Lilian Zamora Nurs 480 CSUSM ABSN 24
THE DRAPER FAMILY
INTRODUCTION THE DRAPER FAMILY IS A NUCLEAR FAMILY OF FOUR THAT LIVES IN THE SUBURBS OF OSSINING, NEW YORK, DURING THE 1960’S. THE DRAPER’S CONSISTS OF DON DRAPER, BETTY DRAPER AND THEIR TWO KIDS, SALLY AND BOBBY DRAPER. THE DRAPER FAMILY IS A TRADITIONAL, UPPER CLASS, CAUCASIAN FAMILY WHERE DON IS THE MAIN BREADWINNER AND BETTY STAYS HOME AND TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS. DESPITE DON AND BETTY’S COMMUNICATION AND TRUST ISSUES, THEY WILL TRY TO PORTRAY A PERFECT FAMILY UNIT TO THEIR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. IGNORING CURRENT ISSUES IS A WAY FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH THEIR PROBLEMS, IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL DISAPPEAR. BOTH DON AND BETTY WILL TRY TO STAY TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
THE DRAPER FAMILY Donald “Don” Draper Don is in his late 30’s and works in New York City as a Creative Director for the advertising company, Sterling Cooper. Don is very talented at his job and is highly respected by his colleagues. As a father, Don doesn’t spend much time with his family, but is still admired by his children. Don had a tumultuous upbringing that contributes to his inner conflicts, self-destructing behaviors and infidelity. Also an army veteran, Don smokes and drinks heavily, with his drink of choice being an old-fashion.
Sally Draper Eight year-old Sally, the oldest of the Draper kids is very close to her younger brother. She is adventurous and sides with her father most of the time. Sally and her mother tend to bicker about the rules Betty tries to impose on the children. Sally rebels against her mother by smoking her cigarettes or sneaking around.
Betty Draper In her late 20’s, Betty, a previous fashion model, is wife to Don Draper. She is a housewife who also has a college degree. Betty comes from a wealthy family and strives to be the perfect mother and wife. Betty is mostly bored at home and can sometimes get frustrated with her inability to be heard. Betty also drinks and smokes daily.
Bobby Draper Five year-old Bobby is the more reserved child and plays with his older sister, Sally. Bobby is more obedient and likes to please his parents.
TOBACCO USE AND LUNG CANCER Betty’s diagnosis: Betty is diagnosed with lung cancer that has metastasized, giving her only 9 months left to live. Although she has the option for surgery or radiation that will extend her life by months, she decides to opt out of treatment. Her lung cancer was most likely a result of her chainsmoking habits. The 1960’s was a thriving time for tobacco companies since not much research was done linking tobacco use and lung cancer. Advertising companies such as Don Draper’s even helped to push tobacco company’s popularity through the beginning of the negative health claims being made.
It is no surprise that excessive tobacco use is linked to causing lung cancer. There are approximately 20 carcinogens in the 3,500 chemicals of a burning cigarette, which can be toxic to the cilia lining of the lungs (Furrukh, 2013). The free radicals in tobacco smoke also contribute to mutations and damaging the DNA. Although lung cancer can also develop in non-smokers, it is a different type of carcinoma with a much better prognosis (Furrukh, 2013). More than half of smokers that are diagnosed with lung cancer will die within the first year. Studies show that every 50 cigarettes smoked, will produce one DNA mutation. Smokers who never develop lung cancer will just “get lucky” and not produce a mutation on a gene that will turn into lung cancer. Quitting smoking won’t reverse these mutations, but will prevent any more from developing (Klein, 2016).
Strengths • • • •
•
Part of the upper social class Everyone knows their roles Friendly towards others Sociable and like to engage in activities with other couples. Have dinner as a family
Challenges • • • • • • •
Communication Style
Never satisfied Poor communication Hidden agendas and dishonesty Excessive alcohol and tobacco use Inability to deal with issues Trying to portray a picturesque family unit Lack of familybonding
Verbal: The Draper family tends to keep their emotions and issues to themselves. Don is closed-off and can’t open up to his wife about his past or current worries. Don is straightforward with Betty and is authoritative as the head of the family. Betty will avoid voicing her opinion to Don but will be the more authoritative parent with the children, keeping the home tidy.
Culture and Religious Traditions The Drapers don’t seem to have any cultural or religious traditions. They will throw birthday parties for their children or do a picnic once in a while, but are rarely seen participating in family activities.
Nonverbal: Don tries to win the children over with material things instead of spending quality time with them. Don and Betty rarely show affection towards one another and are distant when under the same roof. They will smile and hold each other during social events or in front of their children.
FAMILY LIFE CYCLE THEORY The Developmental and Family Life Cycle Theory can be applied to the Draper Family because this model is specifically geared towards the nuclear family and the traditional phases they will go through such as marriage and children. Family theorists, Duvall and Miller, emphasized how families will experience stress and can be affected at common and predictable stages of transition (Kaakinen, 2015). The Draper family goes through many changes and when one member experiences a big change or stressor, the whole family is in disequilibrium. For instance, when Betty’s father passes, the whole family has to deal with his loss in many ways. Sally is affected the most as she had grown close to her grandfather, and starts rebelling after he passes. Betty also becomes distraught after finding out how her father decided to divide his inheritance. Many families experience disagreements during a family member’s passing or a deadly diagnosis such as Betty’s lung cancer. Duvall suggests that families need to undergo adjustments to regain family stability in times of crisis(Kaakinen, 2015). Within Duvall’s 8 stage model, the Drapers are in the 4th stage which consists of families with school-age children. In this stage, children are experiencing the industry vs. inferiority phase. Parents with children in this phase should balance their parental needs with their children's needs as they become more independent (Kaakinen, 2015).
INTERVENTIONS & OUTCOMES
Problems: • • • • •
Betty’s smoking around her children and potential hazards. Don’s infidelity causes distance between he and Betty. Don is dishonest with his family about his past and upbringing. Don’s alcohol drinking may be causing his selfdestructing tendencies. The Drapers lack a family bond.
Intervention 1
Intervention 2
Intervention 3
Provide the Drapers with smoking cessation programs and educate them on the hazards of secondhand smoking.
Refer the family to therapy that helps each individual deal with their own issues.
Encourage more family bonding activities that will strengthen them as a whole.
Rationale: The integration of individual and family concepts helps enhance treatment of emotional, behavioral and family problems (Feldman, 2014).
Rationale: Healthy families have both together family time and individual family member alone time. Having family activities or leisure time would bring a sense of togetherness (Kaakinen, 2015).
Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 3
Don and Betty will quit smoking and involve the family in positive lifestyle patterns that help the family cope with day-to-day problems (Kaakinen, 2015).
Individual issues will be addressed and the family will in turn be more honest and loving towards one another.
The Drapers will spend more time together such as more picnics, family outings or scheduled family nights.
Rationale: Many childhood morbidities have been linked to children’s exposure to secondhand smoke such as ear infections, asthma, respiratory problems, SIDS, and smoking habit uptake in the children themselves (CDC, 2017). Healthy lifestyle practices are passed down through generations.
REFERENCES Centers of Disease Control, CDC. (2017). Secondhand Smoke (SHS) Facts. Smoking and Tobacco Use. Retrieved on July 10, 2017 from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm. Feldman, L. (2014). Integrating Individual and Family Therapy. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group: New York. Furrukh, M. (2013). Tobacco Smoking and Lung Cancer: Perception-changing facts. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal,13(3), 345–358. Kaakinen, J., Duff-Gedaly, V., Hanson, S. & Coelho, D. (2015) Family health Care nursing: Theory, practice and research (5th ed.). F.A. Davis: Philadelphia. Klein, A. (2016). Every 50 Cigarettes Smoked Cause One DNA Mutation Per Lung Cell. New Scientist. Accessed on July 10, 2017 from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2111320-every-50-cigarettes-smoked-cause-one dna-mutation-per-lung-cell/.
IMAGES Actyourage09.wordpress.com Amc.com/shows-mad-men/talk Apollosgirl.wordpress.com Dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz Gentlemansgazette.com/don-draper-suit Hollywoodtake.com/mad-men-finale Lactarina.udlap.mx madmencaptures.tumblr.com Madmen.wikia.com/wiki/season_3 Thefrisky.com/bye-bye-birdie-mad-men