Case Study: The Browns
Family Members:

Jordan Brown: Father / Husband, 37 Years Old

Felicia Brown: Mother / Wife, 31 Years Old

Arnold Brown: Son, 16 Years Old

Kelly Brown: Daughter, 4 Years Old

Felicia

Felicia is unhappy with her marriage and her prevailing life situation. Her husband, Jordan, is patriarchal and has been treating her poorly, and for several other reasons, Felicia is considering ending her marriage. Felicia has tried to mend her relationship, but her husband has been adamant with his words and actions. She has even gone further ahead to request Jordan to attend counseling, but he considers it to be unproductive and “something for sissies.” Felicia feels mistreated for several years now and does not see a solution in sight.

I am at odds at the present moment. Jordan forced me to leave my job because he thinks that a woman’s job is at the house. He only thinks that my world should be to cook and to clean. Furthermore, he does not allow me to have anything for myself. He does not help around the house in any way. He considers my place in the household to be purely about pleasing and serving him. In recent months, he has been seeing another woman because he believes that a man should have more than one wife. This is not what I signed up for. I believe in equal partnership in a marriage. I did not sign up to be his mother or to be a second wife. I signed up to be a partner.

The only thing that has kept Felicia sane in recent months is the need to continue taking care of her children. However, she is also worried that the lack of communication as parents and lacking unity is causing them not to see some of the problems that they are going through as teenagers. She is currently contemplating getting a divorce from Jordan, seeking custody of her daughter, and finding another partner that will consider her perspectives and also allow her to be herself in marriage.

Jordan

Jordan is a hardworking African American who has staunch beliefs that the responsibility of a man is to take care of his household. John does not believe that women should work or be in professions, but rather they should remain home and look after the house and children. This is a perspective that he gained while growing up in their household.

John has been upset with Felicia because she continues to insist that she wants him to help in cooking, cleaning, ironing, and other house chores. This notion angers Jordan because he believes that his only part to play is financial provision for the house. This has caused him to start dating Anita, who claims that she will do whatever he pleases as long as he provides. He does not understand why Felicia is not on board.

I love Felicia very much. She has been a good mother to Arnold since we got together and got married. I have ensured that she has a house, and all the basic needs are provided for. In return, I have asked her to quit her job to take care of the kids and the house. I do not understand why she insists that I should do basic house chores. That is not my role or job in the house. On the other hand, Anita has been amazing and is willing to do all I ask. I want her to become my second wife as she is willing to cater to all my needs.

Jordan insists that his wife continues to nag him on matters about female empowerment, and he does not understand what that entails and why it even matters. He hates how Felicia asks him to get his beer while he is on the couch and watching the game. He also does not understand why he has to iron his shirt. He wants to bring Anita to become a second wife.

Arnold

Arnold has been able to see the cracks in the relationship between his parents. He tries to get away from it all by hanging out with Steve, his best friend. For two years now, Arnold has realized that he is gay, and he is very afraid of coming out to his parents, especially his father. He is afraid that he will disown him and, even worse, kick him out. He is under pressure at the moment because his father has constantly questioned him as to why he is without a girlfriend, yet he has already started becoming a man. He does not know what to do. Even though times have changed and progressively more people who are LGBTQ are coming out and being embraced in society, he considers his father to be a...…(Starbuck and Lundy, 2015).

My Predictions for Later Years

I have a conviction that after extensive therapy, counseling, and support, the Browns can overcome their challenges. If Jordan can accommodate Felicia’s perspectives and beliefs of female empowerment and an equal and coordinating marriage, the issue will be mostly resolved. By communicating with one another about their beliefs and points of view, embracing the views of the other, and coming up with a way forward that is pleasing to both parties, it will be possible to rekindle their marriage (Chambers, 2012).

However, if Jordan refuses to accommodate Felicia’s feelings and perspectives, and they end up divorcing, it is still conceivable for them to be amicable. Jordan can find a wife who is consenting to his demands and beliefs, and at the same time, Felicia can also find a husband who believes in an equal partnership (Treas, Scott, & Richards, 2017). Part of the basis for conflict in the relationship is that lack of communication in the first place before settling down and noticing that both parties want different things.

Arnold would highly benefit from counseling and therapy to embrace himself and be confident in who he is. Regardless of the stance that Jordan and Felicia take, it is imperative for both of them to work out their problems but become good parents to their children. Especially regarding Arnold, he needs to know that he is accepted and loved by his family nonetheless and also encourage him to be confident and proud of who he is as an individual (Treas, Scott, & Richards, 2017). Arnold does not need to run away from home. Being gay is perfectly normal, and he should not feel as though he is different from anybody or that his sexual orientation is not accepted.

Also, Kelly needs to know that she is loved and is also a priority for her parents as well. Before getting married, Jordan should have made it clear that after marriage, he would expect that his partner would stay at home and do all the household duties. Unless he changes his perspective, it is suggested that they should separate and live separate lives. Felicia does not want to be a second wife, and such a turn of events would only create chaos in their marriage. Both individuals should seek out happiness, and if happiness comes through separation, then this is the path they should pursue…