Introductory Text
British and American society is based on family life and a family is a self-contained economic and social unit living together in their own house. It is one of the major cultural values all over the world.
In Great Britain no child can marry below the age of sixteen whether or without the parents’ consent. Between sixteen and eighteen the parents’ consent is necessary. Actually most girls and nearly all young men are well over eighteen when they get married. Marriage marks the beginning of a new and independent family, which means leaving one’s parents and starting one’s own life both for the man and the woman. They are loyal to each other, which is their duty. The man is supposed to be entirely responsible for the financial support and the woman for the management of the new home.
In comparison with most other places in the world, family identity is thought to be rather weak in Britain, especially in England. Of course, the family is still the basic living arrangement for most people, but in Britain this definitely means the nuclear family. There is little sense of extended family identity, which is reflected in the size and composition of households. It is unusual for adults of different generations within the family to live together. The average number of people living in each household in Britain is lower than in most other European countries (about 2.5 persons). The stereotyped nuclear family of father, mother and children is becoming less common. Britain has a higher rate of divorce than anywhere else in Europe except Denmark.
Significant family events such as weddings, births and funerals in Britain are not accompanied by large gatherings of people. In fact, family gatherings of any kind beyond the household unit are rare. For most people they are confined to the Christmas period.
Marriage in the United States is regarded a matter of individual decision. Americans say that marriages are based on romance rather than on social, financial or ethnic factor.
Marriage is preceded by dating. One of the peculiarities of dating in the USA is a ‘blind date’, that is a date between two people who haven’t met before. It’s usually arranged by a common friend.
A lot of young people think it’s definitely a good idea for a couple to live together before marriage. It’s a way for two people to get to know each other. Afterwards, they can really make a wiser decision about getting married than they could before. The experience of living together may prevent an unfortunate mistake. A lot more prefer to live together without a big wedding. ‘A wedding is just an expensive, meaningless affair. Two people can live together without a legal wedding’ they say. Those who decide to be legally married can choose among different kinds of weddings reflecting the different religious and ethnic backgrounds. An overwhelming majority of today’s couples choose to marry in a traditional religious ceremony.
A lot of changes are taking place in the roles of husbands and wives in Great Britain and the USA. The wife is not satisfied with the idea that she will be staying home the rest of her life. Even if she enjoys housework and taking care of children, she sees herself as more than a housekeeper and mother. She is looking for ways to establish her own identity. The husband’s role is changing too. He is beginning to realize that work shouldn’t be the main thing in his life. He understands that he must share family responsibilities if he wants to be an equal partner. Very often a woman gets a job (traditionally for a wife to work was a sign her husband wasn’t able to support a family), while her husband stays home to look after children and work about the house. Generally speaking, women have been trying to settle their autonomy within a family.
The relationship between adolescents and their parents is sometimes stressful. Psychologists have made some interesting discoveries about the nature of these conflicts. They have identified three major approaches used by parents in dealing with their adolescent children.
The authoritarian style of parenting decrees that “You should do so, because I say so!” The adolescent is not even allowed to express his or her beliefs. Not surprisingly this style of parenting behavior often leads to rebellion and more conflict. On the other hand, a strict upbringing by over-caring parents can make a child timid and submissive. The style of parenting called permissive is in many ways at the other extreme from the authoritarian style. Here, children lack control or supervision. They say it enables children’s personalities to develop naturally and that they will learn to be responsible by mistakes they make. Unfortunately, when parents set few limits, adolescents may end up in juvenile courts.
Most
teenagers say they prefer a
democratic
parenting
style
in which parents give advice, set limits but allow some independence.
Answer the following questions.
1. What is the definition of a family?
2. What is the marriage age in Great Britain?
3. What is the significance of marriage?
4. What is the man (woman) supposed to be responsible for?
5. What is a nuclear family? Why is it becoming less common in Great Britain now?
6. What is the average number of people living in each household in Britain now?
7. What are the most significant family events?
8. Why do many young people in Britain and the USA decide against getting married?
9. Do you agree or disagree that a wedding is an expensive, meaningless affair?
10. What is marriage preceded by?
11. What is a ‘blind date’? Who is it arranged by?
12. What kinds of wedding are there in the USA?
13. What changes are taking place in the roles of husbands and wives in Great Britain and the USA now?
14. What are the main reasons for conflicts between parents and children?
15. Which style of parenting – the authoritarian, permissive or democratic - do most teenagers prefer? Why?
PART 1
TOPICAL VOCABULARY
Getting Married |
|
People |
What They Do |
Before getting married
|
boyfriend / girlfriend fiancé/fiancée
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date with smb fall in love with smb propose to smb get engaged |
Getting married |
bride/bridegroom married couple
|
marry smb |
(After) getting divorced |
divorcee ex-wife/ex-husband
|
divorce smb leave smb split up / break up remarry smb |
A Family |
|
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|
|
|
Type of Family |
average-sized extended single-parent
|
People |
What They Do |
Temper and Qualities |
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Children |
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newborn baby toddler adolescent
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grow up get mature come of age separate from parents
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difficult obedient naughty rebellious spoiled submissive well-behaved |
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Adults |
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adults /grown-ups the elders single mother single father stepmother stepfather
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give birth to a child bring up a child / raise a child look after a child neglect a child punish a child support a child take care of a child reprimand a child set limits to a child
|
demanding firm indifferent patient permissive ruthless selfless strict
|
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Relationships between Parents and Children |
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Additional Vocabulary: to adopt a child; to be an equal partner; to educate one’s children; to respect parents’ (children’s) privacy; to share family responsibilities; to start a family; to start one’s own life;
an ancestor; a family background; an illegitimate child; parents’ consent; a descendent; a generation gap; a household; a younger generation; domestic violence; a juvenile delinquent; an orphan.
Mind the preposition: to be dependent on one’s parents; to be faithful (loyal) to each other; to be (legally) married to smb; to complain about smth or smb; to get out of hand; to go out with smb; to rebel against smb; to shout (scream, yell) at smb; to take after one’s mother / father.