Abstract
The paper discusses breast cancer because it affects the entire family in terms of roles, economics, lifestyle change, and stress. The paper relates that according to Feldman and Broussard (2006), breast cancer and its treatment produce a psychosocial impact that creates a ripple effect. The paper discusses how the effect moves from the patient to her partner and then to the whole family; the family's basic identity is then changed because of the many challenges (Feldman & Broussard, 2006). The paper then shows how from a sociological perspective of symbolic interactionism, we see how breast cancer is filled with meanings.

From the Paper
"There are many forms of cancer that affect both sexes such as brain, liver and lymph node cancer. Some cancers affect just men, and others such a breast cancer can happen to both men and women. The focus will be on breast cancer because it affects the entire family in terms of roles, economics, lifestyle change, and stress. According to Feldman and Broussard (2006), breast cancer and its treatment produce a psychosocial impact that creates a ripple effect. The effect moves from the patient to her partner and then to the whole family; the family's basic identity is..."

Tags:cancer, family, therapy

Abstract
This paper presents a discussion about family life using two plays as the backdrop for the discussion. The plays discussed are Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" and Sam Shepard's "True West".

Tags:different, strokes, folks

Abstract
This provides a valid introduction to the feminist perspective on family life, using concepts of conjugal roles, dual-burdens, equal opportunities, and various social policies as evidence to support the feminist viewpoint. It looks at how many feminist sociologists believe that marriage and family life exploits and oppresses women and how the traditional nuclear family, supported by functionalist and New Right sociologists, displays a definitively clear division of labor where women are expected to be housewives allowing the men to work. It also discusses how they perceive the nuclear family to mainly benefit men as women's domestic functions in the home allow men to dominate paid work as well as encouraging a patriarchal ideology.

From the Paper
"Many feminist sociologists believe that marriage and family life exploits and oppresses women. The traditional nuclear family, supported by functionalist and New Right sociologists, displays a definitively clear division of labor where women are expected to be housewives allowing the men to work. Using this ideology, the female role within the family should be concerned with motherhood and housework as she is biologically best suited to this service, while the male function is to provide and protect the family and to act as a disciplinary role model to his children. Feminist sociologists disagree with this and the view that the nuclear family benefits all in society. They perceive the nuclear family to mainly benefit men as women's domestic functions in the home allow men to dominate paid work as well as encouraging a patriarchal ideology."

Tags:feminism, family, marriage, divorce, domestic, violence, child, abuse, cohabitation

Abstract
This paper describes how a family of origin functioned during family life cycle events and tasks. Considers aspects such as degrees of assimilation and adaptation, differentiation, boundary adjustment, shifting of roles and establishment of family rules. The paper gives attention to particular events that challenge a family of origin during a phase of development. The essay shows that we can apply developmental thinking to a family system. The important points discussed are as follows:, clear introduction and focus, clear concise reporting and observations, demonstrated understanding of developmental tasks and events.

From the Paper
"This paper describes how a family of origin functioned during family life cycle events and tasks. The events tasks selected are those of having young children, dealing with adolescence, launching children from the home, and being confronted with the empty nest phenomenon. The family of origin, Family Y, consists of a traditional nuclear family. They have been married for years and have three children, two girls and a boy, which are now adults."

Tags:Family, Life, Cycle

Abstract
This paper discusses family life cycle assessment related to the film "American History X", including intervention suggestions. The paper describes the family, influences on the main characters and tragic results of the lack of therapy.

From the Paper
"When Derek Vinyard returns after several years in prison during which he has been brutally raped by his putative skinhead brothers and befriended and protected by a Black inmate, he uses his influence to persuade his younger brother Danny to give up his affiliation with the Disciples of Christ (DOC) Aryan supremacy gang that he himself helped create. Having spent time in counseling with Dr Sweeney, Derek has come to the realization that he has an obligation to assist his..."

Tags:family life cycle, assesment, American History X

Abstract
This paper reviews the birth of a child into a family unit, the socializing processes that occur, and the transition to adolescence. From there, the paper looks at the socializing factors that shape young adults and then some time is devoted to looking at middle-aged parents and the final years of life when death beckons and the children have long since moved out and brought into the world (usually) offspring of their own.

Tags:family, life, cycle

Abstract
This paper reviews changing attitudes toward marriage, sex, cohabitation, religion and human values in the U.S. over the past 50 years. The author points out the devaluation of the nuclear family. The paper suggests the influence of comic strips as mirroring society and the sociopolitical climate.

From the Paper
"Family life, at one time, was the foundation on which American communities, society and country were built. There was general agreement that the American family should consist of one mother who did not work and ..."

Tags:Family Life, Single Parents

Cartoons

Abstract
The paper relates that in the movie "Little Miss Sunshine", when the Hoover family - travelling in their broken van with the corpse of Edwin Hoover in the back - is pulled over by a highway patrolman, the father, Richard Hoover, shouts to his remaining family members: "Everybody just pretend to be normal, okay?" The paper asserts that in a sense, this request goes to the heart of the complex web of interrelating life cycles, dysfunction, and love and sacrifice that characterizes the Hoover family. In this context, this paper explores a range of questions regarding the representation of family life in the film.

From the Paper
"In the movie "Little Miss Sunshine", when the Hoover family - travelling in their broken van with the corpse of Edwin Hoover in the back - is pulled over by a highway patrolman, the father, Richard Hoover, shouts to his remaining family members: "Everybody just pretend to be normal, okay?" In a sense, this request goes to the heart of the complex web of interrelating life cycles, dysfunction, and love and sacrifice that characterizes the Hoover family. In this context, this essay will explore a range of questions regarding the representation of family life in the..."

Tags:family, social work, film

Abstract
The paper describes how in "Sons and Lovers", D. H. Lawrence presents the Morel family, a family situated firmly in one setting, with one job, one landscape and one set of parents, and thus, the family is rooted in one place. The paper discusses how this profoundly impacts the happiness of the children of this family, but not in a good way. The paper notes that in fact, the sons are destroyed by the implacable centrality of the mother, Mrs. Morel. The paper relates that William dies young and Paul has a miserable adult life, so that, as Dorothy Van Ghent points out, by the end of the novel he is left "emotionally derelict, with only the 'drift toward death'" (2). Thus, the paper shows how strange as it may seem, it is only Mr. Morel who can be seen to be in any way happy, as he at least holds onto his sexuality and his selfhood.

From the Paper
"In "Sons and Lovers", D. H. Lawrence presents the Morel family, a family situated firmly in one setting, with one job, one landscape and one set of parents. Thus, the family is rooted in one place. This profoundly impacts the happiness of the children of this family, but not in a good way. In fact, the sons are destroyed by the implacable centrality of the mother, Mrs. Morel. William dies young and Paul has a miserable adult life, so that, as Dorothy Van Ghent points out, by the end of the novel he is left "emotionally derelict, with only the `drift toward death'" (2). Thus, strange as it may seem, it is only Mr. Morel who can be seen to be in any..."

Tags:marine, life, lovers

Abstract
In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This paper details the reasons for the implementation of this particular act, which arose when lawmakers observed how childbirth affected the professional woman, often derailing her career completely, or causing her to take so many unpaid years off. The FMLA states that mothers and fathers of natural children, as well as those of adopted or foster children, could take up to 12 weeks off to care for their children without risk of losing their current employment status. The privilege was also extended to those caring for aged parents. The writer of this paper examines how the FMLA may have devastating consequences in smaller businesses in which temporary employees must be brought in and trained to take over for the employee on leave. This brief yet concise paper also discusses the issue of maternity leave in Europe and compares it to the present situation in the U.S.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Where the Imbalance Began
How it Affects the Workplace
Coercion to 'Be Nice' to Parents and Elder-care Providers at One's Own Expense
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Arguably, the only bright spot in the FMLA as currently practiced is this: it is a lot more unfair in Europe. There, maternity leave is generally with pay, not just paid health insurance. In addition, paternity leave is offered. On the face of it, it appears even more unfair to childless, parentless employees than the FMLA. However, "The European model is set among a backdrop of state-subsidized support for families with children, including national healthcare, cash benefits for families based on the number of children in the family, and guaranteed minimum child support payments for single parents," so that it is at least applied equally across the board instead of singling out parents in large companies to receive this government/corporate largesse while the non-parents shoulder the burden. In addition, Europe has such liberal vacation time that, even if the non-parents perceived the leave act as unfair, they would reasonably avoid American-style resentment simply because it's hard to be resentful when one is being treated well according to one's own needs and preferences."

Tags:employment, law, labor, maternity, family, care