Parenting styles vary, and include authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and harmonious styles. All of these styles are relatively common, varying depending on culture and individual differences. Television shows reveal different parenting styles. For example, on the sitcom Modern Family, different parenting styles are evident. Gloria is occasionally authoritarian in her approach, but otherwise the parenting style evident in all the three different family units is harmonious. Harmonious parenting styles are superior to authoritarian, authoritative, permissive styles in that they prepare the child for healthy social relationships with others.
Moreover, harmonious parenting styles help achieve a harmonious household. Harmonious parenting styles create win-win scenarios as shown in the video explaining the different styles of parenting. When the child wants something, and the parents also want to enforce some rules of conduct, a conflict may ensue. An authoritarian parent will lay down the law, refusing to give into any of the child's requests. The approach is rigid, and is superior to the permissive style in that it inculcates discipline. However, the authoritarian style does not breed trust or harmony between the parents and the children. A harmonious style, evidenced in the nuanced way that Mitchell and Cameron parent their child Lily, and also in the way that Claire and Phil parent their three older children. Because Alex, Haley, and Luke are either older teens or young adults, the issue of parenting styles is not as evident with them as with Mitchell and Cameron. Yet the overall trend of harmonious parenting is revealed in the way the three teens are encouraged to express their feelings, and to develop bonds of trust with their parents.
Engendering trust and sharing emotions solidifies the parental bonds, without dismantling the necessary social structures that prevent the parenting style from slipping into the "permissive" domain. Occasionally, Phil seems permissive in his stereotypically "dad" way, with Claire entering the picture as the correspondingly authoritative one. Yet usually, their parenting style coincides with the elements of harmony. As Greenspan (2006) puts it, "Parents of the most socially competent children are adept at knowing when they have a problem and when they do not." This element of harmonious parenting is evident in the ways Claire and Phil deal with their children when their various issues arise. For example, Haley has some relationship issues with her boyfriend and the parents provide adept counseling. Alex prefers to be left alone, but she is not afraid to express her feelings or tell her parents when something is bothering her.
Even though Gloria is stereotyped as being a typical Latin mom with some overbearing and authoritative features, she is nevertheless a harmonious parent who cultivates an aura of trust and respect in the household. "A problem with authoritative parenting is that it does not allow for flexible and differentiated responses to discipline situations," (Greenspan, 2006). Gloria seems to be intuitively aware of this, which is why she is in tune with Manny and aware of his problems. She treats Manny like her "perfect little boy," thereby exhibiting some unique characteristics but does not use an authoritarian response to his problems. Instead, she does demonstrate flexibility and differentiation in her response to unique scenarios like when he wants to perform.
Of all the parents in Modern Family, Joe would be the one most apt to exhibit authoritative styles because of his generation and cultural background. He also has gendered ideas of parenting, and ascribes outmoded gender roles to his relationship with Gloria. Had the audience been privy to his parenting styles with Claire and Mitchell, it would likely be apparent that he is authoritarian because of the way he continues to treat Claire in the business. Ultimately, Modern Family reveals the strength of a harmonious parenting style and the drawbacks of all the other styles.
References
Greenspan, S. (2006). Rethinking "Harmonious Parenting" Using a Three-Factor Discipline Model. Child Care in Practice 12(1): 5-12.
Modern Family.
"Parenting Styles." Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5DbLsbZQx0
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