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Family Values. Political and social concept or term that has been used in various nations across the world to describe a set of moral beliefs in society specifically in response to the perception by social or religious conservatives of declining morality within that nation itself.
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Political and social concept or term that has been used in various nations across the world to describe a set of moral beliefs in society specifically in response to the perception by social or religious conservatives of declining morality within that nation itself.
Concept of “family values” is rooted in each individual culture thus making the values different for different societies
In addition, cultures change over time in response to economic, political, and cultural developments
Family values vary from household to household, from country to country, and from generation to generation
Social and religious conservatives often use the term “family values” to promote conservative ideology that supports traditional morality or values
American Christians often see their religion as the source of morality and consider the nuclear family to be an essential element in society
Some conservative family values advocates believe the government should endorse Christian morality (by displaying the Ten Commandments or allowing teachers to conduct prayers in public schools)
Religious conservatives often view the United States as a “Christian nation” • American Family Association – exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth and traditional family values
These groups oppose abortion, pornography, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, some aspects of feminism, cohabitation, and depictions of sexuality in the media
Liberals have used the phrase “family values” to support such values as family planning, affordable child care, and maternity leave
Planned Parenthood, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays have attempted to define the concept in a way that promotes the normalization of single-parent families
They feel that understanding family values does not promote conservative morality, instead it is a focus on encouraging and supporting alternative family structures
Promoting access to contraception, abortion, increasing minimum wage, sex education, childcare, parent friendly employment laws (which provide maternity leave and leave for medical emergencies)
Use of family values as a political term became widespread after 1992 speech Vice President Dan Quayle made about the Los Angeles riots stemming from a breakdown of family values
He said the violence was from a decay of moral values and family structure in American society
He also said that character Murphy Brown was an example of how popular culture contributes to this “poverty of values”
“It doesn’t help matters when primetime TV has Murphy Brown-a character who supposedly epitomizes today’s intelligent, highly paid, professional woman-
Mocking the importance of fathers, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another “lifestyle choice.” • http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/09/quayle.cnna/
Major amounts of criticism for this speech from feminist and liberal organizations • Widely ridiculed by late night talk show hosts
Republican Party • Opposition to homosexual marriage • Support for traditional education and parental involvement in that education
Support for policies that encourage “adoption over abortion” • Support for behavior identified as traditional or moral as respect, discipline, attentiveness, religious commitment
Support for healthy choices such as nutritious diet, medical screenings, and physical activity
Support for health education, including abstinence, on the risks associated with early sexual activity such as teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases
Support for policies that protect children from obscenity and exploitation
Democratic Party • 2004 Democratic National Convention: John Kerry said “it is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families”
Dan Quayle- 10th anniversary of Murphy Brown speech- also added Friends and Sex in the City to his list of television shows
The Osbournes: he said he had seen the show only once- but “You have to get beyond this sort of dysfunctional aspect. You have a mother and a father involved with their children…They are loving parents.”
He said that at least the Osbournes are an “intact family” as compared to Murphy Brown
“It’s a little bit different than our household. I’m not encouraging anybody to live his life. But…many of the things he’s trying to say are positive.”
His speech is considered by some to be a turning point in the war to save the family
Quayle’s comment “was the first time that the nation as a whole would seriously discuss issues like the dramatic rise of unwed births and single parenthood.
For the most part, Murphy Brown’s behavior was firmly defended by the media- partly, or course, because her nemesis was the conservative Dan Quayle.”
Liberals- felt it was election year attacks on Hollywood • Conservatives- thrilled to hear someone put the issue of single-parent families under public scrutiny
Bush: $300 million initiative to encourage and promote heterosexual marriage is at the heart of his welfare reauthorization proposal
Since 1996- several states have incorporated marriage-boosting programs into welfare programs
“Florida has instituted a mandatory marriage and relationship class for high school seniors. Utah…has designated an annual “marriage week,” earmarking $600,000 for pro-wedlock project, including a video.
And Oklahoma’s program (which is being called “the Governor and Mrs. Keating’s marriage initiative”) has used $10 million of welfare money to fund rallies and a year long tour of public
Appearances by a husband and wife team of evangelical Christian “marriage ambassadors.”
Traditional families hit by declining morals, say mothers • Survey of mothers: traditional family unit is in meltdown • Demise of family meal, popularity of video games
Some of the mothers surveyed said that unmarried couples, single parents, and same sex parents were causing traditional family structure to break down
Many families are in debt- leading to problems because they are having to work more to try to make ends meet
Half of mothers surveyed said that low moral standards, higher levels of sexual imagery, drug use, violence and bad language is to be blamed
According to survey- most important factor for disintegration of parent-child relationship is failure of families to eat a proper meal together
Children spending long hours playing video games, computers, watching television
Half of children now have a television set in their bedroom by age of 10 • Spend an average of 25 hours a week in front of television or game console screens
