Mr. Mom

Mr. Mom

When learning about structural functional theory one of the reoccurring words is ‘equilibrium’.  We learned that well functioning social systems are those that are in equilibrium.  Therefore, when a family is dysfunctional the result is the family and society being thrown into disequilibrium.  Initially everything is chaos but eventually the changes become the new norm and everything is balanced again.  The book compared family equilibrium to the equilibrium of the human body.  Just like the body, families, and societies are able to evolve and adapt.

Think back to the 1950’s definition of the nuclear family and the parental roles.  The family consisted of a mother and father and their children.  Dad worked to provide for the family while Mom stayed at home to clean, cook, and raise the children.  This was the ‘norm’ for families in every society; therefore this created the family equilibrium.  As a result of social and societal upheavals, social scientists in the post-1960’s era have drawn attention to the decreasing relevance of structural functional theory as a model to explain a family dynamic. Because gender and generational norms radically changed it has been argued that this theory can no longer be applied to the majority of families. What the structural functional theory explains is that society and elements of society such as a family are “organic” and a critical feature of organisms and animals is their ability to adapt to changing environments or “equilibriums”.  So, now think of family roles in today’s society.  Some homes today consist of two working parents while some consist of a working mother and a stay at home father, so there is no longer a “typical” or “nuclear” family. Ultimately each unique family is made up of family members (organs) and each family is able to adapt and come to its own equilibrium so that they still hold characteristics and features that structural functional theory describes.

The song “Mr. Mom” by Lonestar is a perfect example of the initial family dysfunction that occurs when change happens.  The beginning of the song tells us that the dad lost his job so his wife decided to go back to work until he could find a new one.  His initial thought was excitement as he thought he would be able to hang around the house all day, take naps, and being “Mr. Mom” instead of the hard-working dad he had been.  The song continues on to tell us just how difficult he found the daily routine that his wife, the mother, goes through and how chaotic it became when he was in charge.  At the very end of the song he says to his wife, “Honey, you’re my hero”, as he realizes that she is a hard-working mother just as he is a hard-working father. 

Watch the video here:  "Mr. Mom"- Lonestar

We don’t know how this ‘story’ ends, but in essence it is telling us that when something that has been the ‘norm’ for so long is uprooted and completely changes it is inevitably going to be chaotic and dysfunctional for everyone involved.  However, eventually everything will start to balance out and seem normal and the equilibrium of the family and society comes back.