Technology Changes the American Family

The American Family has changed a great deal over the last few centuries. Like author of Capitalism and Gay Identity John D’Emilio said in his article, our country once depended on the individual family unit and their ability to create food and other textiles for their survival (228). We are now a society that lives separate lives and relies on the headset in our ear, or a computer beneath our fingertips. Back then it was unheard of to live away from the other members in your family because it meant you were depriving them of your hands and labor that was mandatory for the family to survive. In today’s world children are able to study abroad without worrying about their family’s survival. Even though our economy and life as we know it is changing, the ability to be a strong family unit is still possible.

As D’Emilio explained in his article, one-hundred years ago the economy and well-being of a community all depended on how a family was able to work together in order to have food, clothing, and other necessities available (230). Technology has now created more opportunities and techniques to make everything easier for the world. Technology has also changed the way in which families interact and keep in touch with one another. A child can move across country and still communicate with their family through email, text messaging, and the up and coming Skype which actually allows people to see one another while talking. Without the assistance of technology and other forms of communication, the typical American family may not have had the opportunity to change to the level it is at today.


D’Emilio, John. “Capitalism and Gay Identity.” Powers of Desire: The Politics of Sexuality. By: Monthly Review Press. 1983.