Chapter 13

The Family

Chapter Outline

Defining the Family Family Functions: An International

Perspective Modernization and Romance Modernization and Kinship Modernization and Divorce Gender and Extramarital Sex Living Together The One-Parent Family Remarriage

Defining the Family

Standard definition of the family as a universal human institution:

A small kinship structured group with the key function of nurturant socialization of the newborn.

Variations in Family Life in Premodern SocietiesMen may have multiple wives 77

Newlyweds settle closer to groom’s family 69

Easy for a man to divorce his wife 75

Husbands and wives share the same “bed” 61

Couple has privacy when sleeping 28

Norm against sex during menstruation 82

Women are segregated during menstruation 34

Grooms are much older than their brides 70

Couples spend much leisure time together 27

Couples usually eat meals together 74

Men do no domestic chores 51

Nuclear family is typical 29

Family Functions

Sexual gratification Economic support Emotional support

Average Household Sizein Preindustrial Societies

Nation YearNumber of Persons In Average Household

British North America 1689 5.85

England 1599 4.75

France 1778 5.05

Germany 1687 5.77

Italy 1629 4.50

Japan 1746 5.50

Poland 1720 5.40

Scotland 1779 5.25

Serbia 1733–1734 4.95

ModernizationAnd Divorce

2/3 of divorces occur between people who have children.

About 75% North American adults who divorce remarry.

Most people who get divorced report their marriage no longer provided emotional satisfaction.

Why Is Divorce Common?

Romance is a highly perishable commodity

The opportunities to get divorced have increased.

% of American Women Whose First Marriage Ended in Divorce

Divorced after:

5 years of marriage 15 years of marriage

All Women 20% 43%

Race/Ethnicity

Asian 10% 23%

Hispanic 17% 42%

White 20% 42%

African American

28% 55%

% of American Women Whose First Marriage Ended in Divorce

Divorced after:

5 years of marriage 15 years of marriage

All Women 20% 43%

Age at Marriage

Less than 18 29% 59%

18–19 24% 49%

20–24 17% 36%

25 and over 8% 35%

% of American Women Whose First Marriage Ended in Divorce

Divorced after:

5 years of marriage 15 years of marriage

All Women 20% 43%

Family Income

Low 31% 65%

Medium 19% 40%

High 13% 31%

% of American Women Whose First Marriage Ended in Divorce

Divorced after:

5 years of marriage 15 years of marriage

All Women 20% 43%Religion

Catholic 17% 37%

Conservative Protestant

18% 40%

Other (non-Christian)

17% 40%

Liberal Protestant 21% 44%

None 27% 56%

% of American Women Whose First Marriage Ended in Divorce

Divorced after:

5 years of marriage 15 years of marriage

All Women 20% 43%

Parents

Not divorced 17% 38%

Divorced 26% 52%

Have you had sex with someone other than your spouse while you were married?”

Men Women Total

Yes 25% 13% 19%

No 75 87 81

100 100 100

Explanation of Divorce Rates: Trent and Scott

Findings: Modernization causes a modest decrease in

divorce rates during the early stages, but as nations develop, the divorce rate climbs.

The divorce rate is higher where a larger proportion of women work outside the home.

Where women outnumber men, divorce is high despite the fact that marriage rates are lower.

Living Together

Study of American Couples: 51% of women who cohabitated with

their future spouse were divorced by the end of 15 years of marriage.

39% of women who had not cohabited with their spouse divorced within 15 years.

The One-parent Family

In 1960, 5% of all births in the U.S. were to unmarried women.

This has risen to 33%. In Iceland and Sweden, most births are to

unmarried women. In Greece and Japan, unwed births are rare. Most unwed mothers keep their children and

in 90% of divorces, children remain with the mother.

Effect of One Parent Families on Children

Studies suggest children in one-parent families are more prone to delinquency but the differences are not great.

Research finds that poor parenting, regardless of the number of parents, is the primary cause of deviant behavior in children.

It isn’t how many parents a child has at home, but how effective they are as parents that is most important.

Unmarried Motherhood

Nation

Births to Unmarried

Mothers (%) Nation

Births to Unmarried

Mothers (%)

Iceland 65 Canada 26

Sweden 54 Netherlands 19

Norway 49 Germany 18

France 39 Spain 11

Great Britain 37 Italy 8

United States

33 Switzerland 8

Remarriage

Most people who divorce get remarried. Women are more likely to remarry if

they are less than 25 when they divorce.

77% without children remarried, while 70% with two or more children remarry.

Among Married Couples, the % wherein the Woman “Always” or “Usually” Performs the Chore

Nation Laundry(%)Small

Repairs(%)Grocery

Shopping(%)

Italy 98 11 57

Japan 95 19 81

Germany 91 4 42

Spain 91 15 69

Sweden 81 2 42

Canada 70 5 46

United States

69 6 49