?The belief equality as well as individual freedom has a strong effect on relationships in the American family. ?This can easily be seen in the relationship between husbands and wives. ?What do we find if we look at the custom of marriage in the US over the last 200 years? ?We can see that in has passed through four different stages. ?In each stage,Wives have moved toward greater equality with their husbands and have increased thei power within the family.