By Elizabeth Kurylo, Communications Director, MARIAL Center

The Emory University Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life (MARIAL) recently hosted a two-day conference on Myths of the American Family. The conference brought together distinguished family scholars from such disciplines as psychology, anthropology, history, sociology, business, theology and communication. They discussed the historical and cultural origins of some of the most prominent American family myths, including the idea that the American family is falling apart. Many other family myths abound: homes with both parents are better for children, especially when dad is the breadwinner and mom is the homemaker; too much television is bad for kids; honesty and hard work are the keys to prosperity and happiness.

Four panels discussed the origins of family myths in the media, history, popular culture and religious institutions. A fifth panel looked at how ideals of the American family translate overseas. Speakers paid tribute to historian John Gillis, who drew a distinction between the family we live with, and the family we live by. The latter reflects our longings, expectations and fantasies of how the ideal family looks and behaves. MARIAL Center Director Bradd Shore said that myths are “a peculiar combination of fact and fiction.” This complicates efforts to analyze their power and influence.

Speakers included noted author Stephanie Coontz, who has written five books on family history, including the award–winning bestseller The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap.

The conference was videotaped and will soon be available to view online at http://www.marial.emory.edu.

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