Instructions
1. Selection of Family Dynamic: Choose a topic related to the family to study, such as:
a. Gender and Family
b. Social Class/Family Inequality
c. Race, Ethnicity
d. Sexualities
e. Cohabitation and Marriage
f. Work and Families
g. Children, Parents, and Older Family Members
h. Domestic Violence
i. Union Dissolution
j. State & Social Policy
Once you select your topic, it could be helpful to narrow down your topic to
something more specific. Use your textbook for ideas. For example, chapter 8
discusses the idea of paid parental leave; chapter 6 discusses teen pregnancy. Find
something that interests you!
2. Selection of Media Content: Choose a specific form of media to analyze, such as:
a. Television shows
b. Movies
c. Advertisements
d. News articles
e. Social media posts
f. Songs or music videos
g. Children’s literature
Be sure to select media content that portrays your chosen family dynamics in some
way and be wary to choose content to analyze that actually addresses your topic (I
have never seen children’s literature address teen pregnancy, but it’s brought up
regularly in the New York Times).
3. Data Collection: Watch, listen, or read your selected media content carefully. You should
be reviewing 5 pieces of content, i.e., 5 newspaper articles, 5 children’s books, 5 music
videos, etc. Take notes on various aspects of the family dynamics portrayed related to
your chosen area, such as:
a. Types of families depicted (nuclear, extended, single-parent, blended, etc.)
b. Roles and relationships within the family (parent-child, sibling, spousal, etc.)
c. Communication patterns
d. Gender roles and expectations
e. Conflict resolution strategies
f. Representation of family values and traditions
g. Socioeconomic status and its portrayal
h. Diversity and inclusivity (race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.)
4. Analysis. Analyze the representations of family dynamics as related to your selection in
step 1. Consider questions such as:
a. How are power dynamics portrayed within the family?
b. To what extent do gender roles conform to or challenge traditional norms?
c. What values or ideologies are promoted through the portrayal of family life?
d. How does the media content reflect broader societal attitudes towards family
structures and relationships?
e. Are there any stereotypes or biases evident in the depiction of families?
5. Discussion: Reflect on the implications of the findings for understanding societal norms,
values, and challenges related to family life. Consider how the media shapes perceptions
of family and influences social attitudes. Compare your findings to what has been
discussed over this course (use your textbook). Summarize key insights gained from the
analysis and suggest areas for further research or critical inquiry. Textbook- Public and Private Families, an Introduction 9ed by Andrew Cherlin. ISBN: 9781260813272.
