What is Sociology? Family Sociology Montclair State University Introduction 1) The class name 4/15/2017

Sociological Inquiry Families do not exist or evolve in isolation Rather, they react to and have an influence on the social world around them The sociological perspective on families emphasizes the rules, roles, and relationships that are created an maintained by the larger society How do sociologists examine family life? Theoretical perspectives Methods of social analysis Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

What is Sociology? What pops into your mind when you think about Sociology? What do sociologists study? How is sociological thinking different from other social science disciplines? 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach Sociology focuses on the family from the outside in rather than the inside out Sociology looks “behind the scenes” to explain patterns of behavior Sociology looks for general processes that produce an individual experience 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

Thinking Like a Sociologist 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach Sociology focuses on how social forces influence individual behavior, actions, and feelings. AND Sociology examines how the interaction of individuals and small groups influence the economic or social change? Humans viewed as both puppets and puppeteers 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

Thinking like a Sociologist In this class, we will focus on how families are influenced by the larger social structure Social structure: is a stable framework of social relationships that guides our interaction with others 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach Levels of Analysis The macro level comprises: Society – a population of people that is organized in a cooperative manner to carry out the major functions of life Culture – All modes of thought, behavior, and production that are communicated to members of a society through all forms of communication  How would you describe the culture of the U.S.? Sociologists focus on how society, culture, and social stratification constrain individual choices. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach Levels of Analysis The macro level comprises: Analysis at the macro level focuses on large-scale social institutions social structures comparisons between entire societies How does one society differ from another? Sociologists focus on how society, culture, and social stratification constrain individual choices. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Macro Level For example: How are families different in Japan compared to the U.S. ?? The divorce rate in the U.S. is 50% The rate in Japan is 27% Sociologists focus on how society, culture, and social stratification constrain individual choices. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Micro Level The micro level includes interactions among individuals, small groups, and families The micro level focuses on our individual actions, thoughts, and choices Think of this as the smaller picture Sociologists focus on how society, culture, and social stratification constrain individual choices. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach Macro Level Micro Level 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Macro Level Social institutions A social institution is a major sphere of social life with rules and roles that define a social unit of importance to society A social institution is a visible structure that people can recognize and understand Families are a social institution MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT OF SOCAIL INSTITUIONS! Sociologists look outward toward the larger social forces that may influence these individuals, groups and social institutions – forces such as social stratification which are– hierarchies based on power, wealth, gender and/or race. Sociologist specialize in the study of social institutions. Sociologists view the family as a social institution. As Cherlin writes – a social institution refers to a set of roles and rules that define a social unit that is important to society. For example, why on average, are African-Americans families poorer than white families? It may be that discrimination against African-Americans has resulted in less opportunity for well paying jobs – leading to impoverished families. Sociologists also study the link between institutions, so we might consider what are the links between economic life and family life. For example, sociologists study the effect of how mother’s employment on child development or school achievements. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Macro Level Family sociologists examine how these SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS interact and how they influence behaviors, attitudes, and opportunities in families Economy Government Education Families Religion Healthcare 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Macro Level The macro level comprises: Social Status Social statuses are: the social positions people occupy and the privileges and constraints that are attached to these positions Sociologists look outward toward the larger social forces that may influence these individuals, groups and social institutions – forces such as social stratification which are– hierarchies based on power, wealth, gender and/or race. Sociologist specialize in the study of social institutions. Sociologists view the family as a social institution. As Cherlin writes – a social institution refers to a set of roles and rules that define a social unit that is important to society. For example, why on average, are African-Americans families poorer than white families? It may be that discrimination against African-Americans has resulted in less opportunity for well paying jobs – leading to impoverished families. Sociologists also study the link between institutions, so we might consider what are the links between economic life and family life. For example, sociologists study the effect of how mother’s employment on child development or school achievements. 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Macro Level This hierarchical arrangement of people in terms of power, prestige, and resources is called social stratification These hierarchies in the U.S. are often based on race/ethnicity, education, income, and gender Think about how your race or gender or age has blocked your from an opportunity or given you an advantage 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Micro Level Micro level deals with issues of social life at the level of individuals or small groups At the micro level we focus on patterned behaviors of people that are due to the social conditions in which we find ourselves We act differently in different settings and places Micro level analysis focuses on personal choices Families operate on the micro level - where interaction between individuals and small groups takes place. Individuals are shaped by larger social forces - and social institutions Small groups, families may adhere to their own culture - their own set of norms and values - but these are shaped by larger institutions like the 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

The Sociological Approach – The Micro Level Micro level deals with issues of social life at the level of individuals or small groups Micro level analysis focuses on personal choices Think of an example of a personal choice you made recently and how it was influenced by the larger society, your social status, the economy, the government, the culture of Montclair? Families operate on the micro level - where interaction between individuals and small groups takes place. Individuals are shaped by larger social forces - and social institutions Small groups, families may adhere to their own culture - their own set of norms and values - but these are shaped by larger institutions like the 4/15/2017 Sociological & Policy Perspectives on Families

Social Science Research How do we know what we know? Most of us understand the world around us through our personal experience -- the people and situations we have been in or have seen This personal experience leads to your conclusions about the world While there is nothing wrong with these ways of knowing -- social scientists are skeptical about relying ONLY on these sources because: An individual’s experience of those around them is not representative of the broader society 4/15/2017

Social Science Research How do we know what we know? Social scientists use a systematic and more scientific mode of investigation Social scientists rely on: Observations of the social world based on representative samples Example: If we wanted to study why people in the U.S. get married, we should not just survey college students We avoid the error of overgeneralization: i.e. using what we know about a small group of people to conclude something about all people 4/15/2017

Sociological Theories Social science theories explain or help us make sense of patterns in social life Theories shape and direct research – they point us in a direction That direction influences what we look for, what we find, and how we explain it 4/15/2017

Sociological Theories Theories about families and relationships are made up a set of statements that explain why certain relationships occur For example: The age at first marriage has increased because more women are graduating from college and starting careers before marrying 4/15/2017

Macrolevel theories Macrolevel theories focus on: a whole society or a large part of it the BIG PICTURE Example: How has the decline in real male wages influenced husbands’ and wives’ involvement in the paid labor force Research might examine cost of living and employment rates by gender and compare data from 1960 to 2000 4/15/2017

Sociological Theories Theories used to explain relationships at a more personal level are micro level theories Examples: A researcher wants to know how often husbands and wives argue on a weekly basis They might observe a husbands and wife in their home – or tape their conversations over the week 4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Structural Functionalism Operates at the macro level Structural functionalists view society as a social system with interacting parts The functionalist perspective views society as a vast organism whose parts are interdependent or interrelated Think about how social institutions interact: families and the economic system 4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Structural Functionalism Operates at the macro level Structural-Functionalists focus on how social institutions like families meet the basic needs or functions of a society. The family as a social institution is analyzed from two perspectives: 1)    How does the family contribute to the maintenance of the larger social system ? 2)    And, in what ways does society and other social institutions (like education or economic system) affect families? 4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Exchange Theory Operates at the micro level Similar to economic theories that view humans as rational beings who make decisions about the exchange of goods and services In doing so, they weigh the costs and benefits of exchanges Emphasis is on efficiency   4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Exchange Theory Operates at the micro level In relationships, for example, people have some resource that is valued by the other person This is when exchange can take place In relationships -- what do women hold of value? How about men?   4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Gender Theory Operates at both macro and micro level Central concept is gender—the social and cultural characteristics that distinguish women and men in society. 4/15/2017

Major Sociological Theories Gender Theory Feminist Theory) Oriented toward power in relationships. Feminist theory argues that differences between men and women are socially constructed to maintain power of men over women. Emphasizes culture, rather than biology. Read more for Assignment 3 in Chapter by Cherlin on Theories 4/15/2017