You Can Pick your Friends, but not your FAMILY!

What does this parking space marking say about American society’s concept of Family?

W E A R E F A M I L Y... Family: A group of people related by marriage, blood or adoption. – Share economic resources – Live together Nuclear Family: One or both parents and their children Extended Family: Three or more generations of family (in some cultures sharing the same home) Kinship: large network of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption – Cousins, second cousins, great grandparents, etc.

The Function of Family Reproduction Socialization Economic and Emotional Security

Family Problems Divorce Alcoholism/Addiction in families Death Abuse Infidelity (cheating) Loss of livelihood (job)

Changing Family Systems Delay of Marriage/Child birth Dual-Earner Families One-Parent Families Remarriage Same-Sex Unions, Marriages and Families

Do We Need Families? Does our society need families for socialization and support OR have we advanced to the point where we can do without them? – Explain your thoughts on a spare page in your packet before we share as a class

Do We Need Families? Turn to page 8 in your packet to read about children who grow up in isolation!

All About Marriage Creates new Kinship system Modern Marriage Issues: Delay of marriage “Starter” marriages – first marriage that lasts five years or less and ends without the couple having children Co-Habitation prior to marriage Couples choosing to forgo marriage altogether Same-Sex marriage

Modern Marriage How important do you think each of the following elements is for a successful marriage or serious committed relationship? 1) Love 2) Faithfulness 3) Life-long commitment 4) Financial security 5) Being of the same race

The Results! 1) People are getting married later than they used to; the median age at first marriage is now 28 for men and 26 for women, compared to 23 and 20 in Problem?

The Results! 2) The proportion of adults who never marry remains low but is climbing; in 2006, 19% of men and 13% of women aged had never married. Problem?

The Results! 3) Unmarried cohabitation has gone from a socially stigmatized practice to a normal stage in the adult life course (more than half of all American marriages now begin as cohabitations). Problem?

The Results! 4) Roughly one-third of all births are to unmarried parents. Problem?

The Results! 5) Today, people feel freer to marry later, to end unhappy marriages, and to forego marriage altogether. Problem?

The Results! 6) Americans have established a pattern of high marriage and remarriage rates, frequent divorce and separation, and more short-lived cohabitations. Problem?