1.American Family

American Families

The American family is usually a nuclear family，consisting of parents and their children under 18.Middle-aged and elderly people generally do not live with their married children.The average family size declined dramatically from 3.58in 1970 to 3.16in 1993，and the percentage of families without children rose from 44.1% to 51.2%.The married adults usually consider their father and mother，sister，or brother as separate household units.Aunts，uncles，cousins，and grandparents are defined as“extended family”.In America，parents usually keep in close contact with their grown-up children and take great interest in their grandchildren.But the relation between them is usually not as intimate as that of the Chinese family.However，if they do not live far from each other，members of the large family group in America often dine together on holidays.

Along with the American emphasis on individual freedom，the belief in equality has a strong effect on the family.This can be witnessed in dinner table arguments or debates between parents and their children，or in the considerable independence granted to teenagers.Parental roles in American family have altered somewhat since the emergence of the working mother.In some families，the working mother is a necessity because the father is unable to find employment or can not earn enough for all the family’s basic needs.In other households，the mother may work to supplement the father’s income so the family can enjoy a higher standard of living.Then，too，some women want to work even if the family does not need extra income.This is mainly because many women found it boring to stay home alone all day，especially when their children are at school.Many working mothers employ cleaning women one or more days a week to help with housework and childcare，but few have live-in servants.When a working mother has no household help，her husband often takes a more active part in housekeeping and child rearing.Father often takes a special interest in teaching his youngsters athletic skills.On weekends especially，the family is likely to spend time together—attending church，visiting relatives，watching a ball game，going bike-riding，touring the zoo，or just playing“catch”in the backyard while the hamburgers are barbecuing.However，during the week his children may see him very little.He may leave home early in the morning and come back when it’s almost bed time for the youngsters.

For better or worse，Americans are devoted and permissive parents.Some parents often turn to the writings of experts—pediatricians，psychiatrists，and psychologists—for advice on child rearing.Because they believe that knowledge leads to a meaningful life，American parents try to give their children many opportunities to develop skills and worthwhile interests.The typical middle-class child has a large assortment of educational toys and athletic equipment.He may also receive instructions in sports and music.To help him do well in school，he may be given his own room and desk，a set of encyclopedia，and if necessary，private tutoring.When school lets out for the summer，parents try to give their children other kinds of learning experiences through camping or travel.Family automobile trips to places of historical interest，national parks，and resort areas.Summer-day camps and residential camps are popular with American youngsters.

Parents in America have little control，and generally not much influence，over whom their children marry.Young people are expected to find a husband or a wife on their own.In fact，parents are frequently not told of marriage plans until the couple has decided to marry.In 1990about 81%of all women were married before they reached age of 30，and 16%of women and 27%of men at the age between 30and 34.Over the years the value placed on marriage itself is determined largely by how happy the husband and wife make each other.Happiness is based primarily on companionship.Other values，such as having economic support and the opportunity to have children，are seen as less important.If the couple feels unhappy，they may choose to get a divorce.A divorce is relatively easy to obtain in most part of the United States.In 2008，it was estimated that 40%of all marriages ended in divorce.The median time between divorce and a second marriage was about three and a half years.The divorce rate in 2011was 4.95per 1，000of population in the United States.

Americans are a highly mobile people.When an American’s income rises，he will usually look for a better house，in a better district，with more land，a better view and a bigger and finer swimming pool.He may be attached to the house which is his home for the time being but this does not mean that he has roots there.Today’s job，today’s income，today’s home，today’s friend and neighborhood，all these are part of an American’s（and his family’s）identity.