Another evidence/reason of the change in the family structure is the media. The media has portrayed it version of what the idea family is. This is evident due to the amount of TV programs, which are entirely based on the everyday life of families. T.V. shows such as the Cosby Show, The Simpson, Married with Children which are but a few that dictate or indicate the type of family which North Americans prefer. Over the time, the definition of what exactly family means has changed with time. Usually, what constitutes making up a family is relative to a specific culture. Ever since the golden age of television had sprung upon American culture, television has tried to mimic the ideal North American Family through it's programming. Even as early as the 1950s, television producers made programming that would represent what exactly the ideal North American family was. For instance, the show "Leave It To Beaver", there was a father figure; his job was to financially support the family, while being an exemplary father to his children. The mother on the other hand, was solely responsible for being a typical housewife, while not neglecting the rearing of her children. The children did not have any real responsibility, but they respected their parents and attempted to stay out of trouble. Most of the television shows in this era followed this blueprint like "I love Lucy". In the 1980s, there were shows such as Family Ties and Cosby Show; these programs showed the families that we now view as being commonplace today. In the Cosby Show, the role of the two or dual earner family was showcased. The father was a doctor and the mother was a lawyer, the family did not lack financially but as the show displayed, it was somewhat hard for both their parents to balance out their jobs and families without complications arising. Although, there were complications along the way, the family always found a way to solve their problems.
