leaves his father’s house to live with his Aunt Greta after his mother passes away. His father re-marries a half Native American woman who has a child of her own. Unfortunately, Jack is unable to partner with this new arrangement, so he leaves home to live with his aunt. According to Jack, “My home and academic life improved a lot after I had moved in with Aunt Greta.” (53) Sometimes the extended family is able to provide a new adult caretaker when the arrangement between biological parents and children does not work out. The story goes on to describe the time Jack spent with his aunt, and how they used to go on many pow-wows and traveled together learning more about Native American beliefs. The two spent much time together and became really close. She would impart wise words like,...