Final theory paper 3920

This final theory paper on We Were The Mulvaney's

1. Running head: WE WERE THE MULVANEYS ANALYSIS 1


















We Were the Mulvaneys Analysis through Family Ecological Theory
Ashley McAllister
University of Georgia

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Introduction
We Were the Mulvaneys, written by Joyce Carol Oates, begins by introducing us to the
Mulvaney family. The Mulvaney’s are Mt. Ephraim’s most beloved All-American-family. The
Mulvaney’s consists of a picturesque All American family headed up by Corinne and Michael
Sr. They have three boys, Mikey Jr., Patrick, Judd and their pride and joy of a daughter,
Marianne. The novel is told from the point of view of the youngest child, Judd, who feels as if he
has lived through all the memories, even the ones he wasn’t there for. Memories and stories were
exchanged and retold often in this family.
One night, this picture perfect family was tipped upside down when their beloved
daughter was raped at the Valentines Day Dance. Judd explains the night as, “before the events
of 1976 when everything came apart for us and was never again put together in quite the same
way” (Oates, 1996, p.5). The Mulvaneys would have done anything for each other, and that is
why so many people envied this family. Its important to acknowledge the idea of holism (Allen,
2016) because the entire family of origin’s points of view are retold from Judd as each of them is
affected differently by the rape. Themes of love and abandonment unfold throughout the novel as
Marianne is rejected by her father after she is raped. Family Ecological Systems theory will show
the different layers that are discovered about each person. There are complexities that unfold that
are associated with Marianne’s circumstances that affect the family system.
Major Themes
Love
Love is presented as the foundation of this family in the beginning. The family is headed
up by Corinne, the cheery mother figure, who is the glue meshing everyone together in the
Mulvaney family. “Relationships between mothers and children are typically the strongest ties

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within families and it is assumed that these relationships will be lifelong and highly rewarding
for both members of the dyad” (Gilligan, Suitor & Pillemer, 2015). Throughout the entire book,
Corinne is the one who continues to show love. Her husband, Michael who is the patriarch of
the Mulvaney family. Together the two of them adored their four children, especially their
daughter, Marianne. When Marianne is raped, she chooses to not disclose this with her family
immediately. She believes it is her own fault and not the boys that she was raped.
Corinne and Michael form an even stronger alliance (Anderson & Sabatelli, 2011) than
marriage as a result of this news. Michael began to take a turn for the worse with his behavior,
falling back into old habits. Michael wanted justice for his daughter whom he once looked at
with adoration but now could barely look at in the eye. Corinne was “frightened by the change in
Michael. Where once he’d been completely reliable, now he was unreliable” (Oates,1996, pg.
173). Michael and Corinne’s alliance resulted in Corinne siding with her husband as they sent
Marianne away to live with a distant relative. At the time Corinne sided with her first love,
Michael, who could no longer stand the sight of Marianne. “…he’d send his own daughter away,
not with a curse but in the name of love. He believed, he would swear to his very death—it had
been love” (Oates, 1996, p.382).
Abandonment
Marianne is abandoned by her family of origin as she is sent away to live with a distant
relative. One day her brothers return home from school and she is gone. This prompts a theme of
abandonment throughout the novel. Initially, Marianne’s abandoned by the boy who raped her,
then her father turns his back on her, and lastly Patrick abandons the family as a whole, no longer
feeling he needs them. Marianne is on the end of the harshest abandonment of all, yet still finds it
in her heart to love her father. “A father’s acceptance is a primary predictor for an adolescents’

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functioning outside the home” (Li & Warner, 2015). Marianne is a devout Christian throughout
the book, she is able to cling to Jesus, the one person who never abandons her in her prayers.
“Studies have found that religious believers have higher social self-esteem and are better
psychologically adjusted than nonbelievers” (Gebauer, Sedikides, & Neberich, 2012).
Marianne’s foundation of faith ultimately keeps her going during her time away from her family,
especially her father, who no longer accepts her.
Family Ecological Theory
Theory Overview
Family Ecological Theory has layers that represent a different level of subsystem. There
are five levels that each examine the interaction levels that families and their members have with
larger communities, social institutions, cultural ideas and how these change over time (Allen &
Henderson, 2017). This theory provides framework for addressing the intersections of
experiences on an individual, familial, social and cultural level when explaining family life. This
theory is best described as layered, with an individual “seen at the center of a series of concentric
circles representing microsystems, mesosystems, exosystems, and macrosystems” (Darling,
2007).
Each layer describes in detail a different interaction based off the variations experienced
in various social systems. Moving down in each layers will best explain an accurate
representation when utilizing Family Ecological Theory. When examining the individual, this
represents age, race/ethnicity, gender and personal characteristics. The microsystem is composed
of family and friends you see daily. Next, the mesosystem which is representative of the
connection between microsystem and the exosystem. It describes “interrelationships between
different microsystems” (Ashiabi & O’Neal, 2015). The exosystem expands to reach broader

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social institutions such as economic, education, legal, mass media, military etc. The largest, the
macrosystem represents ways of thinking, cultural values and attitudes. (Allen & Henderson,
2016). Lastly, the chronosystem, not included as a circular layer because it represents the
influence of time on each layer. This circular layer model allows us to examine individuals and
their families on the smallest of levels to the largest of levels.
Background and Assumptions
This theory is rooted in two disciplines originally human ecology and developmental
psychology (Allen & Henderson, 2016). The ideas to transition to a more ecological perspective
stem from Ellen Swallow Richard who believed “science of the environment focused on home
and family” (Bulboz and Sontag, 1993, p.420). Families must be studied by analyzing the
context of humans and nonhumans that surround them. The natural physical-biological
environment (Allen & Henderson, 2016) is the largest environment that holds all of them
together. The most outer layer affects even the most inner layer—the individual. Consider how
the rape of one daughter, Marianne, in a once tight knit family affects not only her but her
family, her school, her environment. Everything begins to viewed contextually based off how
each members experiences the effects of their friend, daughter, or sister raped. In regards to
assumptions, “social and physical environments are interdependent and influence human
behavior, development and quality of life” (Allen & Henderson). Family Ecological Systems
views the environment as a source of available resources (Allen & Henderson) that can improve
life or make it more difficult.
Another major assumption is that Family Ecological Theory is that the family is a system
that is nested with larger systems (Allen & Henderson, 2016). This is rooted in the main concept
of nested ecological trends which this theory rests on. Each level: micro, meso, exo, macro and

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chrono all range from smallest to largest. As we move outward in the circles, Brofenbrenner
designed, we see the individual at the center of the each model have a correspondence with the
distance each circle level brings. (Allen & Henderson, 2016).
Major Concepts
Ecosystem
The first major concept of Family Ecological theory is the ecosystem, which is a
community of living organisms that interact with its surrounding environment (Bulboz & Sontag,
1993). This concept can be used to study the Mulvaney family. A family ecosystem is a subset of
a human ecosystem that involves the interaction between families and their environment (Allen
& Henderson, 2016). For example, the Mulvaneys can choose, design and modify resources and
environment to improve their life and well-being. In Marianne’s case, Corinne and Michael see it
best fit that she relocates to a distant relative’s home. Marianne’s environment shifts from High
Point Farm to Kilburn College to Green Isle Co-op. They are able to modify Marianne’s
environment by sending her away after the ill-fated Valentines Day Dance at the high school.
The Ecosystem of High Point Farm is where our story begins. The farm is described as
having a “gravel drive lined with tall aging spruces. Around the house are five enormous oaks—
the tallest is easily three times the height of the house and the house is three stories!” (Oates,
1996, p.11). This family house is the initial ecosystem, the Mulvaney’s begin in. We see them
eventually shift as Marianne is moved to a distant relative, Patrick eventually attends college,
Mikey Jr. attending the Marines, and Judd eventually moving out to Marena. Each ecosystem
will come with desire to protect and improve the environment (Allen & Henderson, 2016). We
see this when Marianne is constantly trying to help out intentionally at the Green Isle Co-op.
Nested ecological trends

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In Family Ecological Theory, each system operates on a specific level from the smallest
(microsystem) to the largest (macrosystem). The smaller levels are nested within the larger
circles. The Mulvaneys act more closely to one another than they do with the laws surrounding
sexual assault victims. The ecological model suggests that “children’s exposure to violence
(Marianne’s rape) can be explained from a complex interplay between and among four nested
systems: micro-, meso-, exo- and macrosystems” (Sabri, Hon, Campbell, & Cho, 2013). In the
novel, on a micro level, there is neglect between Marianne and her father once she is raped.
There is an instance where Michael hits Corinne and Judd interferes “Don’t hurt Mom! You’re
drunk! Leave her alone!” (Oates, 1996, p.376). These microsystem level of family violence
commonly occurs in direct setting where a child is present in the Mulvaney family.
Adaptation
The concept of adaptation which is from Family Systems, refers to the fact that
individuals and families are dynamic and capable of changing tier beliefs and behaviors in order
to adapt to their environments (Allen & Henderson, 2016). For the Mulvaney’s, they had to learn
to adapt once Marianne was gone or Marianne had to learn how to adapt without her family in
her immediate environment. They are all affected and changed because of the rape of Marianne.
Judd begins to adapt once he can no longer take the pain his father inflicts on his mother. Judd,
following the night his father exploded on his mother, moved out. “Never again would I be under
the same roof with Michal Mulvaney” (Oates, 1996, pg.377). Judd adapted to this adversity. He
had a job at the Miracle Mart, he moved to Marsena, he took Little Boots with him and he would
soon graduate with honors from Marsena High School. It is important to adapt to grow.
Values

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Values reflect the belief system of the individual, family and society about important
ideals for what is morally correct, useful and economically profitable (Allen & Henderson,
2016). It is important to understand the explicit values of the Mulvaney family. The Mulvaneys
valued family above all else, “We Mulvaneys would have died for one another…” (Oates, 1996,
p.5). They are all in for one another, no matter the cost. We see this again represented when
Patrick and Judd form an alliance to help kidnap, Zachary Lundt, Marianne’s rapist. They are
constantly looking out for one another—no matter what. Another key value of this family is
Corinne’s devout Christian practices. Throughout the book, we see both Marianne and Corinne
able to turn to the Lord in prayer during stressful situations, especially concerning the rape.
Corinne values her husband above all else in the situation regarding Marianne’s rape. She
chooses her own husband over her own daughter. Upon receiving the news of Marianne, Michael
Sr. dips back into old habits. He once valued alcohol before achieving success in his career. This
is made evident when Corinne receives a call that he is back at an old tavern they used to spend
time at. Corinne has the revelation that her main commitment and loyalty is to her husband,
Michael Sr. The two of them have no discussion about Marianne leaving with the rest of her
children. Michael can no longer bare the sight of Marianne so this event is done with loyalty to
Michael Sr. in mind.
Bioecology of human development
There are fiver layers in this model that impact individual and family development on
each level. Individual lives are constantly changing and taking new direction (Allen &
Henderson, 2016). Marianne’s life is taking a drastic new direction when she is driven away
from her family and her life at High Point family farm. All of these changes would not have
occurred to their beloved daughter had she not been raped at the school dance. From that night

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on Valentines Day, Marianne’s life began taking a new direction far away from Mt. Ephraim and
her family at High Point Farm. Different events lead people in drastically new direction.
Process-person-context-time (PPCT) model
One of Bronfenbrenner’s concerns with a theory and method dynamic enough to interact
with individuals and families on different levels (Allen &Henderson, 2016), so this model was
created. This model studies the variable in a developmental process that is studied as a function
of context (Mt. Ephraim high school dance), and person (Marianne). The person and not the
environment is the center of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological model of development (Darling,
2007). This model is based of the impression that all persons in a family respond differently to
outside environmental influences (Allen & Henderson). In the Mulvaney family, each person
responds differently to the raping of their sister/daughter.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The theory of Ecological Family System has both strengths as weaknesses. The strengths
and weaknesses are clear when analyzing We Were the Mulvaneys. This theory is widely popular
due to its comprehensive theory of individual development in the context of family and society
(Allen & Henderson, 2016). This comprehensiveness allows us to view Marianne or Corinne or
Judd or Michael Sr., the entire Mulvaney family, the town of Mt. Ephraim and the rural
community of New York that they live in. This theory addresses the nature versus nurture
question (Allen & Henderson, 2016). This allows us to look at the biology (nature) of growing
up as a female in a male dominated family while also looking at the environment (nurture) of
living underneath such a cheerful mother figure, Corinne who loves.
Weaknesses are still present in this ever so comprehensive view of individuals, families,
communities and society. The adaptability of the Family Ecological theory to multiple fields of

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study can also viewed as a weakness (Allen & Henderson, 2016). This theory is often difficult to
transition into experimental research due to its difficulty of being a comprehensive theory (Allen
& Henderson, 2016). This model unfortunately pays little attention to the social inequalities of
race and gender systems. This model was created firstly in 1979 and has been advanced many
times (Allen & Henderson, 2016). This model oftentimes does not identify with racism and
sexism as it truly affects individuals and families today. Think about the sexism Marianne faced
because she was a woman raped in high school during the 1970s. Unfortunately, this theory
doesn’t emphasize the gravity of these particular aspects.
Another additional weakness, is that the focus is primarily on the developing child at the
individual level, while the focus on the family lags behind (Allen & Henderson, 2016). The focus
for instance, if modeling this after Marianne could forget about the entirety of the Mulvaney
family. We could analyze just how Marianne is affected in this chapter and how her family
influences her but not how she influences them. This theory forgets to emphasize how the family
members are affected throughout the different layers: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem,
macrosystem and chronosystem. This model was developed with the child in mind, to be the
center of the analysis (Allen & Henderson, 2016).
Conclusion
We Were the Mulvaneys starts off with a family who appears to be the epitome of an All
American family that is drastically rocked by tragic events. By using the framework of Family
Systems Theory and Family Ecological Theory it has become easier to see how individual,
families, communities and societies all play key roles in the development of its family members.
Each layer provides different insight into the interworking of the Mulvaneys family. This theory
allowed me to better understand “the complex interconnections among the over widening layers

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of the individual, family, community and society over time” (Allen & Henderson, 2016). Being
able to utilize these perspectives allowed a way for me to better analyze how a family reacts
differently to adverse situations.

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