1. Families and Intimate Relationships Chapter 15 Anthony Giddens
Mitchell Duneier
Richard P. Appelbaum

2. Fig. 15.1

3. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Basic Concepts
Kinship comprises either genetic ties or ties initiated by marriage
A family is a group of kin having responsibility for children’s upbringing
Marriage is a union of two persons living together in a socially approved sexual relationship

4. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Basic Concepts (cont)
Nuclear family is a household in which a married couple or single parent lives with their own or adopted children
Extended family is where kin in addition to parents and children live in the same household or have close relationships

5. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Basic Concepts (cont)
In Western societies, marriage and family are associated with monogamy, a culturally approved sexual relationship between one man and one woman
Other cultures tolerate or encourage polygamy, where an individual may have two or more spouses at a time
Polygyny (man marries more than one wife) is far more common than polyandry (woman marries more than one husband)

6. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Functionalism
Family performs important tasks that contribute to society’s basic needs, perpetuate social order
Family’s two main functions according to Parsons: primary socialization (children learn social norms) and personality stabilization (adult personalities kept healthy)
Nuclear family best equipped to handle industrial society

7. Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Feminist Approaches
Challenge the vision of family as harmonious and egalitarian
Three main themes:
Domestic division of labor
Unequal power relationships
Caring activities

8. Fig. 15.3

9. The Family in History The Development of Family Life
Three phases in development of family
From 1500s to early 1600s
Nuclear family with deep ties to other kin, community
Family not major focus of emotional attachment
Choice in marriage up to interests of parents, kin, community

10. The Family in History The Development of Family Life (cont)
Early 1600s to early 1700s
Nuclear family became more distinct from community
Growing stress on marital and parental love
Authority of father increased

11. The Family in History The Development of Family Life (cont)
Mid-1700s to Mid-1900s
Affective individualism—marriage partners chosen based on love
Family tied by close emotional bonds
Domestic privacy
Preoccupation with childrearing

12. Changes in Family Patterns Worldwide
Directions of Change
Most important changes occurring worldwide:
Clans, kin groups declining in influence
Trend toward free choice of spouse
Rights of women more widely recognized
Kin marriages are less common
Higher levels of sexual freedom
Extending children’s rights

13. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Directions of Change (cont)
Major changes in family life in the United States post—World War II
Higher percentage of working women
Rising divorce rates
Greater rates of single-parent households and stepfamilies
Cohabitation is increasingly common

14. Fig. 15.2

15. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Race, Ethnicity, and the American Family
Asian-American families
Characterized by dependence on extended family
High median family income
Lowest fertility rates
Low divorce rates
Native American families
Kinship ties are very important
Highest rates of intermarriage
High fertility rates
High divorce rates

16. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Race, Ethnicity, and the American Family
(cont)
Latino families
Diverse family patterns
Mexican American families live in multigenerational homes and have high birthrates; half of women work out of necessity
Puerto Ricans are most economically disadvantaged; have high birthrates and cohabitation rates
Cubans are most prosperous; lower levels of fertility

17. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Race, Ethnicity, and the American Family
(cont)
African American families
History of slavery and discrimination has contributed to higher rates of childbearing outside of marriage, lower rates of marriage, and female-headed families
Adapted to poverty by forming large, complex support networks

18. Fig. 15.4

19. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Nonmarital Childbearing
Number of children born out of wedlock is increasing among the poor of all races
Why do women have children out of wedlock?
Stop using contraception
Young people in poor communities feel confident about their ability to raise children because they helped raise other children in their family
The poor place extraordinarily high value on children
Women are setting bar higher for marriage

20. Fig. 15.5

21. Fig. 15.6

22. Marriage and the Family in the United States
Divorce
Why has divorce become more common?
Changes in law have made it easier
Marriage is no longer about perpetuating property and status
Economic independence of women
Growing tendency to evaluate marriage in terms of personal satisfaction

23. The Dark Side of the Family
Family Life Is Not Always Harmonious
The “dark side” of the family includes abuse and family violence
No social class is immune to spousal abuse, but it is more common among low-income couples

24. Alternative Forms of Marriage and the Family
Alternative Families
Cohabitation and homosexuality have become
more common recently
Alternative forms of social and sexual relationships
will flourish further
But marriage and family remain firmly established institutions

25. Fig. 15.7

26. Review Questions 1. The nuclear family consists of __________.
two adults living together in a household with their biological or adopted children
a single generation in a familial network
parents and stepparents and their biological, adopted, and stepchildren, who may or may not all live together all or part of the time
whatever family members—parents, children, grandparents, cousins—regularly live together in the same household
Answer: A
Reference: Introduction
Type: Vocabulary

27. Review Questions
2. The notion that the nuclear family fulfills specialized roles in modern societies and helps perpetuate social order is associated with the ________ approach to sociology.
symbolic interactionist
micro-level
functionalist
postmodern
Answer: C
Reference: Theoretical Perspectives on the Family
Type: Conceptual

28. Review Questions
3. Which of the following is a characteristic of the modern or post-industrial family?
Dependence on kinship networks
Marriage based on personal choice
Decreased emphasis on child rearing
Blurring of the boundaries between home and work life
Answer: B
Reference: The Family in History
Type: Factual

29. Review Questions
4. Why has there been an increase in the age at which people get married for the first time?
As women gain greater economic independence, they are less inclined to view marriage as a necessary way to guarantee their financial security.
More couples are choosing cohabitation over marriage.
As more and more women and men attend college, they wait longer to get married.
All of the above
Answer: D
Reference: Marriage and the Family in the United States
Type: Factual

30. Review Questions
5. How have black women who are single parents adapted to create a stable family situation for their children in the absence of a father?
Black women who are single parents often work two jobs in order to provide their families with financial stability and not depend on welfare.
Black single mothers often rely on their fathers or another male relative to serve as a role model and nurturing male presence for their children.
Many black women who are single parents move in with other single mothers in order to combine their resources and create a more stable home environment.
Many black single mothers form a close and supportive network of extended family members and even friends whom they can rely on to help with child care and other family responsibilities.
Answer: D
Reference: Marriage and the Family in the United States
Type: Conceptual

31. Review Questions
6. Why has divorce become more common in the United States?
People do not value the institution of marriage as highly as they did in the past.
The pressure of balancing work, child-rearing, community activities, and other family responsibilities overwhelms many people, and increasingly divorce is seen as a way to reduce some of these pressures.
There is a growing tendency to evaluate marriage in terms of personal satisfaction, and people are less willing than in the past to stay in a marriage that is not rewarding.
As average incomes have risen significantly in the past thirty years, people are less compelled to stay together for financial reasons.
Answer: C
Reference: Marriage and the Family in the United States
Type: Conceptual

32. Review Questions
7. There is a high correlation between _________ and indicators of poverty and social deprivation.
multiple births before the age of 25
rates of birth outside marriage
divorce rates
All of the above
Answer: B
Reference: Marriage and the Family in the United States
Type: Factual