When we hear people talk about the traditional American family as if it has always been structured in the same way since the Revolutionary War, we know they are simplifying the situation in unrealistic ways. What cultural factors are behind these unrealistic simplifications?

Culture

When we hear people talk about the traditional American family as if it has always been structured in the same way since the Revolutionary War, we know they are simplifying the situation in unrealistic ways. What cultural factors are behind these unrealistic simplifications?