Grey's Anatomy- Single Parent Families

In the popular television show Grey's Anatomy, single mother Bailey gives this speech about the difficulties many single mothers face.  The fact that this is shown on TV portrays the diversity in families that many people live day to day, further showing the publics growing acceptance.  

More Disney Diversity

There are also many single parent families showing up on children's television shows.  This shows increasing acceptance of these families as they are obviously now deemed "appropriate" for even young viewers.  Shows such as Hannah Montana, which features a single father (widowed) and The Suite Life of Zac and Cody, who are being raised solely by their mother, because their father is simply not frequently in the picture.    

Our Class Families

And in contrast to the "google images family"previously posted, here is our class family photos. 

Single Parent Families- Around the World

Call to Action

Our call to action is for you to look at your family.  To look at each other’s families, and realize that you are not so different from one another.  Gay family, single parent family, heterosexual family, interracial family-- which are you?  What are your friends? What is the difference?  Diversity is all around us, and it’s part of what makes our culture so great.  The media is beginning to show this diversity, and with this increased presence comes an increased acceptance.  As Edward Schiappa, a professor of communications at the University of Minnesota said, “TV and movie representation matters,”  He’s shown in multiple studies that the presence of gay characters on television programs decreases prejudices amongst viewers of the programs.  Similar findings have been shown for interracial families, single parent families, and the like.  

So we ask you first to open your minds.  If you are unsure about diverse families, take a closer look.  See the love in them.  Realize that these families are not so different from your own-maybe they are your own-and they are normal.  Families with diversity are just another family, and deserve to be treated as so.

If you already feel this way, we ask you to show it!  Watch TV! TV with gay families, TV with a spanish dad and an African American mom, where they fight, and then make up!  Just like my husband and I.  Just like you and your brother, or you and your mom.  Show networks that you like it!  And that you want more!  If enough people show their content with the programs, then more networks will show more programs with more diversity, and more people will be able to realize that these families are normal.  Just like mine.  And just like yours. 

South Africa

These Daso ads from South Africa speak for themselves.  They both say the same thing in the caption: "In OUR future, you wouldn't look twice".  They are making a similar point to what we are attempting to make- that these diverse couples and families are normal, and that one day, we will hopefully be able to realize that. There has been much controversy over these ads, but nothing to convince Daso to discontinue their use.  So we can see that though some areas may seem to be more advanced in this area than the US, there is still much contention surrounding it, no matter where you go.

Italy

The United Colors of Benetton campaign in Italy has made leaps and bounds in the form of diversity amongst families in the media.  This has clearly sparked a great deal of outrage and backlash, but the campaign continues to make way.  This is awesome.  It may seem bold now, but it is very necessary, or we may never be able to move forward with embracing these families as normal.

Here, we see two women, of different race, with a child of yet another race.  Here, we see a family.