While some modern-day families are still trying to have a family mean in the evening at least a couple of times per week, the way it takes place has changed dramatically. Namely, it is rarely regarded by family members as a special occasion or a “family date” even though many people of all ages actually enjoy sitting down for a meal together. Secondly, because most of the women have entered the workforce and spend most of their time at work, they cannot spend so much time planning and preparing the family dinner.

Instead, taking care of dinner may be a responsibility of anyone in the family and it may be a take-out instead of a home-cooked meal. Thirdly, unlike the dinner in the video where a pleasant conversation was considered to be a crucial aspect of a shared meal, dinners in modern-day families may frequently happen in front of the television or with everyone browsing their won updates on social media. Lastly, the family meals of today appear to be more relaxed and permitting compared to the restrained family dinner featured in the video.

Shared meal represents closeness, good relationship, and overall positive vibe of the family that sits together for a meal as it is the time when family members may enjoy some good conversations and quality time with each other. Having family meals might be a good idea as it offers family members a real opportunity to catch up with each other, have a laugh, and overall strengthen the relationships between individual family members and contribute to the positive image of one’s family.

The image of the family has changed dramatically since the 1950s. The most evident trends that were not common in the mid 20th century are the growing number of single-parent families, the growing preference for civil unions instead of marriage, the fact that in most of the households all the adults are now part of the workforce, and the increasing number of same-sex couples. This trends can be explained by the growing rates of divorces and the gradual fading of the social stigma associated with being a single parent or being in a same-sex couple. Secondly, the empowerment of women, their ability to earn a living and be financially independent has opened many alternative options for women apart from being a housewife in a traditional family.

It is reasonable to expect that in the future, the definition of family will become even vaguer as individuals no longer depend on large family circles for survival and gaining social status. It is highly likely that the number of single-parent and step-children households with raise as divorce and pursuit of personal happiness become more and more accepted in our society. Further, it is likely that many alternative types of families will emerge, including single-person households, two friends sharing a household to support each other emotionally and financially, etc. as people become more open to other options that would fit best with their lives. Further, considering the fact that young people postpone entering the workforce and starting a family, it is also likely that many young people will keep living with their parents for longer than it was common in previous generations.

The video about the family meal was particularly rich in surprises. Namely, it was very uncomfortable to see that all the kitchen work was the responsibility to female family members while the brother could dedicate time to his homework. Secondly, it was surprising to find out that there was an actual norm not discuss anything that may foster disagreement or comprises bad news at the dinner table. This norm seems to make the conversations family has at dinner inauthentic and staged while this time should be a time to get reassurance or support for family members who struggle with something.