Sociology in Modules

Global View of the Family Universal Principles Family as social institution exists in all cultures Family: set of people related by blood, marriage or other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society

Composition: What Is the Family? Nuclear family: nucleus or core upon which larger family groups are built Extended family: family in which relatives live in same home as parents and children

Composition: What Is the Family? Monogamy: form of marriage in which one woman and one man are married only to each other Serial monogamy: when a person has several spouses in his or her lifetime, but only one spouse at a time

Composition: What Is the Family? Polygamy: when an individual has several husbands or wives simultaneously Polygyny: marriage of a man to more than one woman at the same time Polyandry: marriage of a woman to more than one husband at the same time; extremely rare

Kinship Patterns: To Whom Are We Related? Kinship: state of being related to others Bilateral descent: both sides of a person’s family are regarded as equally important Patrilineal descent: only the father’s relatives are important Matrilineal descent: only the mother’s relatives are important

Authority Patterns: Who Rules? Patriarchy: males are expected to dominate in all family decision making Matriarchy: women have greater authority than men Egalitarian family: family in which spouses are regarded as equals

Functionalist Perspective Family serves six functions for society: Reproduction Protection Socialization Regulation of sexual behavior Affection and companionship Provision of social status

Conflict Perspective Family reflects inequality in wealth and power found within society In wide range of societies, husbands exercise power and authority within the family View family as economic unit that contributes to social injustice

Interactionist Perspective Focuses on micro level of family and other intimate relationships Interested in how individuals interact with each other, whether they are cohabiting partners or longtime married couples

Feminist Perspective Interest in family as social institution Looked particularly closely at how women’s work outside the home impacts their child care and housework duties Urge social scientists and agencies to rethink notion that families in which no adult male is present are automatically cause for concern Feminists stress need to investigate neglected topics in family studies

Marriage and Family Over 95% of all men and women in U.S. marry at least once during their lifetimes Most consistent aspect of family life in the U.S. is the high rate of marriage

Courtship and Mate Selection Internet is latest courtship practice Process of mate selection is taking longer today than in past Aspects of Mate Selection Endogamy: specifies groups within which spouse must be found; prohibits marriage with members of other groups Exogamy: requires mate selection outside certain groups, usually family or certain kin

Courtship and Mate Selection Aspects of Mate Selection (continued) Incest taboo: social norm common to all societies prohibiting sexual relationships between certain culturally specified relationships Homogamy: conscious or unconscious tendency to select mate with personal characteristics similar to one’s own

Courtship and Mate Selection The Love Relationship Coupling of love and marriage not universal U.S. parents and peers expected to help child confine search for a mate to “socially acceptable” members of opposite sex Many world cultures give priority to factors other than romantic feelings

Figure 40-1: Median Age at First Marriage in Eight Countries 16

Variations in Family Life and Intimate Relationships Racial and Ethnic Differences Subordinate status of racial and ethnic minorities in U.S. affects family lives Black single mothers often rely on strong kin networks Native American families cushion hardships Mexican Americans are more familistic Machismo: sense of virility, personal worth, and pride in one’s maleness Familism: pride in extended family

Child-Rearing Patterns Parenthood and Grandparenthood One of most important roles of parents is socialization of children Little anticipatory socialization Limited learning during pregnancy Transition to parenthood is abrupt Lack of clear and helpful guidelines for successful parenthood In some homes, the full nest holds grandchildren

Child-Rearing Patterns Adoption Transfer of legal rights, responsibilities, privileges of parenthood to new legal parent or parents Functionalist: government has a strong interest in encouraging adoption Interactionist: adoption may require child to adjust to very different family environment and parental approach to child rearing

Child-Rearing Patterns Dual-Income Families Among married people between 25 and 64, 96% of men and 69% of women in labor force Rise due to economic need, coupled with desire to pursue careers

Child-Rearing Patterns Single-Parent Families Only one parent present to care for children In 2010, single parents headed about 24% of White families with children under 18 24% of White families with children 37% of Hispanic families with children 62% of African American families with children Households headed by single fathers more than quadrupled from 1987 to 2011

Child-Rearing Patterns Stepfamilies Approximately 45% of all people in U.S. will marry, divorce, and remarry Nature of blended families has social significance for adults and children Cherlin: children whose parents have remarried do not have higher levels of well-being than children in divorced single-parent families

Alternatives to Traditional Families Divorce U.S. family life includes competing commitments To marriage To self-expression and personal growth

Statistical Trends in Divorce Divorce rates increased in late 1960s, then leveled off Since late 1980s, declined by 30% Partly due to aging baby-boomer population and decline in proportion of people of marriageable age About 63% of all divorcees have remarried

Factors Associated with Divorce Greater social acceptance of divorce More liberal divorce laws Fewer children Greater family income Greater opportunities for women

Impact of Divorce on Children National study that tracked 6,332 children before and after divorce found behavior did not suffer Other studies have shown greater unhappiness among children who live amidst parental conflict Still, too simplistic to assume children are automatically better off following breakup

Diverse Lifestyles Marriage has lost much of its social significance as rite of passage Decline in U.S. marriage rates since 1960 Marriage often postponed until later Partnerships without marriage formed

Diverse Lifestyles Cohabitation Remaining Single Male-female couples who choose to live together without marrying About half of currently married couples in U.S. lived together before marriage Remaining Single More and more people in the U.S. postponing entry into a first marriage Inaccurate view that single adult always lonely, is a workaholic, or is immature

Diverse Lifestyles Marriage without Children Modest increase in childlessness in U.S. About 16–17% of women will complete childbearing years without bearing children Economic considerations have contributed

Human Sexuality Sexuality not limited to physical behaviors Includes beliefs, values, and social norms that collectively govern its expression Ways human sexuality sanctioned differ widely geographically and historically Sexual attitudes and practices change over time

Labeling and Human Sexuality Definition of deviant sexual behavior has varied significantly over time and from one culture to another Social stigma of homosexuality Transgendered persons: people whose current gender identity does not match their physical identity at birth Transvestites: cross-dressers who wear clothing of opposite sex

Lesbian and Gay Relationships Lifestyles of lesbians and gay men are varied National Health and Social Life Survey and Voter News Service: 2–5% of adult population identify themselves as either gay or lesbian Gay and lesbian couples face discrimination on both personal and legal levels

Social Policy and the Family: Gay Marriage Attitudes toward marriage are complex Society and culture suggest youth should find perfect mate and marry Young people also bombarded with acceptability of divorce Idea of same-sex marriage strikes some in U.S. as attack on traditional marriage

Our Wired World 40-1: Love Is in the Air and on the Web Have you ever gone out with a person you met online? If so, did the person resemble his or her online presentation? In what ways? Which method of locating other singles do you think would be more useful, going to an online dating site or using an app to locate singles near you? Explain.

Research Today 40-2: Transracial Adoption: The Experience of Children from Korea As a child, did you know anyone who may have been transracially adopted? If so, did the child fit in well with his or her peers? Relate your answer to the community you grew up in. Compare the experience of transracial adoption to the experience of entering a blended family. From the child’s point of view, what might be the advantages and disadvantages of each? From the parents’ point of view, what might be the challenges of each?