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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY
This chapter introduces the underlying assumptions of the text and provides an overview of
family definitions, family types, discourse dependent families, boundary management, issues
affecting contemporary families, and functionality in families. This chapter describes in detail
the current state of the American family, elaborating on the varied family forms that are
becoming increasingly common. Issues of ethnicity and economic stress are explored.
KEY TERMS
Blended family Internal boundary management
EXERCISES & DISCUSSION
1. Family Definition
Activity Option 1: Before reading Chapter 1, have students write down a definition of family.
Discuss the challenges inherent in creating a definition of family. Then, after reading Chapter
1, ask them to revise their definition, if their perspectives on “family” have changed. Ask them
to discuss any revisions they made. How, if at all, did the information in Chapter 1 motivate
them to revise parts of their definition?
2. Family: Who’s in and Who’s Out?
Break students into small groups to discuss people that they consider members of their family.
ǦAre they all blood- or legally-related to them?
ǦDo they exclude any members of their extended family?
3. Family Metaphor
Encourage students to reflect upon their definitions of family and family communication through
metaphor and art. Specifically, give the students paper and crayons and instruct them to draw the
answer to the question, “What is family?” Within that conceptualization, tell them to depict
communication within the family and where it “fits” into their definition of family. Is
4. Cultural Conception of Families
Ask students to examine their own cultural history. Have them write a short narrative addressing
“who is my family.” Within that narrative, have them identify, if possible, the culturally-based
conception of “family” with which they were raised. You may ask them to pursue questions
5. Family Change
(Adapted from Barbara Lieb, George Mason University)
Send students in search of current literature describing the rapidly evolving nature of
American family life. Assign students to read material such as the following:
Olson, D. & Kilmer-Hauson, M. (Eds.) (1990) 2001: Preparing Families.NCFR Presidential
Report: Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations.
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Demographics and to websites such as www.childtrendsdatabank.org and
www.census.gov/population/cen2000. Be prepared to discuss in class the following:
ǦWhat did I learn from this article about changes occurring in the structure or functions of
the American family?
6. Discourse Dependent Families
Individually, have students reflect upon a family they know that they would consider a
discourse-dependent family. Ask them answer the following questions by themselves and
then share some of their thoughts with the class as a large-group discussion.
ǦWhat, in your opinion, makes this family “discourse-dependent”?
ǦHow well does this family manage the communication necessary to represent their
7. The Blended Family
Ask students to break into small groups and evaluate the accuracy of the following statement:
8. Boundary Management
Ask students to think about ways that their own family manages internal and external
9. Family-of-Origin Influences
Ask students to create a list of the most important qualities in their family they imagine creating
for themselves one day (or, if some are already married and/or have children, ask them to reflect
upon their current families). Include questions such as:
ǦHow many children will you have (if any)?
ǦDo you see yourself married?
10. State of the American Family
Before class, assign each student (or groups of students) to research issues in a specific
contemporary family type (e.g., single parent, adoptive, foster, multi-ethnic families). They
should research and print out one (pop culture, yet credible) article about that family type. Have
them reflect upon questions such as:
ǦWhat are 2-3 ways this type of family has changed in recent history?
ǦHow does this family type reflect the changing landscape of families?
MEDIA ILLUSTRATIONS
1. Media Depictions of American Family
Bring to class several forms of print media targeting family audiences (e.g., magazines devoted
to mothering, fathering, children) and pass out to groups of students. Assign them to do a content
analysis on the magazines. What are themes or common trends that emerge from the “data?”
What do you notice about the way American families are (and aren’t) depicted? What and who
2. The Adoptive Family through Juno
Using examples from the movie Juno (you may ask them to watch the whole movie as a
homework assignment or show clips in class), talk about how the movie represents adoptive
families and the family communication issues portrayed throughout the movie. Some scenes
worth mentioning include:
ǦThe scene when Juno meets Vanessa and Mark Loring for the first time and the
discussion of open vs. closed adoption
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Potential discussion questions include:
ǦHow did the movie represent adoption in general? How did it represent open vs.
closed adoptions?
3. Primary Parent Systems—Real and Fictional
As a class, ask students to brainstorm single parents portrayed in movies and on television (See
Appendix B for a full list of movies and television series depicting families.). Write ideas on the
board. Then, discuss as a class which characters seem most accurately portrayed and why. What
does this tell them about social biases about primary parenthood? What conclusions can they
draw about primary parent families from the comparison between real and fictional single
parenthood?