The New American Family

Reading I

Reading for general information on the topic

The New American Family

Not that long ago, many Americans thought of the typical family as a father, mother, and two children in the suburbs. Every morning the father would leave for work; the mother would stay at home with the children. While many families were like this, this image was more an ideal or stereotype than reality. We often gaze back through our rose-tinted glasses, ignoring many Americans. Not all Americans lived such apparently happy suburban lives. Many women had to work. Many Americans could not afford to live in the suburbs. Not all male workers earned enough to support families. Not all Americans got married. Some families had single mothers and grandparents raised the children in some families. Single people, gay people, and people of color existed, but they were rarely mentioned.

America has changed since then. The vast majority of Americans realize that there are many kinds of families. The image of a white family with a stay-at-home mother, a working father, and two children has faded. Americans now see families with two gay parents, families with single mothers or single fathers, interracial families and other kinds of families. They also see many people living alone. Many Americans have become more accepting of other ways of living, and Americans with these other ways of living are now more open about their life patterns. This family diversity appears in movies, on television shows, and in books. Some people may still have problems accepting everyone, but America has come a long way since the days when the image of the suburban family reigned supreme.

(by Tom Aaron,

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/japan-info/index.pl?read=1705)

Activity I: Analyzing and Comparing

Study the following chart and comment on it. Find some statistics concerning Russia and present it to the class.

Vocabulary Corner

Basic Vocabulary

1. 1. Write down those words and expressions about a family which seem to be the most relevant to speak about family life.

2. Fill in the family chart according to the required family relations.

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