Family and Intimate Relationships

Chapter Outline Families in Global Perspective Theoretical Perspectives on Families Developing Intimate Relationships and Establishing Families Child-Related Family Issues and Parenting Transition and Problems in Families Family Issues in the Future

Family Structure and Characteristics Kinship refers to a social network of people based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption.  Family of orientation is the family into which a person is born and in which early socialization usually takes place. Family of procreation is the family a person forms by having or adopting children.

Traditional Definition of Family A group of people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption, live together, are an economic unit, and bear and raise children.

New Definition of Family Relationships in which people live together with commitment, form an economic unit and care for any young, and consider their identity to be significantly attached to the group.

Definition of Family 2010's American Family Defined Kids React to Gay Marriage

Family Structure and Characteristics A nuclear family is composed of one or two parents and their dependent children, all of whom live apart from other relatives. The nuclear family is the nucleus or core upon which larger family groups are built.

Composition: What Is the Family? An extended family is composed of relatives in addition to parents and children who live in the same household.

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

Composition: What Is the Family? Polygamy --Polygamy is a form of marriage allowing an individual to have several husbands or wives simultaneously. Polygyny --Polygyny, a type of polygamy, is the marriage of a man to more than one woman at a time. Polyandry --Polyandry, a type of polygamy, is the marriage of a woman to more than one husband at the same time.

The Role of Family and Social Change Family Structures CBC News - StatsCan includes gay families

The End of Family?

The Council of Dads

How Much Do You Know About Trends in U.S. Family Life? True or False? Today, people in the United States are more inclined to get married than at any time in history.

How Much Do You Know About Trends in U.S. Family Life? False. Census data show that the marriage rate has gone down by about one third since 1960. In 1960, there were about 73 marriages per 1,000 unmarried women age 15 and up, whereas today the rate is about 49 per 1,000.

How Much Do You Know About Trends in U.S. Family Life True or False? Most U.S. family households are composed of a married couple with one or more children under age 18.

How Much Do You Know About Trends in U.S. Family Life? False. Less than 25 percent of all family households are composed of married couples with one or more children under age 18.

Neither satisfied or dissatisfied GSS National Data Marital Status Married Widowed Divorced/separated Never married Satisfied 95.3% 85.7% 78.7% 84.5% Neither satisfied or dissatisfied 2 6 11.1 10.2 Dissatisfied 2.7 8.3 5.3

Household Composition: 1970 and 2000 Married couples with children 40.3% 24.1% Married couples without children 30.3% 28.7% Persons living Alone 17.1% 25.5% Other family Households 10.6% 16% Other nonfamily households 1.7% 5.7%

Question The strength of the American family is declining. Strongly agree Agree somewhat Unsure Disagree somewhat Strongly disagree

Question The strength of the American family is declining. Strongly agree Agree somewhat Unsure Disagree somewhat Strongly disagree

Marriage Legally recognized arrangement between two or more individuals that carries certain rights and obligations. Monogamy is the only form of marriage sanctioned by law in the United States. Establishes a system of descent so kinship can be determined.

Question If you are currently married: Taking things all together, how would you describe your marriage? Would you say that your marriage is: Very happy Pretty happy Not too happy

GSS National Data Religion Lib. Protestant Con. Protestant Catholic Jewish None Very happy 65% 62.6% 61.2% 64.4% 56% Pretty happy 32.5 35 35.8 31.3 38.9 Not too happy 2.6 2.4 3 4.3 5.2

Question A social network of people based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption is known as: kinship. a family. a clan. subculture.

Answer: a A social network of people based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption is known as kinship.

Question All things considered, how satisfied are you with your family life?

A Different Kind of Family: Families Portrayed in the Media The Family and How It's Portrayed in the Media

Chapter Outline Global View of the Family Studying the Family Marriage and Family Divorce Diverse Lifestyles Social Policy and the Family: Reproductive Technology

Patterns of Descent and Inheritance Kinship Patterns: To Whom Are We Related Kinship --Kinship is the state of being related to others. Bilateral Descent --Both sides of a person’s family are regarded as equally important.

Patterns of Descent and Inheritance Kinship Patterns: To Whom Are We Related Patrilineal descent In patrilineal descent, only the father’s relatives are important. Trace descent through the father’s side of the family. Matrilineal descent In matrilineal descent, only the mother’s relatives are significant. Trace descent through the mother’s side of the family Women may not control property. Bilateral descent A system of tracing descent through both the mother’s and father’s sides of the family

Patterns of Descent and Inheritance Authority Patterns: Who Rules? Patriarchy When males are expected to dominate in all family decision making, that society is a patriarchy. Authority is held by the eldest male (usually the father) Matriarchy When women have greater authority than men, that society is a matriarchy. Authority is held by the eldest female (usually the mother) Egalitarian family A family in which spouses are regarded as equals. Power and authority are shared by both partners.

Patterns of Descent and Inheritance Residential Patterns Patrilocal residence refers to the custom of a married couple living in the same household (or community) as the husband’s family. Matrilocal residence is the custom of a married couple living in the same household (or community) as the wife’s parents. Neolocal residence is the custom of a married couple living in their own residence apart from both the husband’s and the wife’s parents.

Global View of the Family Figure 12.1: Types of Family Households in the United States, 1980, 1997, and 2010

Studying the Family Functionalist View The family serves six functions for society: Reproduction Protection Socialization Regulation of sexual behavior Affection Providing of social status

Studying the Family Conflict View The conflict view believes that family reflects the inequality in wealth and power found within society. The conflict view recognizes that historically, husbands exercised power and authority within the family. The conflict view sees the family as an economic unit contributing to social injustice.

Studying the Family Symbolic-Interactionist View The interactionist view focuses on the microlevel of family and other intimate relationships. The interactionist view is interested in how individuals interact with others, whether they are cohabiting partners or long-term married couples.

Studying the Family Feminist View Feminist theorists have urged social scientists and social agencies to rethink the notion that families in which no adult male is present are automatically a cause for concern. Feminists stress the need to broaden family research to include not only gender, race, and social class, but human sexuality and the aging process.

Marriage and Family Courtship and Mate Selection Aspects of Mate Selection --Endogamy: Endogamy specifies the groups within which a spouse must be found and prohibits marriage with members of other groups. --Exogamy: Exogamy requires mate selection outside certain groups, usually one’s own family or certain kin.

Marriage and Family Figure 12.2: Percentage of People Aged 20 to 24 Ever Married, Selected Countries

Marriage and Family 5 or more people 4 people 3 people 2 people 1 person 1970 1980 1990 2000 Households by Size: 1970 to 2000 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2001. The Population Profile of the United States: 2000. Figure 5-2. (Internet Release) accessed at http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/profile2000.html#cont.

Marriage and Family Variations in Family Life and Intimate Relationships Racial and Ethnic Differences --The subordinate status of racial and ethnic groups profoundly affects their family life. --Family patterns differ among racial and ethnic groups. --Family ties can serve as an economic boost within racial and ethnic groups.

Marriage and Family Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Parenthood and Grandparenthood --One of the most important roles of parents is socialization of children. --Recently, the United States has witnessed the extension of parenthood, as adult children continue to (or return to) live at home. This phenomenon is referred to as the “boomerang generation” or “full-nest syndrome.”

Marriage and Family Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Adoption --Adoption is a process that “allows for the transfer of the legal rights, responsibilities, and privileges of parenthood” to a new legal parent or parents. --The largest single category of adoption in the United States is adoption by relatives. In most cases, a stepparent adopts the children of a spouse.

Marriage and Family Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Dual-Income Families --Among married people between the ages of 25 and 34, 96 percent of the men and 72 percent of the women are in the labor force.

Marriage and Family Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Single-Parent Families --A single-parent family is one in which there is only one parent present to care for the children. In 1998, a single parent headed about: 19% of White families with children under 18 34% of Hispanic families with children 54% of African American families with children

Marriage and Family Figure 12.3: Rise of One-Parent Families among Whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians or Pacific Islanders in the United States

Birth Rates for Married and Unmarried Females Marriage and Family Live births per 1,000 females 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 35 30 25 15 10 5 Percent of all births Births to unmarried females (right scale) Birth rate for unmarried females 15-44 (left scale) Birth rate for married females 15-44 (left scale) Birth Rates for Married and Unmarried Females Source: Office of the President. 2000. Economic Report of the President: Transmitted to the Congress, February 2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Chart 5-3 on p. 171.

Marriage and Family Percent of Live Births, Born to Unmarried Women 1980 1998 United States 18 33 Canada 13 28 Denmark 45 France 11 40 Germany 8 14 Italy 4 9 Japan 1 Netherlands 21 Sweden 54 United Kingdom 12 38 Births to Unmarried Women, by Country: 1980 to 1998 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2001. Statistical Abstract of the United States 2001. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Table 1331 on p. 836. Also accessible at http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/stat-ab01.html.

Marriage and Family Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Stepfamilies --The rising rates of divorce and remarriage have led to a significant increase in stepfamily relationships. --Stepfamilies are an exceedingly complex form of family organization. --The exact nature of these blended families has social significance for children and adults alike, and re-socialization is often required for children and adults alike.

Grandchildren in Grandparent’s Homes by Presence of Parents Marriage and Family 6 5 4 3 2 1 1970 1980 1990 1998 Neither parent present Only father present Only mother present Both parents present Percent of children under 18 who live with a grandparent Grandchildren in Grandparent’s Homes by Presence of Parents Source: Office of the President, 2000. Economic Report of the President: Transmitted to the Congress, February 2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Chart 5-5 on p. 174.

Number of Victims Murdered by an Intimate Partner Marriage and Family 2,000 1,600 1,200 800 400 1976 1982 1988 1994 1998 Male victims Female victims Number of Victims Murdered by an Intimate Partner Source: Callie Marie Rennison for the Bureau of Justice Statitics. 2001. Intimate Partner Violence. NCJ 178247, p. 1. Accessible at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipv.pdf.

Rate of Intimate Partner Violence by Age, 1993--1998 Marriage and Family 25 20 15 10 5 12-15 16-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65 or older Male Female Intimate partner violence per 1,000 females or males in each age category Rate of Intimate Partner Violence by Age, 1993--1998 Source: Callie Marie Rennison for the Bureau of Justice Statitics. 2001. Figure 6 in Intimate Partner Violence. NCJ 178247. Accessible at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipv.pdf.

Divorce Statistical Trends in Divorce Approximately one-third of all people in the United States will marry, divorce, and then remarry. Divorce rates increased in the late 1960s but then started to level off and even decline since the late 1980s.

Divorce Factors Associated with Divorce Divorce rates have increased largely because of the greater social acceptance of divorce. Other factors include: more liberal divorce laws families have fewer children greater family income more opportunities for women

Divorce Impact of Divorce on Children It would be simplistic to assume that children are automatically better off following the breakup of their parents. Recent research suggests that the impact of divorce can extend beyond childhood, affecting a grown person’s ability to establish a lasting marital relationship.

Divorce Figure 12.4: Trends in Marriage and Divorce in the United States, 1920-2001

Divorce Lifestyles Cohabitation Male-female couples who choose to live together without marrying engage in cohabitation. People who cohabitate include: college students working couples the elderly

Divorce Lifestyles Remaining Single More people are postponing entry into first marriages. The trend toward maintaining a single lifestyle for a longer period of time is related to the growing economic independence of young people, especially women. Remaining single represents a clear departure from societal expectations.

Divorce Lifestyles Lesbian and Gay Relationships Lifestyles of lesbians and gay men vary greatly. They: live in long term monogamous relationships live in relationships and have adopted children. live with children from former heterosexual marriages Many lesbians and gay men do not publicly acknowledge their homosexuality.

Divorce Lifestyles Marriage Without Children An increasing number of couples today choose not to have children. They consider themselves to be child-free, not childless. Many practices in the workplace like childcare and scheduling are being questioned by child-free couples.

Social Policy and The Family Reproductive Technology The Issue --Today we are witnessing aspects of reproductive technology that were regarded as so much science fiction just a generation ago. --To what extent should policy encourage or discourage innovative reproductive technology?

Social Policy and The Family Reproductive Technology The Setting --While using technology to enhance the ability to reproduce is a recent phenomenon, the first successful artificial insemination actually took place in 1884. --The ability to preserve sperm, beginning in the 1970s, made the process much simpler.

Social Policy and The Family Reproductive Technology Sociological Insights --Advances in reproductive technology allow childless couples to fulfill their personal, and societal, goals. --Conflict perspective analysts would note that available technologies are often accessible only to the most affluent. --Conflict theorists further note the irony that while lower-class women have broad access to contraceptive coverage, they have limited access to infertility treatments. Continued…

Social Policy and The Family Reproductive Technology Sociological Insights --Feminist theorists are concerned that in societies where men enjoy a higher status, use of this technology will effectively reduce the presence of women. --Interactionists observe that the quest for information and social support connected with reproductive technology has created new social networks.

Social Policy and The Family Reproductive Technology Policy Initiatives --The legal and ethical issues connected with reproductive technology are immense. --Industrial societies are hard-pressed to deal with present advances in reproductive technology, much less future ones.