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Ricky Ortuno
Professor Vana
English 114A
28 October 2014
Modern Family VS Leave it to Beaver
Society has come a long way from the standard Leave it to Beaver expectations of how
a family should be. The mother would stay home cleaning and making meals. The father would
go to work to pay for the bills. The children would go to school and experience new things. The
family would all follow the same religion, routine, and culture. All that depicts the perfect
family. But society has evolved from the usual ways of how things work. Today you have the
right to choose your family and the show Modern Family demonstrates that right. The show
follows three separate arcs: a gay couple who adopted a daughter, an older man who married a
Latina bride and her son, and a couple who raise their three children in a goofy manner (Modern
Family). Family can be of any race, sex, or age. Family can be whoever brings happiness,
frustration, sadness, and hope. Society has really evolved from one ideal family into a diverse
community of people that love each other for who we are.
Modern Family displays different views of how a family could be. In the show there is a
male gay couple, Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker that have adopted a Vietnamese
daughter that they named Lily Tucker-Pritchett. No matter if you are of the same sex you can
have a child. Their feelings brought them together and they did not let the fact that neither of
them can give birth bring down their hopes of having a child. They made a decision to adopt a
child and raise her as if she was of their blood. This is a very tough decision to make considering
that all the rights and responsibilities transfer to the couple but their desire to expand their family

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was all the reason to adopt. Birth Certificates do not prove who your parents are because the
people who raised you and loved you are your parents. They knew that their adopted daughter
was not their blood but they chose to love her anyway. They wanted to provide the child with a
loving home and family. This includes the exchange of family traditions, sharing of faith, and the
memory of making those special moments.
Family can also be of a different race and different age group. In Modern Family an older
man, Jay Pritchett, married a younger woman, Gloria Delgado, who already had a son, Manny
Delgado. Jay not only chose the Gloria but the young boy as well to be a part of his family. They
were of a different race and they taught him part of their culture. In a family every single
member learns from each other even if you are the mother, father, or child. In the same case as
adopting a child, the old man adopted a son when he remarried the childs mother. In the show
the father teaches the son knowledge that the old man has learned over the years and shows the
son love. Understanding that the son is transitioning into a new family, the father knows Manny
has a history and heritage that needs to be embraced and respected. Family does not have to be of
one main religion or culture. Jay, even though he appears not to like their culture, is actually
learning and accepting their way of living. The world is expanding to be a very diverse society
and also accepting this change.
The third view is of an odd couple raising their children in the best way they can, even if
that manner is a bit unorthodox. No one in this family is gay, the couple does not have a huge
age gap, they are of the same race, and no one is adopted. This is the usual family with everyday
problems and enjoyment that we can relate to. For example they show the father helping his son
with a school project, the couple watches their eldest daughter go to her prom, and watch their
youngest daughters play performance. The importance is that this show reflects how family is

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pictured today. Society is more understanding and welcoming towards change because we
realized change can be for the betterment of society in general. Family will be there for a
member of the family no matter if it is for your piano recital, graduation, or maybe if you are
feeling down. The beauty of family is knowing that wherever you are in the world they are
always with you. Family is not one specific ideal anymore, but of anyone you choose to let in.
Modern Family expresses this sense of comfort.
In Modern Family everyone experiences real life emotions and situations that a family
would relate to. For example in the show the family would be running late to their sons soccer
game, micommunication between the families, or experiencing your children growing up in a
new worldly environment. In every different situation that your family appears to be in, the main
foundation is to have love among every member. Family is not always in a good position
throughout the rest of your life. There will be instances when you may want another family.
There may be times when you think your family is the best in the entire world. No matter of your
opinions family is always there for you. Modern Family captures that beauty. There are goofy,
sad, and happy moments in the show and at the end of the episode the family is united, happy to
be a part of that family. Belonging to a family is the main point, does not matter which family
you belong to because our society does not judge you on your family.
Family does not have to be a specific ideal. It does not matter if you are gay, how old
you are, or what race you come from because that is the beauty of society today. Society has
evolved to accept new changes. In the early 1900s the social media portrayed family of being a
white family. But now family is mixed in race, age, and culture that is all socially accepted
within our community. Family is whoever sticks around to love and share life experiences with
each other.

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Work Cited
"Modern Family." Daily Variety 27 Aug. 2010: 48. General OneFile. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Wisconsin Alumni Association. Modern Family. Modern Family cast. On Wisconsin Magazine.
2014. [http://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/content/uploads/2011/02/Modern-Familycast_525.jpg].

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