CHAPTER 15 - Family and Relationships

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Questions and Answers

What do sociologists primarily focus on regarding families?

Cultural norms and their significance (correct)

History of family law in the United States

Statistical patterns of family behaviors

Economic impacts of family structures

David Popenoe’s arguments regarding family changes since 1960 suggest what about these changes?

They have led to an increase in overall family happiness.

They have had minimal impact on society.

They contribute to social problems like child poverty. (correct)

They have resulted in more stable family structures.

What aspect does Judith Stacey criticize in her debate with Popenoe?

The importance of nonmarital births.

The value of the traditional family structure. (correct)

The rise of cohabitation as a family model.

The significance of divorce in modern society.

Which of the following correctly describes David Popenoe's view on female-headed households?

They could be harmful to children. Signup and view all the answers

What trends have increased according to Popenoe's view on family evolution?

Divorce rates and cohabitation rates. Signup and view all the answers

In which way do sociologists analyze family patterns today?

By comparing modern patterns to historical ones. Signup and view all the answers

What does the debate between Popenoe and Stacey highlight about societal beliefs regarding families?

A clash between traditional and modern views on family structures. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a pattern studied by sociologists regarding families today?

The patterns of cohabitation and marriage. Signup and view all the answers

What role traditionally did the husband assume in the conventional family model?

Breadwinner Signup and view all the answers

What criticism do functionalist theories of families face?

They justify the division of labor as natural. Signup and view all the answers

What did Parsons fail to consider in his theories about family structure?

The efficiency of same-sex parenting. Signup and view all the answers

In which historical context did Parsons propose his family theories?

In the immediate post–World War II years. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the nuclear family in industrial societies?

It is often geographically distant from extended kin. Signup and view all the answers

How did the post-war economy influence family roles according to the content?

Men returned to being the sole breadwinners. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the wife traditionally assume in the conventional family model?

Affective or emotional support provider Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential benefit of viewing family structures in a more contemporary context?

Recognizing diverse family dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'doing gender' refer to in social contexts?

The socially constructed behaviors based on context Signup and view all the answers

In the context of illness, how did couples maintain their gender identities according to the study by Emslie and colleagues?

By developing narratives to justify their roles Signup and view all the answers

How do symbolic interactionist studies differ from functionalist traditions in understanding socialization?

They examine how children may guide and influence parents Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do immigrant and refugee families face in negotiating their roles?

Children having a better understanding of their new environment Signup and view all the answers

What criticism is directed at the symbolic interactionist perspective on family dynamics?

It ignores the influence of broader societal structures Signup and view all the answers

In what way did the analysis of housework change when illness was introduced in couples?

Women still organized housework as cover for their illness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following aspects is an example of how roles are negotiated in parent-child relationships according to the content?

Parents and children adjusting roles based on familiarity with their context Signup and view all the answers

What do the narratives developed by couples facing illness signify about their relationship dynamics?

They emphasize the active role of individuals in maintaining identity Signup and view all the answers

What has been a widespread model in most industrialized societies until recently?

Male breadwinner model Signup and view all the answers

Which group tends to share housework more equally than heterosexual couples?

Same-sex couples Signup and view all the answers

What do feminist sociologists primarily examine in relation to domestic labor?

The distribution of domestic tasks and leisure time Signup and view all the answers

What finding is highlighted regarding women's leisure time compared to men's?

Women enjoy less leisure time than men. Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon within families has received more public attention as a result of feminist advocacy?

Domestic violence Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of domestic labor do some sociologists investigate?

The contribution of unpaid domestic labor to the economy Signup and view all the answers

What has been a significant result of industrialization on family roles?

Sharp distinction between domestic and work realms Signup and view all the answers

What is the predominant family structure observed in Scandinavian nations among young adults?

Long-term cohabiting relationships Signup and view all the answers

As of 2014, what percentage of births in Iceland occurred outside of marriage?

70 percent Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered a primary influence on family structures and relationships according to sociologists?

Social class Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion have contemporary researchers reached regarding racial differences in family organization?

Racial differences are primarily due to social and economic class positions. Signup and view all the answers

What argument is challenged by the finding that race and class are historically intertwined?

That racial differences in families are mainly cultural Signup and view all the answers

How does economic and occupational stability affect family formation?

It increases the likelihood of marrying within marriage. Signup and view all the answers

How do sociologists view racial differences in family dynamics in relation to social class?

Social class is the primary consideration. Signup and view all the answers

In the provided example, how would the family lives of the black doctor and black nurse’s aide likely compare?

They would show similarities primarily due to social class. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of nonmarital births occur in cohabiting unions according to recent studies?

58% Signup and view all the answers

What is a key concern for policy makers regarding children born to unmarried mothers?

They are more likely to grow up in poverty. Signup and view all the answers

According to studies, children born outside of marriage are likely to face which of the following challenges as young adults?

Idleness (neither in school nor employed) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main argument of Kathryn Edin and Maria Kefalas regarding low-income women who have children out of wedlock?

They prefer single motherhood over marriage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of growing up in a nonmarital household according to the content?

Higher chances of engaging in sex at younger ages Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of marriage do the interviewed women in Edin and Kefalas's studies have a positive view on?

It is a highly valued social institution. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups did Edin and Kefalas research among for their studies?

Low-income families in urban areas Signup and view all the answers

What common misconception about single mothers is highlighted in the studies discussed?

Single mothers do not want marriage. Signup and view all the answers

What is Bacha Posh?

the process - more common in the Middle East - that families raise their daughter as a boy (because they didn't have a son), for several causes like bringing further the family name, accompanying other daughters, participating in education Signup and view all the answers

What term belongs to this definition: husband having two or more spouses

polygyny Signup and view all the answers

Instrumental family role usually refers to women

False Signup and view all the answers

What is affective individualism?

the belief in romantic attachment as a basis for contracting marriage ties Signup and view all the answers

Where does primary socialization happen?

family Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Proportion of Children in Typical American Families

50% of children in the US live in a household with a mother and father, typically from their first marriage.
Another 7% live with parents cohabiting but unmarried.
15% live with parents who remarried each other after prior marriages ended.

Family Structures in the US

There is no single "typical" family structure in the US today.
Family forms are diverse, including single-parent families, stepfamilies, grandparents raising grandchildren, same-sex couples, cohabiting couples, and divorced individuals living together.
In 2016, less than 20% of US households consisted of a married couple with children under 18.

Sociologists' Perspectives on Families

Sociologists like Popenoe argue families have declined since the 1960s, citing increased divorce, nonmarital births, and cohabitation.
Other sociologists, like Stacey, argue the 1950s "traditional" family was flawed and oppressive, and that the "postmodern" family is more adaptable to contemporary needs.
There's debate on whether one family structure is "better" for children than another.

Learning Objectives

Sociologists define families based on blood ties, marriage, or adoption, forming an economic unit caring for children.
Kinship is a related concept linking individuals through blood, marriage, or adoption.
Family forms are categorized as orientation (one is born into) and procreation (one creates), with distinctions in residence patterns (matrilocal vs. patrilocal).
Polygamy (having multiple spouses) exists; and monogamy (one spouse) is less common worldwide and in modern cultures.

Contemporary Family Perspectives

Functionalism sees families as institutions fulfilling societal needs, like primary socialization (teaching norms) and personality stabilization.
Symbolic interactionism stresses the dynamic interplay of family members in shaping roles and identities; noting that power dynamics within families frequently change.
Feminism critiques traditional family structures highlighting issues such as unequal power dynamics (division of labor), inequality in wealth, abuse, and the social devaluation of women and non-traditional families.

Social class significantly influences US family structures.
Economic stability and resources affect marriage rates, ability to raise children and education outcomes.
Cultural practices vary across different social classes.
Wealthier families often more readily emphasize concerted cultivation while working and middle-class families tend to utilize accomplishment of natural growth, in child-rearing, resulting in different outcomes and varying levels of success. Thus racial differences may be rooted in varied levels of economic/social security, rather than cultural differences.

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Description

Explore the critical perspectives of sociologists on family structures and evolution in this quiz. It covers arguments by David Popenoe and critiques by Judith Stacey, addressing trends in female-headed households and societal beliefs about family patterns. Test your understanding of current sociological analyses of families.