Myths: Education and Family
Interpreting and understanding myths depend on an individual’s personal views, beliefs, and ideas. With that in mind, the myth regarding the nuclear family and the myth of education and empowerment are all interpreted differently and argued, for and against, in many ways. Both have been perceived negatively by society, yet they have not always been a harmful folktale. Rather, the myth that education can improve someone’s life has been used, year after year, to motivate the youth in order to improve their own personal lifestyle. The myth of the nuclear family has also been used over and over again by the media as a prospective goal for everyone who wants to start a family. Although the passing of time has changed the perception of both myths throughout our society, to many, including myself, these myths continue to provide hope for a better life and a traditional family.
Imposing the myth of the ideal family, which the media depicts as white, semi-rich and happy with “…no rifts…” (Soto 29) is what negatively impacts society because no one should set a standard on what a family should be like. As a result of this misconception, the ideal family has become the ultimate goal for couples who want the best for their children. Take Gary Soto’s “Looking for Work,” and picture an eight year old Mexican-American boy, who felt the need to change his family because he wanted them to act like the white families portrayed in television shows, like Leave it to Beaver. Why do these individuals have the need to create “the perfect family” portrayed by the media? According to Soto, as a child, he “…tried to convince [his family] that if [they] improved the way [they] looked [they] might get along better in life… White people would like [them] more… [White people] might not hate [them] so much” (30).
Although the myth of the family has been attributed negative qualities because it creates a false sense of reality, it has, for many years, been the underlying reason why couples
Imposing the myth of the ideal family, which the media depicts as white, semi-rich and happy with “…no rifts…” (Soto 29) is what negatively impacts society because no one should set a standard on what a family should be like. As a result of this misconception, the ideal family has become the ultimate goal for couples who want the best for their children. Take Gary Soto’s “Looking for Work,” and picture an eight year old Mexican-American boy, who felt the need to change his family because he wanted them to act like the white families portrayed in television shows, like Leave it to Beaver. Why do these individuals have the need to create “the perfect family” portrayed by the media? According to Soto, as a child, he “…tried to convince [his family] that if [they] improved the way [they] looked [they] might get along better in life… White people would like [them] more… [White people] might not hate [them] so much” (30).
Although the myth of the family has been attributed negative qualities because it creates a false sense of reality, it has, for many years, been the underlying reason why couples
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