Family norms refer to the behavioral expectations associated with the statues and roles of family members. Whereas values are attached to beliefs,norms are attached to,and directly guide, behavior. As norms guide our actions, they serve as cues to appropriate and inappropriate behaviours. Although basic family values have not changed dramatically, the norms if family behavior have undergone drastic transformations. In any culture, one is expected to take something from or give something to another with the right hand, whether one is left-handed or not. The right hand is the hand approved by our society for the proper exchanged of items. But these days,especially here in America, our children are getting away with using the left hand to accept things or give things to another, adult or young. And again, the patents and the adults seem to ignore this behavior that differs from our norm. As a result of dramatic social forrces and events of recent decades such as increased sexual freedom, divorce and remarriage, out-of-wedlock births,you name it, a range of new family structures have emerged. Not only do these relationships exist, but they have grown in number, and have been accepted by large segments of society into the defination of "family." Recently the welfare system in America that supports many single parents was the topic for a while. Our political leaders were crying for reform. Some of them suggested orphanages for children of teenagers born out of wedlock, while others suggested setting a deadline for welfare recipients to get off the system. But when one delves into the family lives of these leaders that cry wolf, one finds out that they, too, are part of the problem. Many of them have divorced their wives and remarried; some of them messed around with younger girls. Thus their children may be among the confused teenagers and prospective candidates for future welfare and/or orphanage candidates. Where then is the solution?
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