Family Case Study

This show depicted the family lifestyle of a middle class African-American family growing up in a wealthy neighborhood. Just as with any family the show gives a bird’s eye view of challenges, obstacles, and trials as they raised their five children. For some people of the media this was somewhat unusual for what an African-American family was accustomed to during the time of Its premier. However the case may be, this family showed love, affection, and modeled a functional family within its society.

The Hustler’s would be considered a somewhat traditional family.

Although both parents worked, there were still some issues that would be considered very traditional. In my opinion I consider them to be a mixture of both patriarchal and egalitarian family styles. They both seem to possess similar amounts of power and neither dominated the other. However, Dry. Washable was still viewed as the head of the household The mother (Claire) according to theorist would be considered as a second shift parent.

After a normal days work, it was her responsibility to come home to cooking and maintaining a clean home.

These chores would be divided between the parents and children but rested upon the shoulder of the mother. The Hustler’s portrayed very little gender stereotyping during the course of the show. In one episode Dry. Washable encouraged his son to assist with making beds, and in another en we see him encouraging his five year old daughter to play football. This exemplifies that this family believed that each family member should be treated the same, and given the same opportunities regardless of their gender.

I am almost certain that in the late ass’s and early ass’s this was quite a disturbance to what would be consider male and female roles. The Hustler’s related well to one another and showed great respect. The parents had great communication with their children, as well as the children with the parents. Parenting seemed to be a very easy task for the couple as they always kept n open line of communication, and encouraged individuality. They were time- available parents who felt that time spent with each other was valuable time and served as a time of bonding.

This was done through family meals, around the house conversations, and one-to-one correspondence between both the parents and the children. The parents felt it was their obligation to give their children the best lifestyle as possible. This sometimes presented conflict as the children sometimes 010 not unreason ten parents’ approach to Issues Tanat Involved cocoons or social issues among their peers. However the parents maintain a boundary as parents, and did not allow them to be overstepped by the children.

The Washables would be considered to have an authoritative style for child rearing.

As above stated they encouraged individuality, but provided limits through positive reinforcement, and punishments. Communication was a must in the household of the Washables. Communication among the couple was phenomenal. Although both parents worked long hours, they both found time to spend with each other as well as their children. It is my belief this couple portrayed a very happy marriage, but somewhat unrealistic.

During the course of the show we rarely see the couple in any type of conflict besides mediocre issues such as diet and technical chores around the home. I feel this gives false hopes for couples who are new to marriage that may feel this “honey moon effect” will last throughout. The couple was very loving and intimate toward each other. According to the relative love and need theory each bought resources to the marriage and both benefited from it which created a balanced relationship. Overall, the Washables portrayed a very loving and functional family ideal to what we categorize family as today.