Summary and Reflection
One of the funniest and enjoyable “modern” American sitcoms is the “Modern Family.” The show is about the interrelation of three families that are connected through Jay and Gloria Pritchett and their children Clair and Mitchell (the nuclear family). Although the three families of the Pritchett, the Dunphy, and the Tucker-Pritchett are not the typical nuclear family, the show reflects how people nowadays are becoming more accepting to different types of families. For instance, in the show, I find the Tucker-Pritchett family as a refreshing portrayal of a strong family unit. Although Mitchell and Cameron are openly gay, stereotypical expectations of them did not prevent them from establishing a fun, healthy, and loving family together with their adopted daughter, Lily. Truly, this show signifies how mainstream attitudes towards same-sex relationships and marriages have drastically changed in the recent years.
In relation to this week’s readings, I will focus on the Tucker-Pritchett family. A not-so-typical situation that this sitcom portrays is the presence of happily married same-sex couples Mitchell and Cameron (and Lily!). Their family may as well spark some controversy because there are still some people in our society that are close-minded about the reality of same-sex marriages (as evidenced by some conservative states that still forbid same-sex marriages). However, I like this couple mainly because they represent how gay couples are capable of raising their own families – and be happy while they’re at it. The fact that a lot of viewers welcome their relationship and enjoy watching them proves that same-sex marriages and the LGBTQ+ movement has progressed based on the acceptance of the viewers.
Connection with Chapters 14 and 15
As previously mentioned, the “Modern Family” is composed of three different family types, including a nuclear family (the Pritchett family), a step-family (the Dunphy family), and a same-sex family (the Tucker-Pritchett family). Mitch and Cam’s family reminds me of this week’s reading because their union is uncommon yet today’s modern society is slowly becoming more accepting towards same-sex marriages and families. While the sitcom normalizes such family setup, it also reminds me how sociologists perceive marriages and families as societal institutions that serve as the basic unit of social structure. Likewise, the portrayal of a family headed by (a married) same-sex partners prove that families and marriages do adapt to social change. Gone are the days when a family is supposed to be preferably nuclear. On the other hand, same-sex marriages still face some challenges even today because there are still those who believe it is against God’s will to be gay or to have same-sex relationships. This brings us to the next chapter, which tackles religion.
In Chapter 15, we learn that religion can be a force for social change, just as Max Weber argued. In the U.S., the liberation theology allows us to see family and marriages in a different light, addressing social injustices, discrimination, and poverty in the process.
