The public image of the ideal husband and wife, father and mother—even man and woman—has undergone rapid alterations in a rapidly changing society, Father James F. Scherer said in a lecture on family life.

“Within the last few decades there has been a greater and greater shift of emphasis to love, companionship and emotional compatibility rather than security, survival and duty as the mortar which binds good marriages together, “The director of Catholic Social Services said.

“Victorian rigidity has given way to less and less defined marital roles. This has encouraged a deeper and more varied expansion of activities. The husband and father of our time is more involved in the tender and domestic aspects of family life.

“The wife has been encouraged to extend herself beyond home and hearth into community, educational and vocational pursuits, especially after her children become more self-sufficient.”

Father Scherer said these widening involvements have also created shifts of responsibility which sometimes clash with more traditional roles and expectations.

As women have become much more involved in contributing to family income assuming independent roles, initiating community social relations, etc., there seems to be a growing anxiety on the part of husbands who grope for clearly defined masculine prerogatives. The weak, uninvolved father and the strong, competitive and aggressive female, seem to represent some of the strong role shifts peculiar to our time.

Often many marital difficulties have their roots in the inability of either man or woman to live up to certain stereotyped roles they feel they are expected to play.

Today we should stress more the complementary rather than the competitive personality traits of modern couples. The important objective today is teamwork rather than separate, clearly defined prerogatives in marriage.

“Family life education before marriage and good counseling after marriage should make it possible for today’s husband and wife to grow in personal maturity and a rich fulfillment of their union.”