Changing Family Standards, Essay Example

The essay from Pleck examines the changes within family standards over different periods of time.  In her essay, “Festivals, Rites, and Presents,” Pleck looks at the transformations from colonial America to those extending beyond the late part of the twentieth century.  Pleck’s argument undermines the argued standards of current American families by questioning their bases by looking at economics, traditions, and other societal values within America.

Pleck’s Perspective

Pleck looks at the traditions that affect current families.  Citing economic values to holidays and looking at the historical authenticity of these holidays, she questions the validity that is responsible for the jagged family standards.  According to Pleck, these commercial dynamics and loose traditions are negatively affecting families in many ways.

Pleck’s perspective is largely negative.  As mentioned earlier, she labels the commercialism of holidays and then uses this against citizens who agree that holidays are becoming too commercialized, by citing figure after figure of holiday receipts.  From this perspective, it becomes difficult and rather confusing to see whether she is attacking family values or the American economy in her essay.

Reaction

Reacting to Pleck’s perspective, it is hard to make these generalizations.  In fact, it is as if the stereotypes from both sides of the argument are being used against one another.  It could be argued that families are showing joy by purchasing Christmas cards and ornaments, and making travel plans to see loved ones for the holidays.  Yet some people always label this as the commercialism of the holidays.

In this light, it seems difficult to agree on these grounds.  It is not as simple as that.  Suppose that the American consumers were not buying and spending during the major holiday systems.  Would that be a sociological indicator of the negative aspects of family values?  Simple generalizations such as these don’t work, in my opinion.

Furthermore, it is not fair to examine the history of holidays.  It seems odd to criticize holidays that were developed recently, such as Kwanzaa and Mother’s Day, as Pleck does.  The historical aspects of a holiday do not give a holiday tradition, at least in most cases, as something like Christmas would be a special case.

The Status Quo

The status quo is difficult to judge in this example.  However, it should be clear that most people have a positive sense of celebration in holidays, even those such as Kwanzaa and Mother’s Day.  While there will always be critics in every realm of life, it seems reasonable to say that the general public accepts holidays such as these.

In this light Peck certainly does not hold values in conjunction with the status quo.  Building on her other criticisms of holidays within American culture, she also attacks the new holidays and rites involved.  For instance, St. Valentine’s Day and even funerals and weddings are criticized (Peck, 312-13).  Victorian customs are frowned upon by Peck, in light of new ways to commemorate these occasions.  The cards of St. Valentine’s Day and the more elaborate customs of weddings and funerals are criticized by Peck.

Change

In regards to Peck’s argument for change, it is difficult to see what Peck would like to see happen to institute such change.  In fact, in this extract from the text of her essay, it does not seem as if Peck is advocating any real ways to change what she is attacking.  While it seems as if though she would like the commercialism and the newer rites of holidays to change, this does not seem feasible if it were so.  Society continues to evolve, and it would not be rational to eliminate the way Americans celebrate holidays.  They are not less meaningful if there is a bit of commercialism to the holidays.  In fact, we cannot make the assumption of the link between spending money in the holidays and it becoming less meaningful.  That is simply not true and just as wrong as a holiday actually becoming too commercialized in reality.

Personally I do not believe that it’s either one or the other.  Perhaps holidays are losing their touch in terms of tradition.  Most people will agree that holidays have become rather commercialized.  But then again, that doesn’t mean that this is some major problem that makes holidays and family values lose meaning.

In fact, a bit of commercialism can be seen to help family values.  In current society we are consumers and marketing, television, and certain elements that may initially be seen to undermine the true tradition of “the old days” may in fact help.  It would be rash to say that Christmas cards are a way for companies to make money off of people who have lost touch with tradition.  Why, in fact, can this not be a sign of a healthy tradition for loved ones to reach others and communicate with families?

My Views on Change

Once again, this is a tricky situation.  I believe that it is wrong to fall too far either direction.  Thus, in regards to recommended change, if of course it were so easy, is to surround families with modern and traditional values.

While some newer traditions are useful, they should not replace more traditional values and rights in my opinion.  Christmas cards and the Internet are a great way to keep track of loved ones around the holidays, but they should not replace meaningful relationships.  We must not allow these new rituals to replace valued traditions to come together as families and friends at any time of the year.

Thus while I don’t believe that there is an overwhelming disassociation of modern families with each other, we must be careful.  We do live in a society that can influence and undermine family values.  However, that is only the case when we allow these influences to do so.

Conclusion

Pleck’s essay certainly questions the value of holidays and the current family amidst these perceived challenges.  One particular focus point is in the way holiday traditions have changed over the years, from new rites in older holidays to the condemning of “made up” holidays.  Pleck certainly questions these dynamics and links them to the suffering family values that are affected.

Personally it does not seem to me that this is a critical problem, at least generally.  While there are certainly some families who have lost touch with true meaning, in regards to family values and holiday traditions, it is not fair to equivocate commercialism to an overtly negative holiday culture.  In the right light it is just the identity of a nation that is driven by consumers and technology.

However it is not perfect.  Today’s commercialism for some is too much and causes some families to lose touch with true values.  For others, they may rely on these new and less meaningful values in certain situations, such as in interacting with distant families or friends, when authentic attempts should be made.  Most people need to reevaluate where they stand and make sure that they hold family values and interactions in the holidays true to where they want to be, which is hopefully reflective of positive standards.

Works Cited

Pleck, Elizabeth. Festivals, Rites, and Presents. Writing Without Formulas. By William Thelin. 2009. Wadsworth Publishing. 307-313. Print