Sociology Family and Relationships

Definitions of Family

• U.S. Census Bureau defines family as two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption living in the same household.
• Sociologists view family as a social group bound by legal, biological, or emotional ties.

Types of Families

• Extended families consist of at least three generations living in one household or close proximity.
• Nuclear family is characterized by a heterosexual couple with one or more children living together.

Sociological Perspectives on Family

• Structural Functionalist perspective sees family as essential for societal stability, fulfilling roles of socializing children, providing economic support, and ensuring emotional well-being.
• Conflict theorists focus on power struggles over resources such as time and energy within families.
• Symbolic interactionists analyze family dynamics and the social constructs surrounding family bonds.
• Feminist and queer theorists investigate how gender and sexual orientation impact family relationships.

Marriage and Relationship Concepts

• Homogamy refers to the tendency for individuals to marry those similar in characteristics like class and race.
• Propinquity indicates that people are more likely to form relationships with those in close geographic proximity.
• Endogamy involves marrying within one’s social group, while exogamy refers to marrying outside of it.

Marriage Systems

• Monogamy is the practice of being married to one person at a time, predominant in Western culture.
• Polygamy allows multiple spouses, typically wives, while polyamory involves multiple-person partnerships.

Trends in Family Structure

• Increase in single individuals, cohabitating pairs, single parents, and those in intentional communities.
• A shift towards joint custody arrangements is emerging, even as mothers remain more likely to receive custody post-divorce.

Custody and Family Responsibilities

• Custody refers to the legal and physical responsibilities for children after parental separation.
• Joint custody allows both parents to care for their children simultaneously after divorce.

Economic and Labor Issues

• Women face downward economic mobility post-divorce more often than men.
• Instrumental tasks include practical chores, while expressive tasks focus on emotional support for family members.
• Gender roles in families became perceived as unequal following the Industrial Revolution.

Modern Family Dynamics

• Women are increasingly managing two jobs: paid employment outside the home and unpaid responsibilities inside.
• The "second shift" concept describes the unpaid labor expected of women after returning from their paid jobs.