Tag Archives: work and family

Ethical Issues and Dilemmas

The Help

Title: The Help

Date: 2011

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Ethical Issues and Dilemmas

Keywords: family demographics, family functioning, parent-child relationships, parenting styles, types of parents, work and family

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

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

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: The Help takes place in Mississippi in the 1960’s. Skeeter Phelan is a writer that has just returned from college looking to write a book. While she was away at college, most of her friends got married and had children. Now her friends have help to run their homes and take care of their children. Skeeter has noticed how rampant racism is in her hometown and in the South and is on a mission to stop it. She decides to write a book about the help and tell their stories. While it puts all of their lives at risk, they write the book anyway to help eliminate racism and division in the South.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: Who does more parenting in the film, the birth parents or the help? How do you think being raised by the help affected Skeeter’s relationship with her own mother?

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

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Parenting

The Devil Wears Prada

Title: The Devil Wears Prada

Date: 2006

Media type: Film

Category: Parenting

Keywords: Parenting adults, work and family

Rating: PG-13

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

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Andrea (played by Anne Hathaway) is a Journalist desperately looking for a job to further her career. Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) is discussed that Andrea would have even applied for the job considering her lack of desire in fashion, but decides to take a chance and hire her anyway. The movie follows Andrea in her job and focuses on how she changes as a person, the changing friendships and relationships, and the disapproval of her parents.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: Do you think that Andrea’s parents had a legitimate reason to be concerned with Andrea’s wellbeing? How should they parent or treat Andrea now that she is an adult? How does parenting change as children grow? Also, in what ways does Miranda parent her twins? Does she let her work get in the way of caring for her children?

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