Modern Family Traditions
The hit T.V. series “Modern Family” showcases many examples of dominant ideologies that shape our society. While a premise of the show is to include the many diversities within families, they can’t escape the ideological traditions.
One of these traditions is the promotion of a college education.
When Haley Dunphy, the oldest of the 3 Dunphy children, reaches her senior year of high school, parents Phil and Claire are adamant about getting her into college even though she shows more resistance. When it comes to their second child, Alex, Phil and Claire essentially try to “slow her roll” when they realize they’re going to miss her. Recently, their third child, Luke, is at the age to go off to college and Phil and Claire are focused on capturing the acceptance excitement the moment he finds out he got into a college, if he gets in.
College isn’t required but if a popular show were to not promote it or even worse, advise against it, it’d be odd.
The Dunphys have instilled the importance of college in their children. They weren’t born wanting to go to college and Haley really battled the idea of going.
Another ideology presented in “Modern Family” deals with gender roles. Through all of the characters and individual families, the men and women encourage all of the kids to work in one way or another. Although some are fairly well off, they still work.
With the exception of one, Gloria, who never showed an interest in working since coming to the states and not having to work. But, she often shares her stories of hard times she had to go through in her home country.
Speaking of Gloria, Gloria loves to shop. Everybody in her family knows it and it has led some of her family members such as her granddaughter Haley and her son Manny to yearn for the nicer things in life.
It’s Gloria’s ideology about nice and fancy things that leads to the accepting attitudes of consumerism and indulgence.
Within “Modern Family” is also the acceptance of gay marriage.
Cameron and Mitchell are married and while their family approves and embraces them, Mitchell’s dad Jay wasn’t always that way. Their marriage has changed the way Jay lives and looks at his life.
Another ideology that stands out to me is how Claire is the “feared” one between her and Phil. The kids think they can get away with more by pulling sympathy out from their dad. In one episode, Claire wants Alex and Haley to not leave the house until their bathroom is cleaned up while Phil takes Luke out golf carting to reward him for his good grades. Claire then decides she wants to switch roles with Phil and finally be the “good cop” who gets to take Luke out.
Ideologies are the back bone to how people act and think about certain topics and lifestyles. They can be taught even subconsciously and picked up through habit. “Modern Family” is a great example of how ideologies spread.
