The Impact of Society on the Family

This week I was able to learn more about families and the society they live in. I was fascinated by some of my discoveries, and also was able to make some connections I've seen in my life and others I've known. We spent a lot of time learning about social classes. As we studied class I was able to see many connections to people around me. I live in an area that is very nice back home. It did not use to be much while my dad grew up there but now it has turned into a mini silicon valley as my parents like to put it. When people hear where I'm from I immediately get stereotyped that my family is very wealthy. It is interesting to see the way my family and I can sometimes be treated because of that. Regardless I do know many families that have been very fortunate financially. While I was serving a mission in Kentucky for my church, however, I was introduced to the opposite side of the spectrum. My mission president told me that about 60-65% of the people in my mission were living below the poverty line. My eyes were very much opened. I met many people from many kinds of backgrounds. I was astounded by some of the living conditions I saw and was oftentimes saddened by them. In both scenarios, however,  the wealthy people and the people in poverty were both doing all that they could to help themselves financially with what knowledge and education they had. It was really fascinating for me however to see that if someone had grown up in a family that was in poverty the children grew up to have families of their own yet they too were confined to the same kind of lifestyle regardless of other dreams they may have previously had. It was the same for those who grew up in the upper class, the children grew up and had their own families and oftentimes ended up in similar financial situations as their parents. 

From all of this, I learned there is a power behind what we learn while being raised. If we learn certain lifestyles chances are those same lifestyles will become our own later on. It can be hard to break out of the class you were born in (though it certainly is not impossible). The impact that social classes have on the family however truly is fascinating to me.

I also spent time studying previous cases conducted about families from Mexico. The case studied families that were in the process of immigrating to the United States. Many of these families sacrificed so much to have an opportunity to find a better life for themselves and their families within the States. The study showed however that often these things brought more barriers into families rather than bring them closer together. Many families were split up in the process of trying to immigrate. Fathers often left first to try and establish a life for the family in the States before having the family join him. They would send money back home to the family but it usually wasn't enough for the family to live as comfortably as they had prior to the fathers leaving. This also created tension and resentment and a loss of relationships for some family members. It was often hard on marriage since there were typically a few years of separation before the family was reunited together. It also had an impact on the relationships between the fathers and the children. 

While studying all of this it made me think that often we have something good with our family but in some circumstances where you take extreme measures like this to try to create an even better life for the family it loses the beauty that it once already had. 

I have gained a new appreciation for my family and the relationships I have with them now regardless of social status, or any other factors. Be grateful for the things you do have! It is ok to want more for your loved ones but don't let it get in the way of the relationships and the beauty you are already surrounded by!

Until next time!

- Olivia