1. Family Partner-Taking, People-Making, And Contract-Breaking

2. What is a family? U.S. Census Bureau- “a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of the family.” U.S. Census Bureau- “a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of the family.” Some sociologists- “those sharing economic property, sexual access among the adults, and a sense of commitment among members” Some sociologists- “those sharing economic property, sexual access among the adults, and a sense of commitment among members” The most basic institution of society The most basic institution of society

3. The most basic institution of society Affects us for most of our lives Affects us for most of our lives Major life events take place within the family Major life events take place within the family Capable of fulfilling a number of functions of other institutions Capable of fulfilling a number of functions of other institutions But other institutions often cannot fulfill the functions of the family But other institutions often cannot fulfill the functions of the family Family of orientation Family of orientation Family of procreation Family of procreation

4. Theoretical perspectives on the family Rational choice/exchange- family patterns are reinforced to the extent that the exchanges are beneficial to the members. Relationships are unlikely to continue when the costs outweigh the rewards Rational choice/exchange- family patterns are reinforced to the extent that the exchanges are beneficial to the members. Relationships are unlikely to continue when the costs outweigh the rewards Costs and benefits often established by meso-level organizations and institutions Costs and benefits often established by meso-level organizations and institutions

5. Symbolic interaction- culture dictates the language we learn and how we interpret various situations; our families help socialize us into behavioral patterns Symbolic interaction- culture dictates the language we learn and how we interpret various situations; our families help socialize us into behavioral patterns We define what is real or “normal” based on what those around us accept as ordinary We define what is real or “normal” based on what those around us accept as ordinary Human agency Human agency Meso-level institutions help define our roles within the family Meso-level institutions help define our roles within the family

6. Structural functionalist- the family serves a number of common purposes in every society Structural functionalist- the family serves a number of common purposes in every society Sexual regulation Sexual regulation Reproduction and replacement Reproduction and replacement Socialization Socialization Emotional support and protection Emotional support and protection Status attainment Status attainment Economic support Economic support Many family functions have been outsourced Many family functions have been outsourced

7. Conflict theory- conflict within families is inevitable and natural; this conflict results from struggles for power both from within the family and between the family and society at large Conflict theory- conflict within families is inevitable and natural; this conflict results from struggles for power both from within the family and between the family and society at large Families help sustain class inequality Families help sustain class inequality Power struggles within families can be positive because they can lead to changes that make the family as a unit stronger Power struggles within families can be positive because they can lead to changes that make the family as a unit stronger

8. Feminist theory- women are placed at the center to spotlight them as active agents and uncover the biases in male assumptions Feminist theory- women are placed at the center to spotlight them as active agents and uncover the biases in male assumptions At the micro level, examine the way women construct their own realities within the context of social factors At the micro level, examine the way women construct their own realities within the context of social factors More equality and autonomy for women can be obtained with changes in the patriarchal family structure, education and employment opportunities for women, and child care availability More equality and autonomy for women can be obtained with changes in the patriarchal family structure, education and employment opportunities for women, and child care availability

9. Family dynamics: Micro-level processes Mate selection Mate selection Exogamy Exogamy Incest taboo Incest taboo Endogamy Endogamy Homogamy Homogamy Arrange marriages Arrange marriages Free choice marriages Free choice marriages

10. Three-stage courtship process Stimulus-we meet someone to whom we are attracted Stimulus-we meet someone to whom we are attracted Value comparison- we find a person compatible if they affirm our own beliefs and values Value comparison- we find a person compatible if they affirm our own beliefs and values Roles and needs- the couple explores the roles of companion, parent, housekeeper, and lover and find common needs, interests, and favored activities Roles and needs- the couple explores the roles of companion, parent, housekeeper, and lover and find common needs, interests, and favored activities

11. Who holds the power? Authority in marriage Patriarchy Patriarchy Matriarchy Matriarchy Egalitarian family patterns Egalitarian family patterns Resource theory- the spouse with the greater resources (education, income, occupational prestige) has greater power Resource theory- the spouse with the greater resources (education, income, occupational prestige) has greater power

12. Who does the housework?

13. Family as an institution: Meso-level analysis Monogamy Monogamy Strict monogamy Strict monogamy Serial monogamy Serial monogamy Polygamy Polygamy Polygyny Polygyny Polyandry Polyandry Extended families Extended families Nuclear families Nuclear families

14. The economic institution and family Poverty Poverty 11% of families live below the poverty line 11% of families live below the poverty line Single mothers are more likely to be in poverty because they are both workers and mother, earn less than men, receive irregular child support, and are underrepresented among policy makers Single mothers are more likely to be in poverty because they are both workers and mother, earn less than men, receive irregular child support, and are underrepresented among policy makers Culture of poverty Culture of poverty

16. Dual-worker families Dual-worker families Economic stresses are lessened, but time constraints can complicate family life Economic stresses are lessened, but time constraints can complicate family life The United States has been slow to institute family-friendly work policies The United States has been slow to institute family-friendly work policies Available childcare Available childcare Parental leave Parental leave Flex-time- individuals can schedule their own work hours within certain time frames Flex-time- individuals can schedule their own work hours within certain time frames Role-sharing- individuals can split a job with one family member working in the morning and the other in the afternoon Role-sharing- individuals can split a job with one family member working in the morning and the other in the afternoon

17. National and global family issues: Macro-level analysis Teen pregnancies and their consequences Teen pregnancies and their consequences 1/3 of U.S. births to unmarried mothers 1/3 of U.S. births to unmarried mothers U.S. teen pregnancies rates are among the highest in the world, but have been dropping since 1991 U.S. teen pregnancies rates are among the highest in the world, but have been dropping since 1991 Why are the rates so high? Why are the rates so high? Lack of information provided about sex in schools (due in part to high religiosity) Lack of information provided about sex in schools (due in part to high religiosity) Lack of affordable contraceptives Lack of affordable contraceptives Media portrayals of sex, peer pressure and sexual desire Media portrayals of sex, peer pressure and sexual desire

18. Characteristics of countries with low teen pregnancy rates Characteristics of countries with low teen pregnancy rates Consequences of teenage pregnancies include: less education for mother and child, less prestigious jobs, poor test scores, early sexual behaviors, and problem behaviors for children Consequences of teenage pregnancies include: less education for mother and child, less prestigious jobs, poor test scores, early sexual behaviors, and problem behaviors for children Teenage pregnancies put pressure on governments to support these young families Teenage pregnancies put pressure on governments to support these young families

19. Cohabitation Cohabitation The number of cohabitors in the U.S. doubled in the 1990’s The number of cohabitors in the U.S. doubled in the 1990’s Why do couples live together? Why do couples live together? Cohabitation rates vary by ethnicity, and may mean something different for different groups of people Cohabitation rates vary by ethnicity, and may mean something different for different groups of people Some evidence that cohabitors are more likely to divorce if they marry than those who marry without first living together Some evidence that cohabitors are more likely to divorce if they marry than those who marry without first living together

20. Homosexual relationships and civil unions Homosexual relationships and civil unions 3.1 million+ couples in the U.S. living together in same-sex relationships 3.1 million+ couples in the U.S. living together in same-sex relationships 1 in 3 lesbian couples and 1 in 5 gay male couples live with children 1 in 3 lesbian couples and 1 in 5 gay male couples live with children Those who support gay marriage say that life- long relationships are good for individuals and society and see denial of marriage rights as discriminatory Those who support gay marriage say that life- long relationships are good for individuals and society and see denial of marriage rights as discriminatory Those who oppose gay marriage do so primarily for traditional/religious reasons Those who oppose gay marriage do so primarily for traditional/religious reasons

21. Divorce Divorce Nearly half of U.S. children will spend at least some time living with a single parent Nearly half of U.S. children will spend at least some time living with a single parent Is divorce a “break down” or “adaptation to” society? Is divorce a “break down” or “adaptation to” society? No fault divorce has lead to a rise in divorce rates No fault divorce has lead to a rise in divorce rates Bi-lateral no fault divorce- required both parties to agree that they wanted out of the marriage Bi-lateral no fault divorce- required both parties to agree that they wanted out of the marriage Unilateral no-fault divorce- allows one person to insist that the marriage has “irreconcilable differences.” The two do not have to agree Unilateral no-fault divorce- allows one person to insist that the marriage has “irreconcilable differences.” The two do not have to agree Divorce culture- a society in which people assume that marriages are fragile Divorce culture- a society in which people assume that marriages are fragile Marriage culture- a culture that assumes marriage is for life Marriage culture- a culture that assumes marriage is for life

23. Men have a harder time dealing with divorce emotionally, women have more difficulties financially Men have a harder time dealing with divorce emotionally, women have more difficulties financially Consequences of divorce for children Consequences of divorce for children Children can benefit from divorce in some situations Children can benefit from divorce in some situations Divorce can have little effect on children in other situations Divorce can have little effect on children in other situations Divorce can be very negative for children in still other situations (in part because of a reduction in household income) Divorce can be very negative for children in still other situations (in part because of a reduction in household income) Consequences can last through adulthood Consequences can last through adulthood

24. Global family patterns and policies Major global family changes (pushed by industrialization) include: Major global family changes (pushed by industrialization) include: free choice of spouse free choice of spouse more equal status for women more equal status for women equal rights in divorce equal rights in divorce neolocal residency neolocal residency bilateral kinship systems bilateral kinship systems pressures for individual equality pressures for individual equality