"Changing American Families"--Book Review

Paper Summary:

Judy Root Aulette's work "Changing American Families" challenges many of the traditionally held beliefs of what makes a family unit. This paper reviews several concepts presented in this book. First, the paper discusses childlessness by choice, and the flip-side, which is being a parent by choice. Also considered are the roles of grandparents, adoption as a parenting option, and the roles of mothers and fathers in modern society. Aulette also discusses the need for quality childcare. The paper concludes with a discussion of punishment and what it achieves for both parents and children.

From the Paper:

"The idea of having a child and becoming a parent is increasingly being viewed as an option, as noted by Aulette's discussion of couples that are childless by choice. Birth control and more flexible views of the purpose of marriage have allowed couples to view childlessness as a liberating option, not as a curse or an example of their failure as a union. Aulette cautions the reader that simply because parenthood is not necessarily the purpose of every coupling or every marriage does not mean that one option, to have children or to not have children, is better or worse--rather both have become valid options in today's society. This is an empowering idea not just for persons who wish to remain childless, but for all couples--it is a reminder that having a child is a choice, not a destiny that is forced upon a couple."

More papers on "Changing American Families"--Book Review:

• Book Review # 145008 : "The Way We Really Are" - A Book Review"
• Book Review # 128084 : "Review of May's "Homeward Bound"
• Comparison Essay # 9073 : "Families in Modern Day Society"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: