A、The influence of times on family values. B、How the American society changes with times. C、The influence of times on personal v

Moderator:
    Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Today we have a distinguished guest speaker, Dr. Melanie White.(22)She is a renowned scholar, focusing on how the times have changed American families and family values. Now let’s give a warm applause to her.
Dr. White:
    Thank you for the introduction. In today’s lecture, I’ll talk about the American families from the following five aspects: family structures, the emphasis on individual freedoms, the role of the child, equality in the family, and family values.
    First, family structures.
    What is the typical American family like? If Americans are asked to name the members of their family, family structure becomes clear. Married American adults will name their husband or wife and their children, if they have any, as their "immediate family". If they mention their father, mother, sisters, or brothers, they will define them as separate units, usually living in separate households. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are considered "extended family."(23)Traditionally, the American family has been a nuclear family, consisting of a husband, wife and their children, and living in a house or apartment. Grandparents rarely live in the same home with their married sons or daughters, and uncles and aunts almost never do.
    Second, the emphasis on individual freedom.
     (24)Americans view the family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members. The result is that the needs of each individual take priority in the life of the family. In contrast to that of many other cultures, the primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically, nor is it to bring honor to the family name. This is partly because the United States is not an aristocratic society.(25)Family name and honor are less important than that in aristocratic societies, since equality of opportunity regardless of birth is considered a basic American value. Moreover, there is less emphasis on the family as an economic unit because the American family is rarely self-supporting. Relatively few families maintain self-supporting family farms or businesses for more than one generation. The American desire for freedom from outside control clearly extends to the family. Americans do not like to have controls placed on them by other family members. They want to make independent decisions and not be told what to do by grandparents or uncles or aunts. Indeed, young Americans are encouraged by their families to make such independent career decisions. What would be best for the family is not considered to be as important as what would be best for the individual.
    Third, the role of the child.
    …
22. What does Dr. White specialize in?
23. What does a nuclear family consist of?
24. What is the primary purpose of American families?
25. Why are family name and honor less important in the US?