Traditional Family Structure Is Number 1 When It Comes to Educational Attainment -Brianna Wood

Traditional family structures (two-parent plus the children) are better for educational attainment that all others. This is the idea that Steven Garasky explores in “The effects of family structure on educational attainment: do the effects vary by the age of the child?” This article relates to both the issue of family, as well as this group’s social problem, education, by illuminating that educational success depends on the stability, motivation, and parental involvement that supposedly only a two parent family can provide. Based on this article, the nuclear family (“a couple or a single parent and children” Coleman and Kerbo, 27) appears to be the most acceptable type for educational attainment, but what hope does that give when that particular family structure is in decline in today’s society?
Garasky cites several studies in emphasizing the idea that children with two-parents have a better chance at success as a result of greater social attainment than children who don’t have two parents. In the following excerpt from Garasky’s article, he cites other studies that demonstrate the impact on educational attainment that living in a non traditional family structure has: “Socialization theory perceives educational attainment as a consequence of parental ability to provide children with the motivation and skills necessary for school achievement. Family disruption or nonmarriage weakens the parent-child relationship and reduces the internalization of parental values and role models (Hess & Camera, 1979). Children living with only one parent are also subject to a different hierarchy than children in two parent households. This may reduce direct supervision, undermine parental control, and handicap the ability to function in institutions that are fundamentally hierarchical, such as education (Coleman, 1988; Hechter, 1988; Nock, 1988; Weiss, 1979).”
The quality of education that a child from a single parent family receives at a school would most likely be the same as that of a child from a two-parent family at the same school. According to Garasky, the child with one parent will not fair as well. This research conveys to me that some children are just simply S.O.L. when it comes to their ability to succeed. Without a good education, there’s little one can accomplish in today’s society.
According to our textbook (Social Problems, 10th ed. - Coleman & Kerbo), a family may be defined as “a group of people related by marriage, ancestry, or adoption who live together in a common household.” This definition however, does not imply that a family’s structure must include a husband and a wife, but I’m beginning to wonder if it should. I’m curious as to whether or not the type of two parent family has an effect on educational attainment as well. What if there are two mothers, two fathers, or two grandparents raising the child? Does that child still have a better chance at being successful in school? This is a question that I think Garasky should have addressed. However, this article was written before the emergence of shows like “Modern Family” that show different types of two-parent households. In today’s society there are gay and lesbian couples who have children that may be defined as non traditional, but because there are still two parents is educational attainment still an issue?

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