Changing Counts Counting Change Analysis

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Pages: 6

In Changing Counts, Counting Change, the authors Brian Powell, Catherine Bolendahl, Claudia Geist, and Lala Carr Steelman explore what individuals consider to be family. In order to determine this factor, the authors described the multiple interviews they have conducted throughout the years. Although the authors have received various answers, they were able to understand the different viewpoints about family through their interviews. Throughout the different responses that were given, each of these answers had a specific meaning and reason behind them. Regardless of the views about family in the past, different types of families and lifestyles are becoming more accepted. Throughout the years of 2003, 2006, and 2010, the …show more content…
After describing the first interview, the authors gave the results of the 2010 survey. 92 to 100 percent of people agreed that married heterosexual couples with children, married heterosexual couples without children, and single parents with children were considered a family. 83 percent of people considered an unmarried heterosexual couple with children to be a family and 40 percent of people considered an unmarried heterosexual couple without children to be family. While only 64-66 percent of people agreed that a same-sex couple with children was a family, 33 percent of people considered a same-sex couple without children to be family. After the results of the survey question, many people fell into the categories of Exclusionists, Inclusionists, and Moderates. Exclusionists seemed to strongly idealize married heterosexual couples whether they had children or not. Although they prefer a more traditional idea of family, some exclusionists considered single parents living with their children a family as well. While Exclusionists have a fixed idea of what they consider a family, Inclusionists were very accepting of all types of arrangements. Inclusionists considered unmarried heterosexual couples and same-sex couples a part of a family whether they have children or not. Moderates are somewhat inclusive with their definition of family, but they seem to prefer that these people show some sort of commitment such as marriage or children. After asking the second survey question, the interviewers could understand the reasons behind people’s answers. When Exclusionists were asked, many gave their answer with the phrases “Bible”, “man and woman”, and “legal”. When Inclusionists were asked the question, they gave their answers with the phrases “care”, “love” and “commitment”. During their interview, many Moderates answered with the phrases, “long-term”,