Question

How have our ideas on "Marriage" and "Family" changed in the last 100 years?

Images used in marketing and advertising can speak volumes about the norms, values, and ideals of a particular generation.

Here is an example: Look at how we market an image of what is “healthy”. If you look at any tabloid magazine cover while you are waiting to check out with your groceries (if you normally don't look, next time consciously do so!), you will find that, just like the Naciremans, modern-day Americans are still obsessed with the body. Look at the cover photos, and read the accompanying text or headlines. Celebrities - especially women - are either too fat or too thin. Unflattering photos with lumps, bumps, and rolls are placed right next to other unflattering photos with ribs, concave breasts, or flat behinds. Either way, their bodies are endlessly discussed!

We may see this as a modern phenomenon, but in actuality, body scrutiny and manufactured images of health, attractiveness, and vitality have long been a part of our society, just as images of idealized marriage and family life have always been there!

For this discussion, your job is to do an internet search for advertisements (from a newspaper, book, catalog, magazine, etc.) that depict some aspect of "marriage/family”.  Make sure that you have at least TWO images - one VINTAGE and one MODERN - that somehow tie in with the subject of marriage and family. You can interpret these terms any way that you like!  For each, you need to also make sure to include the original SOURCE of the image and include its web address. It is not okay to simple put "google" or "wikipedia" as your source!

Please be aware that there are many "doctored" images out there - people have taken parts of vintage ads and added modern text to make them more "shocking" or "funny". Please be careful about what you choose and search around to ensure that you do not have an ad that has been altered from the original.  

In your post, address the following questions:

1. What makes the vintage image(s) interesting from a modern-day perspective? Is there anything there that we would idealize now or perhaps think is inappropriate or outdated? Explain in detail!
2. What kinds of messages do you get from the "modern" image(s)? In other words, what is the ad trying to tell you? Is this similar to the message from the vintage ad or quite different? Explain/discuss!

Answer 1

There was a time when size of families were bigger as compared to present time. Divorce was not common in older times but now a days divorces have become so frequent. Rates of marriages are also decreasing down day by day.

Now a days concept of single parent have also become dominant. Remarriages are also gaining popularity in present times. Trend of cohabitation are also on rise. All these are causing reduction in family sizes.

People are getting married in older age as compared to ancient times. It is causing low fertility rates among couples. Families are getting shorter and shorter because smaller family size is being preferred in present's competitive world.

Concept of marriage counselling is also getting popularity in present time. People prefer to test their compatibility before getting themselves involved in bond of marriage. All these are causing fewer marriages and shorter family sizes.