FamilyFamily

Partner-Taking, People-Partner-Taking, People-Making, And Contract-Making, And Contract-

BreakingBreaking

What is a family?What is a family?

U.S. Census Bureau- “a group of two or more U.S. Census Bureau- “a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered related subfamily members) are considered as members of the family.”as members of the family.”

Some sociologists- “those sharing economic Some sociologists- “those sharing economic property, sexual access among the adults, property, sexual access among the adults, and a sense of commitment among and a sense of commitment among members”members”

The most basic institution of societyThe most basic institution of society

The most basic institutionThe most basic institution of society of society

Affects us for most of our livesAffects us for most of our lives Major life events take place within the Major life events take place within the

familyfamily Capable of fulfilling a number of functions Capable of fulfilling a number of functions

of other institutionsof other institutions But other institutions often cannot fulfill the But other institutions often cannot fulfill the

functions of the familyfunctions of the family Family of orientationFamily of orientation Family of procreationFamily of procreation

Theoretical perspectives on the Theoretical perspectives on the familyfamily

Rational choice/exchange- family Rational choice/exchange- family patterns are reinforced to the extent patterns are reinforced to the extent that the exchanges are beneficial to that the exchanges are beneficial to the members. Relationships are the members. Relationships are unlikely to continue when the costs unlikely to continue when the costs outweigh the rewardsoutweigh the rewards

Costs and benefits often established by Costs and benefits often established by meso-level organizations and institutionsmeso-level organizations and institutions

Symbolic interaction- culture dictates Symbolic interaction- culture dictates the language we learn and how we the language we learn and how we interpret various situations; our interpret various situations; our families help socialize us into families help socialize us into behavioral patterns behavioral patterns We define what is real or “normal” We define what is real or “normal”

based on what those around us accept based on what those around us accept as ordinaryas ordinary

Human agencyHuman agency Meso-level institutions help define our Meso-level institutions help define our

roles within the familyroles within the family

Structural functionalist- the family Structural functionalist- the family serves a number of common serves a number of common purposes in every society purposes in every society Sexual regulationSexual regulation Reproduction and replacementReproduction and replacement SocializationSocialization Emotional support and protectionEmotional support and protection Status attainmentStatus attainment Economic supportEconomic support

Many family functions have been outsourcedMany family functions have been outsourced

Conflict theory- conflict within Conflict theory- conflict within families is inevitable and natural; families is inevitable and natural; this conflict results from struggles this conflict results from struggles for power both from within the for power both from within the family and between the family and family and between the family and society at largesociety at large

Families help sustain class inequalityFamilies help sustain class inequality Power struggles within families can be Power struggles within families can be

positive because they can lead to positive because they can lead to changes that make the family as a unit changes that make the family as a unit strongerstronger

Feminist theory- women are placed Feminist theory- women are placed at the center to spotlight them as at the center to spotlight them as active agents and uncover the active agents and uncover the biases in male assumptionsbiases in male assumptions

At the micro level, examine the way At the micro level, examine the way women construct their own realities women construct their own realities within the context of social factorswithin the context of social factors

More equality and autonomy for women More equality and autonomy for women can be obtained with changes in the can be obtained with changes in the patriarchal family structure, education patriarchal family structure, education and employment opportunities for and employment opportunities for women, and child care availabilitywomen, and child care availability

Family dynamics: Family dynamics: Micro-level processesMicro-level processes

Mate selectionMate selection ExogamyExogamy

Incest tabooIncest taboo EndogamyEndogamy HomogamyHomogamy Arrange marriagesArrange marriages Free choice marriagesFree choice marriages

Three-stage courtship Three-stage courtship processprocess

Stimulus-we meet someone to whom we Stimulus-we meet someone to whom we are attractedare attracted

Value comparison- we find a person Value comparison- we find a person compatible if they affirm our own beliefs compatible if they affirm our own beliefs and values and values

Roles and needs- the couple explores the Roles and needs- the couple explores the roles of companion, parent, roles of companion, parent, housekeeper, and lover and find common housekeeper, and lover and find common needs, interests, and favored activitiesneeds, interests, and favored activities

Who holds the power? Who holds the power? Authority in marriageAuthority in marriage

PatriarchyPatriarchy MatriarchyMatriarchy Egalitarian family patternsEgalitarian family patterns Resource theory- the spouse with Resource theory- the spouse with

the greater resources (education, the greater resources (education, income, occupational prestige) has income, occupational prestige) has greater powergreater power

Who does the housework?Who does the housework?

Family as an institution: Family as an institution: Meso-level analysisMeso-level analysis

MonogamyMonogamy Strict monogamyStrict monogamy Serial monogamySerial monogamy

PolygamyPolygamy PolygynyPolygyny PolyandryPolyandry

Extended familiesExtended families Nuclear familiesNuclear families

The economic institution and The economic institution and familyfamily

PovertyPoverty 11% of families live below the poverty 11% of families live below the poverty

lineline Single mothers are more likely to be in Single mothers are more likely to be in

poverty because they are both workers poverty because they are both workers and mother, earn less than men, receive and mother, earn less than men, receive irregular child support, and are irregular child support, and are underrepresented among policy makersunderrepresented among policy makers

Culture of povertyCulture of poverty

Dual-worker familiesDual-worker families Economic stresses are lessened, but Economic stresses are lessened, but

time constraints can complicate family time constraints can complicate family lifelife

The United States has been slow to The United States has been slow to institute family-friendly work policiesinstitute family-friendly work policies

Available childcareAvailable childcare Parental leaveParental leave Flex-timeFlex-time- individuals can schedule their - individuals can schedule their

own work hours within certain time framesown work hours within certain time frames Role-sharingRole-sharing- individuals can split a job - individuals can split a job

with one family member working in the with one family member working in the morning and the other in the afternoonmorning and the other in the afternoon

National and global family National and global family issues: Macro-level analysisissues: Macro-level analysis

Teen pregnancies and their Teen pregnancies and their consequencesconsequences 1/3 of U.S. births to unmarried mothers1/3 of U.S. births to unmarried mothers U.S. teen pregnancies rates are among U.S. teen pregnancies rates are among

the highest in the world, but have been the highest in the world, but have been dropping since 1991dropping since 1991

Why are the rates so high?Why are the rates so high? Lack of information provided about sex in Lack of information provided about sex in

schools (due in part to high religiosity)schools (due in part to high religiosity) Lack of affordable contraceptivesLack of affordable contraceptives Media portrayals of sex, peer pressure and Media portrayals of sex, peer pressure and

sexual desiresexual desire

Characteristics of countries with low Characteristics of countries with low teen pregnancy ratesteen pregnancy rates

Consequences of teenage Consequences of teenage pregnancies include: less education pregnancies include: less education for mother and child, less prestigious for mother and child, less prestigious jobs, poor test scores, early sexual jobs, poor test scores, early sexual behaviors, and problem behaviors for behaviors, and problem behaviors for childrenchildren

Teenage pregnancies put pressure Teenage pregnancies put pressure on governments to support these on governments to support these young familiesyoung families

CohabitationCohabitation The number of cohabitors in the U.S. The number of cohabitors in the U.S.

doubled in the 1990’sdoubled in the 1990’s Why do couples live together?Why do couples live together? Cohabitation rates vary by ethnicity, and Cohabitation rates vary by ethnicity, and

may mean something different for may mean something different for different groups of peopledifferent groups of people

Some evidence that cohabitors are more Some evidence that cohabitors are more likely to divorce if they marry than those likely to divorce if they marry than those who marry without first living togetherwho marry without first living together

Homosexual relationships and civil Homosexual relationships and civil unionsunions 3.1 million+ couples in the U.S. living 3.1 million+ couples in the U.S. living

together in same-sex relationshipstogether in same-sex relationships 1 in 3 lesbian couples and 1 in 5 gay male 1 in 3 lesbian couples and 1 in 5 gay male

couples live with childrencouples live with children Those who support gay marriage say Those who support gay marriage say

that life-long relationships are good for that life-long relationships are good for individuals and society and see denial of individuals and society and see denial of marriage rights as discriminatorymarriage rights as discriminatory

Those who oppose gay marriage do so Those who oppose gay marriage do so primarily for traditional/religious reasonsprimarily for traditional/religious reasons

DivorceDivorce Nearly half of U.S. children will spend at least Nearly half of U.S. children will spend at least

some time living with a single parentsome time living with a single parent Is divorce a “break down” or “adaptation to” Is divorce a “break down” or “adaptation to”

society?society? No fault divorce has lead to a rise in divorce No fault divorce has lead to a rise in divorce

ratesrates Bi-lateral no fault divorceBi-lateral no fault divorce- required both parties to - required both parties to

agree that they wanted out of the marriageagree that they wanted out of the marriage Unilateral no-fault divorceUnilateral no-fault divorce- allows one person to insist - allows one person to insist

that the marriage has “irreconcilable differences.” that the marriage has “irreconcilable differences.” The two do not have to agreeThe two do not have to agree

Divorce cultureDivorce culture- a society in which people assume - a society in which people assume that marriages are fragilethat marriages are fragile

Marriage cultureMarriage culture- a culture that assumes marriage is - a culture that assumes marriage is for lifefor life

Men have a harder time dealing with Men have a harder time dealing with divorce emotionally, women have more divorce emotionally, women have more difficulties financiallydifficulties financially

Consequences of divorce for childrenConsequences of divorce for children Children can benefit from divorce in some Children can benefit from divorce in some

situationssituations Divorce can have little effect on children in Divorce can have little effect on children in

other situationsother situations Divorce can be very negative for children in Divorce can be very negative for children in

still other situations (in part because of a still other situations (in part because of a reduction in household income)reduction in household income)

Consequences can last through adulthoodConsequences can last through adulthood

Global family patterns and Global family patterns and policiespolicies

Major global family changes Major global family changes (pushed by industrialization) (pushed by industrialization) include:include:

free choice of spousefree choice of spouse more equal status for womenmore equal status for women equal rights in divorceequal rights in divorce neolocal residency neolocal residency bilateral kinship systems bilateral kinship systems pressures for individual equality pressures for individual equality