Reply to Is the concept of a matriarch passe?

Forum Index » Family Relationships

Reply to "Is the concept of a matriarch passe?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]The "now or never Thanksgiving hosting" thread got me thinking: is the concept of a family matriarch totally passe and out of touch with current social realities? If so, why is that/how did it happen?

Of the families and friends I know well enough to know what their holidays look like, there are very few where the MIL (or grandma or great-aunt) hosts EVERY holiday, for example. Most people seem to have a hosting rotation, some travel with their families, sometimes they go out to eat for the holiday meal, etc. There don't seem to be many "rules" or inescapable traditions; it seems that most people keep what they LIKE about family traditions, add in their own from married-in folks' traditions/desires, and are kind of flexible about holiday hosting overall.

-Are there fewer "matriarchs and patriarchs" because more women work now, so families are in a better position not to be "controlled" by family money?
-Are there fewer "matriarchs and patriarchs" now because while most grown adults like and respect their elders, they don't feel compelled to "obey" them?
Just kind of wondering what happened that changed family dynamics of this sort.

The only time you ever hear the work "matriarch" in my family is in a totally joking tone. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics