The Nulcear Family

The Nuclear Family

The nuclear family of the 1950’s has become the model for the ideal American family. It is important to analyze the historical background in understanding the concept of such a structure and its effects on society. In understanding the history, we can analyze its outcome from the 1950’s to the present day. When looking at the 1950’s, it is important to pinpoint other major issues such as class, race and gender as an impact on the nuclear family structure.

Beginning in the 1950’s, the basic image of a typical family consisted of what’s known as a nuclear unit, having a Father, Mother and Children living under a middle class, white community, where the Father was seen as the “breed winner husband” functioning as a primary source of economical currency, having a job in order to keep a well balanced household with respect to societies standards. Typical husbands in the 1950’s carried out an average workday, leaving in the morning and coming home from work to a prepared dinner, where this image was also portrayed in television shows during that era, such as “I Love Lucy”. His household chores were also limited, where as the wife consumed much of those responsibilities.

Gender differentiation created an image of men and women in the household, making both unequal due to their daily experiences within their family and the status of their occupation. Women’s occupation during this time period consisted of household chores, caring for their children and maintaining household functions such as cooking and cleaning. Though this image of the nuclear family during the 1950’s seemed to function as a Utopian household, worldwide effects changed not other American societies, but family functioning as well. A prime example occurred during World War II, when men were being drafted to support the war efforts and women were obligated to support themselves and their children. With the absence of men for support and reliance, incompleteness occurred do to the lack of experience women had in functioning a well balanced household. Recruiting posters and magazine advertisements where encouraging women to support our country during this time period when men, who were the basic dependence for women, were fighting this war. “During the war, thousands of women had entered new jobs, gained new skills, joined unions, and fought against job discrimination.” A stroke of dependence and liberation came in as a clear vision towards the new image of what women were and should become.

Due to World War II, not only was gender an issue but race was as well. A major transformation during the 1950’s occurred with race when black citizens (mostly living in South rural areas) resided into the North with the immigration of Mexican immigrants. What were prevented by Black citizens were the privileges only given to white middle class Americans. Following this transformation came an ongoing conflict formed around race equality. The image of a nuclear family was seen as a white middle class family, but with other nationalities such as African Americans defending their right for equality, this image was altered.

The alteration changed the image of what was seen as a “couple”. Nuclear families consisted of a husband and wife yet Beliefs were rapidly changing. During this