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Lilian Al Nihmy
Prof. Makarosyan
English 114 B
March 25, 2015
Medias Portrayal of Non-traditional Marriage Dynamics
In our society, we have reached a point where celebrities are worshiped like gods. From
what they eat to who they date, media has made it our religion to pray upon our holy shrines of
the Hollywood industry. With media being a primary source of influence, Americans are now
faced with the dilemma of redefining traditional marriage. As traditional marriage rates continue
to decline, non-traditional marriage on the other hand is on the rise. Popular television shows,
musicians, and celebrities are encouraging change in the way we view our marital institution. In
the 60s cohabitation, divorce, gay marriage, and polygamy was looked upon as strange or even
taboo. Our societys views however are slowly changing. As times have changed, so have our
values toward non-traditional marriages. This is mainly due to the trending lifestyles of couples
in Hollywood. As media being the main source of our communication and gossip, we as a society
have invested our time and opinions based upon what we see on television headlines and
magazine covers. Marriage is in flux. Mass media, being the main cause of new ideas and
expectations, continues to advocate positive dynamics of non-traditional marriages and
relationships to society.
Many critics believe nontraditional families continue to struggle for equal representation
and positive portrayal in the media. However, recent media sources prove otherwise. Historically,
television is known for promoting traditional family values. An example of a traditional family is

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the clich of a financially stable husband and child bearing wife with two kids. The concept of a
traditional family is slowly fading as new ideas are brought to the table.
While marriage is in decline, unmarried cohabitation is on the rise. According to Aja
Gabel, Fifteen times the number of couples today live together outside of marriage than in
1960. Almost half of cohabiting households include children. (Aja Gabel, 12). Like our very
famous couple in Hollywood, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who yet again make headlines about
their relationship. The famous couple is known for all sorts of reasons during their relationship,
but their latest scoop on the cover of gossip magazines and television entertainment was for
something that should not be all that shocking: their decision to marry. After all, they are known
for cohabitating and conceiving a child outside of wedlock. Generally, negative connotations
arise with cohabitation, as it is expressed as unreliable and unsafe. In other words if it is not
traditional way or not the like the popular television I Love Lucy , where the relationship is
between a married man and woman, then it should not be acceptable. Thus, Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolies relationship is feeding the public that structure is not key to an intimate and
stable relationship. In addition, the couple has stepped out of the norm of marrying and then
having children. By doing so, they have addressed that both married and unmarried parents can
provide love and genuine care for their children to grow up and become healthy and stable
beings.
The notion of marriage sixty years ago is very different to todays marital standards of
marriage. Certainly, each marriage differs from one another. However people in the past treated
marriage like a business-like deal. Where the husband will financially support the family and
the women stays home to raise the children. But this structure now is slowly fading and almost
rare. As women have entered the job force, they now contribute to supporting and sharing the

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expenses of their families. Have said that, women are capable of supporting themselves and are
more prone to filing for divorce. Sixty years ago, this would be impossible. But thats not the big
picture. The big picture however, is family relationships within a divorce.
Since our society has accepted divorce, it has become so prevalent that we live in divorce
fabricated culture. According to an article, Divorce rates are rising, children are increasingly
likely to grow up in a household with only one of their parents says Judith A. Seltzer, Nora Cate
Schaeffer and Hong-Wen Charng from the University of Wisconsin- Madison (Seltzer, Schaeffer
& Charng, 1989). Often times, we picture divorce as a battle over custody. Who gets the house?
Or who gets the kids? This is mainly because past generations perceived divorce as selfish or the
easy way out. But now society is becoming more accepting. With the help of media, our societys
views on divorce have shifted by saying look we are divorced but that does not mean we are not
a family. For instance in the popular movie Parent Trap portrays two loving parents who still
care for their child. In addition, the parents attitude and behaviors towards each other is shown
in a positive manner which creates a safe and stable environment for the child.
Another form of non-traditional marriage is blended families, also known as step
families. A blended family is where the parents and their children, from previous relationships
come together to form a family. Often times blended families occur after a death of a spouse or a
divorce. Although the concept has been around for centuries, there is still a stigma that comes
with blended families. Typically, they are seen as unstable and apocalyptic. However should a
few bad apples spoil the bunch? An original family TV Show, The Brady Bunch is about two
already large families, that come together to form a blended family. Throughout the show, the
characters face issues accustoming with their new blended family. However despite their
differences, they begin to grow close and accept each other. Society has encrypted to grave stone

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that we should only raise our own biological children. In the short article For Better, For
Worse, Stephanie Coontz states that almost half of all kids spend part of their childhood in a
household that does not include their two married biological parents (Coontz 408). Coontz is
recognizing that children are growing up in households that do not necessary obtain two
biological parents. Thus, in modern day, according to Coontz, step families cohabitating is
becoming widely accepted.
Moreover, another non-traditional marriage is gay marriage. Gay marriage has been
under controversy for quite a while. It caught most attention after Massachusetts legalizing in
2004. Over media, gay marriage is slowly becoming much more acceptable. Modern Family, an
award winning television show, is accredited for portraying the life of a homosexual couple. Of
some of their antics include their hassle to raise an adopted child. Many reasons are given for
why gay marriage should remain illegal, and of some include their pollution to the foster care
system. Lesbian and gay couples who choose to marry must actively construct a marital world
with almost no institutional support (Cherlin, 2004). The author is stating even though, gay
couples have the right to marry they do not have all the rights a heterosexual couple. In addition,
Anti-gay advocates explain how homosexual couples are not fit to be parents unlike heterosexual
couples. In addition, advocates believe that homosexual couples will have unstable kids that will
lead to future harm. However, a recent television show, The Modern Family portrays modern
families in America. The homosexual couples are shown as the fit parents, who seem like our
typical functional family. If heterosexual couples are the ideal parents, how come did they
irresponsibly conceive a child and leave it to sail along the foster care system? It seems fitting
that a completely prepared gay couple, unable to reproduce, take to adopting children.

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Additionally, anti-gay advocates express is how gay marriage is inhumane and it goes
against morals. This is unfair since our government states separation from church. Pointing to
the bible to address your reasons is extremely hypocritical, as in the same bible it contains much
more excerpts that state otherwise. When politicians do the same, it is almost unacceptable. A
question that should be asked is How does this affect you? Society, likes to believe that it
effects them but in reality it does not. As a result to media, we are being much more exposed to
unconventional forms of marriage. Its allowing the much more impressionable, young
generation to have much more friendly, open minded attitude, which in the long term will erase
the old ways of thinking. Although, our society will still have homophobes and anti-gay
activists, media is slowly introducing a new prospect to the institution of marriage.
Lastly, another non-traditional form of marriage that is in practice but yet not recognized
on the state level is polygamy. The concept of polygamy has been around since early civilization,
however our society has now shunned this concept entirely. Specifically western societies. Often
times polygamy consists of a marriage between a man and multiple wives. Although uncommon
polygamy can also consist of a women and multiple husbands. Our society has a hard time
grappling with this concept. Mainly because as a society, practicing monogamy and the idea of
having seven wives does not cross our mind. Despite how different and dysfunctional polygamy
may seem, media is reaching to all four corners to cover this topic. For instance, TLCs Sister
Wives is a reality show that demonstrates the lives of the polygamous families. They are
portrayed in the light of our traditional monogamous families. In addition, they are represented in
positive sense. This also suggests that polygamy can be beneficial to families.
Ultimately, marriage is in flux. With media being the source that is influencing our
martial institution, non-traditional marriage such as cohabitation, gay marriage, and polygamy is

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becoming more and more recognized. From massive billboards to the tiny gadgets in our
pockets, media is influencing our society to accept new non-traditional marital institution.
Although, we will still have critics who believe traditional values are diminishing due to the
positive interpretation of non-traditional marriage in the media. I believe everyone has a choice
to love and be with who they want. A functional family does not necessarily have to be between
a married man and women. That being said, our society should become aware that there is going
to be change, and we should not be afraid of change. In the end of the day, we cannot avoid what
the wide-ranging media is causing. But instead we should accept the different non-traditional
marriages because everyone has the right to pursuit of happiness.

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Work Cited:
Cherlin, Andrew J. The deinstitutionalization of American marriage. Jornal of Marriage and
Family 66.4 (2004) 848-861.
Coontz, Stephanie. "For Better, For Worse." 2005. The Contemporary Reader. N.p.: Gary
Goshgarian, 2012. 405-08. Print.
Gabel, Aja. "The Marriage Crisis." The Marriage Crisis. U.Va. Alumni Association, 2012. Web.
01 Apr. 2015.
Seltzer, Judith A., Nora Cate Schaeffer, and Hong-Wen Charng. "Family ties after divorce: The
relationship between visiting and paying child support."Journal of Marriage and the
Family (1989): 1013-1031.