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Mintz and Kellogg describe contemporary society as grappling for a revised model of the ideal family since the traditional, highly collectivized form has deteriorated.  As society becomes increasingly more individualistic through the advancement of capitalism, placing emphasis on the achievement and self-efficiency of the individual, the importance of self-reliance surfaces in the form of shifting notions of the ideal family.  Individuals no longer feel empowered by expressing their identities as mere reflections of their larger family unit.  Today, what once existed as the basis of personal strength and value has changed tremendously even throughout the past few decades; the chapter explains the modification of the ideal familial roles as a result of social, political, and economic change in the broader scope of society.  In the past hierarchical family systems, one's duty to his or her family was crucial and the successful fulfillment of traditional gender roles established one's sense of self-worth.  However, since the obligation of educating children and caring for one's elders has fallen upon society's larger institutions and the competitive and individualistic nature of our culture has become more pronounced, individuals no longer consider dependence on one's family as an expression of strength, but one of weakness and incompetence.