By, Mohammed Almheiri
The structure of family in the United States has been changing and the traditional nuclear family is not the only structure. In addition to the traditional, nuclear family, the prevalent and most common family structure is the single parent family. Single parent families today represent a significant proportion of families and living in or growing up in this family structure is common for children.
From romances to westerns, films and later television have dictated and reflected American values. Films often point out the areas of clashes or conflicts within society. Since last few decades of the twentieth century, filmmakers and television producers have started portraying new configurations and structure of the family.
Zurcher et al were guided by the media representations of the family to children and younger audiences. Researchers were specifically interested in examining how Disney animated films serve as an influential media form that shapes children’s development of beliefs about the world around them, including the construct of the family. They identified a research gap about how Disney animated films represent depictions of families. To fill this gap, researchers assessed the qualities of family demographics, function, and structure in a census analysis of eighty-five animated films from the years 1937 to 2018.
Researchers described family structures as the formation of family and the presentation of divorce, single parents, or stepfamily members. Two basic family structures in America are nontraditional and traditional families. The nuclear or traditional family structure comprises two parents with dependent children living in a home. Other types of family structure are single parent, guardian, extended, and reconstituted families.
A review of literature performed by the researchers indicate that the representation of nuclear families in children’s prime time television was above the national average in the United States. Similarly, portrayal of children living with a single father or a single mother were lower than national averages. Also, portrayal of children living with non-relatives or extended family were higher than average. Researchers’ representations of family structure- including traditional or single parent family- were observed as follows: 41.3% single parents, 25% nuclear, 19/2% guardian, 5.8% extended, and 2.9% others.
Results of the research support the belief that Disney often select fictional storylines that integrate the absence of a parental figure as a driving element of the plot.
Results of the research support the belief that Disney often select fictional storylines that integrate the absence of a parental figure as a driving element of the plot. Contrary to that, portrayals of nuclear family within Disney animated films were often less than other forms of children media.
Overall, the study finding showed that more than seventy-five percent of all Disney animated films showed supportive and warm familiar interactions, with 78% of the films depicting a positive relationship between the protagonist and his/her family. F
indings of the study clearly indicate that film, television, or other media forms can bring together family members to increase cohesion and bond. Families and other forms of media can thus develop relationship and prevent breaking of the family, i.e. less chances of divorce so that children can live in a nuclear family rather with a single father or mother.
Works Cited
Zurcher, Jessica., Webb, Sarah, M., & Robinson, Tom. (2018) “The Portrayal of Families across Generations in Disney Animated Films.” Social Sciences, vol. 7, no. 47, doi: 10.3390/socsci7030047.