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Family Customs
It is extremely difficult to be specific about the American family
because of the many regional, religious and national backgrounds that
are found in the U.S. These ideas about American families are
generalizations and may not be true of families that you meet. There
are several different combinations of people that may make up a family
unit. The family you meet may be composed of a mother, father and
children, but other families you meet may be composed of a single
parent with children, two or more professional persons who live
together, a husband and wife with no children at home or no children
at all, or an adult who lives alone and has close friends that share
special times and activities. In many families, both the husband and
wife are employed away from home. Few American families have
servants. At most, they may have someone to stay with children while
they are away (a "babysitter") or someone to do weekly cleaning or
yard work as it is needed.
Household responsibilities are often shared among family members,
including children. One's sex no longer necessarily determines family
responsibilities. Jobs that were once performed mainly by women (such
as cooking and cleaning) and those once performed mainly by men (such
as taking care of the car and yard) are often done by either
sex. Traditional patterns are still followed in some
families. American families often share more than household
duties. For example, husbands and wives may share in making decisions
and in taking responsibility for other family members. The opinions of
children are often asked for and accepted and children are often
included in entertaining.
The individuality and autonomy so valued by Americans has extended
into the family setting to the extent that individual rights within
the family are enforced by law. It is now illegal, for example, for an
individual to use physical force on another even though that person
may be his/her spouse or child. What was formerly considered
"discipline" or exercise of authority within the family is now a
matter for official intervention. Neighbors may report such instances
to the police. In addition, professionals such as teachers and doctors
are required to report suspected instances of physical abuse to the
authorities.
The above section excerpted from the Michigan State University
Handbook for International Students.
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