Discuss how Gerstel and Sarkisian argued the importance of social class, as well as ethnicity in the development of family structures, and were challenged to think about the impact of culture  and class on family structures?

We also considered what Coontz posits as the effects of nostalgia on the way we modern day Americans view traditionally under-represented groups and how the 1950s, as an idealistic time in our history, is generally a myth with concern to people of color.

Macfarquhar writes about the complex nature of child protective services and the inequalities that exist in the system that is meant to protect children from harm. 

 

Reflect upon these readings and write a well-developed, thesis driven essay responding to the following prompt:

 

Taking into account your own past experiences and the readings in this chapter write an essay articulating your views of what makes families happy and unhappy. Make sure you assess your own experiences of family, the ups and downs, up to this point in your life?