Sociology of the Family

Week 1 Public and Private Families How do we view the American family? How do we view the American family? Public vs. private families Public vs. private families How do we study the family? How do we study the family? Modes of observation Modes of observation Theoretical perspectives Theoretical perspectives

Discuss: What is a Family? Write a definition of the word “family.” Write a definition of the word “family.” Which of these would match your definition? Which of these would match your definition? Married couple, with or without children Married couple, with or without children Single parent and children Single parent and children 2 nd marriage including in at least one stepparent 2 nd marriage including in at least one stepparent Cohabiting couple with or without children Cohabiting couple with or without children Gay/lesbian couple with or without children Gay/lesbian couple with or without children Grandparents raising grandchildren Grandparents raising grandchildren Any group of people who consider themselves “family” Any group of people who consider themselves “family”

What is a Family? Social Conservative: Two parent breadwinner-homemaker Social Conservative: Two parent breadwinner-homemaker Economic: specific rules; who qualifies for benefits Economic: specific rules; who qualifies for benefits Cultural: varies from culture to culture Cultural: varies from culture to culture

Diversity can be tolerated or rejected: right/conservative side: marriage and childbearing marriage and childbearing disapproves divorce, births to single moms, cohabitation, gay marriage, abortion disapproves divorce, births to single moms, cohabitation, gay marriage, abortion favors policies that promote marriage favors policies that promote marriage How We Feel About the American Family

left/liberal side: society can adjust to new family forms society can adjust to new family forms policies should support all types of families policies should support all types of families Tolerates or approves diversity Tolerates or approves diversity Favors government involvement Favors government involvement How We Feel About the American Family

Family decisions are individual choices Family decisions are individual choices Individualism: Pursuing personal reward Individualism: Pursuing personal reward Utilitarian: self-reliance and personal achievement Utilitarian: self-reliance and personal achievement Expressive: emotional satisfaction Expressive: emotional satisfaction Leads to family decisions based on emotional bond Leads to family decisions based on emotional bond Individualism and Families

Public and Private Families Two key issues: Two key issues: Are families taking care of dependents? (public function) Are families taking care of dependents? (public function) Are families providing emotional satisfaction? (private function) Are families providing emotional satisfaction? (private function)

The Public Family Public Goods Public Goods Have value for people who did not produce or pay for them Have value for people who did not produce or pay for them Children Children Care of children, ill, elderly Care of children, ill, elderly Public family provides these for society Public family provides these for society

The Public Family (cont.) “Public Family” Includes:  One adult or two adults  Related by marriage, partnership, or shared parenthood  Taking care of dependents  Dependents

Provides emotional support Provides emotional support “Private Family” Includes: “Private Family” Includes: Two or more individuals Two or more individuals Intimate relationship that they expect will last indefinitely Intimate relationship that they expect will last indefinitely Live in the same household Live in the same household Pool their income and labor Pool their income and labor The Private Family

Two common methods: Two common methods: Survey: Random sample, standardized questions Survey: Random sample, standardized questions Observational study: Direct observation in natural environment Observational study: Direct observation in natural environment What Do Family Researchers Do?

What Do Family Researchers Do? (cont.) Table 1.2 Comparing Survey Studies and Observational Studies WHO IS STUDIED HOW ARE THEY STUDIED STRENGTHS LIMITATIONS Survey Study Large, random sample An interviewer asks questions Results can be generalized Only limited knowledge can be of individuals or families from a predesigned questionnaire to the population of interest obtained; hard to judge honesty and records the answers of responses Observational Study Small, purposefully A researcher observes them in Detailed knowledge is Findings may not be chosen sample of depth over a long period of time, obtained representative of other, similar individuals or families sometimes participating in their individuals or families daily activities What Do Family Researchers Do? (cont.)

Theory of Families Classical theories Classical theories Functionalist Functionalist Conflict Conflict Exchange Exchange Symbolic Interaction Symbolic Interaction Feminist Feminist Contemporary theories Contemporary theories Evolutionary psychology Modernity Influences questions and observations Influences questions and observations

Classical Perspectives Functional theory Functional theory Stability and cooperation Stability and cooperation Each member performs functions Each member performs functions Family contributes to society Family contributes to society Best fits breadwinner-homemaker model Best fits breadwinner-homemaker model

Conflict theory Conflict theory Inequality, power, change Inequality, power, change Male dominance — physical, economic Male dominance — physical, economic Men less dominant when women have financial power Men less dominant when women have financial power Economic development = more power for women Economic development = more power for women Classical Perspectives

Exchange theory Exchange theory Relationships involve exchange of resources Relationships involve exchange of resources Housework, child care, financial support, love, emotional support Housework, child care, financial support, love, emotional support Contributions are evaluated by members Contributions are evaluated by members Income may give more power Income may give more power Classical Perspectives

Symbolic interaction theory Symbolic interaction theory Social interaction: shared understanding Social interaction: shared understanding Shared understandings: social roles (Spouse, parent, breadwinner, homemaker, child, etc.) Shared understandings: social roles (Spouse, parent, breadwinner, homemaker, child, etc.) Nontraditional families: more negotiation, fewer cultural roles. Nontraditional families: more negotiation, fewer cultural roles. Classical Perspectives

Feminist theory Feminist theory Gender defines social roles Gender defines social roles Roles are socially (not biologically) constructed Roles are socially (not biologically) constructed Family life is different for women than men Family life is different for women than men Contemporary Theories

Evolutionary psychology (sociobiology) Evolutionary psychology (sociobiology) Women’s interest: survival of young (needed men’s protection) Women’s interest: survival of young (needed men’s protection) Men’s interest: maximize reproductive potential (impregnate many women, control sexual access) Men’s interest: maximize reproductive potential (impregnate many women, control sexual access) Contemporary Theories

Modernity Theory Modernity Theory Historical development of roles Historical development of roles Modern era – (to 1950) Modern era – (to 1950) Roles were culturally defined (student, spouse, parent, etc.) Little choice Late modern era – ’s Late modern era – ’s Individual choice – flexible roles Contemporary Theories

Author (Cherlin) believes Families should be publicly supported Families should be publicly supported Stable long-term partnerships, regardless of sexual orientation, are best for children Stable long-term partnerships, regardless of sexual orientation, are best for children Alternative family forms can provide support Alternative family forms can provide support Equality of men and women in family life Equality of men and women in family life