Campus News
November 1, 2010
Imagining the future of the family
Emory’s Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life (MARIAL) hosts an international conference on the future of the American family Nov. 11 and 12.
“Imagine That! The Future of the American Family," is free and open to the public and will be held in the Jones Room of the Woodruff Library.
The keynote speaker will be Judith Martin, also known as Miss Manners, who writes a syndicated national column.
Other participants are Lynn Spigel of Northwestern University, an expert on the impact of TV in everyday life, and Stephanie Coontz, director of research and public education for the Council on Contemporary Families.
Scholars will address:
• How families view themselves in historical perspective
• Family routine, ritual, celebration
• How families manage time and activity coordination
• Family life in the context of media and technology
• Historical perspectives on the family's future.
MARIAL Director Bradd Shore says, "Our research suggests that while the family is experiencing pressures or challenges due to the increasing entry of mothers into full-time work, as well as dramatic changes in communication and information technology, the American family is managing to adapt successfully to its new conditions."
