Category Archives: Ethical Issues and Dilemmas

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas, Families in Society, Family Life Education and Methodology, Interpersonal Relationships, Parenting

Life as we Know It

Title: Life as we Know It

Date: 2010

Media Type: Film

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary:The movie follows Holly and Messer as they raise a little girl named Sophie. Sophie’s parents died when she was a few months old and they left Holly and Messer to care for her, but Sophie’s parents never told the pair that. As the film plays out, Holly and Messer figure out how to navigate parenthood while also being heavily invested in their careers.

Places to view: Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Itunes

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas, Health and Human Sexuality, Internal Dynamics of Families, Parenting

Room

Title: Room

Date: 2015

Media type: Film

Rating: R – Restricted

Audience(s): College Age, Adults, Parents

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: It’s a movie based off a book about a woman who was kidnapped and has a child with her abuser/kidnapper. Said woman raises her child, Jack, alone in a shed where she teaches the kid that this is the entire world. Later, they have to try to escape.

Places to view: Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Itunes

Contributor: Lydia Sour

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas, Families in Society, Health and Human Sexuality, Human Growth and Development, Internal Dynamics of Families, Interpersonal Relationships, Parenting

Roseanne

Title: Roseanne

Date: 1989

Media type: Television

Format: Episode

TV Season-Episode: Season 2, Episode 10

Category: Parenting

Rating: G – General Audiences

Audience(s): Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: This episode centered around Darlene, the middle child in a family of 5, age 13, who is a self described “tomboy” who likes playing sports and watching sports on tv with her father. Darlene must write a poem for school, prompting her mother to share her love of poetry with her . Darlene’s poem ultimately wins the contest and is selected to be read aloud by her at the school’s “culture night”. Roseanne is insistent she attend. Darlene does want to do, afraid that her poem actually “sucks”. Roseanne and her husband disagree. Darlene is made to attend. Roseanne seeing, a bit of herself in Darlene is moved to tears by the poem as she hears of her daughters pain of being stripped of agency, feeling isolated and alone.

Clip Description: This episode is a touching and realistic example of a mother trying to find communion with the child she has the least in common with. It is a clear example of the bidirectional nature of agency and power between parent and child, showing the continuing theme of resistance in parent-child interactions with opportunities for growth and communion

Places to view: Amazon Video

Contributor: Lisa Erbes