Tag Archives: conflict management

Internal Dynamics of Families

She’s the Man

Title: She’s the Man

Date: 2006

Media type: Film

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: conflict management, types of parents, family functioning, divorce

Rating: PG -13

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Viola (played by Amanda Bynes) pretends to be her brother Sebastian so that she can play soccer at his new private school because the girls team at her high school was cut. She got away with it by lying to her divorced parents saying to each of them that she was at the other parent’s house. The film follows Viola as she becomes a better soccer player, all the while she is trying to fight her mother’s desire that she be a lady like debutant instead of being a rough and tough soccer player.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does having divorced parents affect how Viola and Sebastian act? How does Viola’s mother learn to draw the line between letting her daughter pursue her desire to be a soccer player while still wanting her daughter to be a debutant?

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Internal Dynamics of Families

Baby Mama

Title: Baby Mama

Date: 2008

Media type: Film

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: conflict management, work and family, financial management, parenting style, family demographics

Rating: PG-13

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

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Baby Mama follows Kate, a single driven career woman who wants to have a child but is unable. Kate hires Angie to carry her child, but their relationship is less than professional. Angie ends up moving in with Kate as she carries Kate’s child. The movie depicts the two learning prenatal care and how to prepare for a coming baby.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: Kate and Angie both have different parenting styles throughout the film. Watch how their styles differ and try to observe why their styles may differ from one another.

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Families in Society, Human Growth and Development, Internal Dynamics of Families, Interpersonal Relationships, Parenting

Freaky Friday

Title: Freaky Friday

Date: 2003

Media type: Film

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): Children Under 12, High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Tess is a middle-aged widow getting remarried soon, and is in constant conflict with her 16-year-old daughter Anna, who is unhappy about her mom trying to replace her dad with her new fiancée, and fits the typical angsty teenager stereotype.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: I would use this clip to teach about conflict in a parent-child relationships, and how understanding of “the other side” aides in resolving that conflict. We think we can look at someone from the outside and know their life and know what is best for them but sometimes we understand a lot less than we think we do, and need to get very close with that person’s life to understand what they are going through.

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

Contributor: Sarah Kuboushek