Chapter 1 The Meaning of Marriage and the Family

Chapter Outline  Personal Experience and Wishful Thinking  What Is Family? What Is Marriage?  Functions of Marriages and Families  Extended Families and Kinship  Cultural Constructions of Family Life  Contemporary Patterns of Marriage and Family Life

Marriage  A legal union between a man and a woman in which: –They are united sexually. –Cooperate economically. –May give birth to, adopt, or rear children.  Assumed to be permanent, although it may be dissolved by separation or divorce.

Marriage and Culture  Marriage differs among cultures and has changed historically in our own society.  Who may marry whom and at what age varies from one society to another.

Marriage and Culture  In Western cultures, the preferred form of marriage is monogamy, in which there are only two spouses, the husband and wife.  Polygyny, the practice of having more than one wife, is commonplace throughout many cultures in the world.

Legal marriage  Provides a number of rights and protections to spouses that couples who live together lack.  The current legal definitions of marriage are in the midst of change in both the United States and many other countries.

Family  Most definitions of family include individuals who are related by descent, marriage, remarriage, or adoption.  Family may be defined as one or more adults related by blood, marriage, or affiliation who cooperate economically, who may share a common dwelling, and who may rear children.

Family: Ethnic Differences  Among Latinos,godparent are considered family members.  Among some Japanese Americans, the ie is the traditional family.  Among many Native- American tribes, the clan is regarded as the fundamental family unit.

Four Functions of the Family 1. Provision of intimacy. 2. Formation of a cooperative economic unit. 3. Reproduction and socialization. 4. Assignment of social roles and status.

Types of Families  Family of orientation –Family in which we grow up.  Family of cohabitation –Family which we form by marrying or living together.

Advantages to Living in Families 1. Continuity of emotional attachments. 2. Close proximity. 3. Familiarity with family members. 4. Economic benefits.

Extended Family  Consists of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.  May be formed through marriage or birth.

Kinship System  The social organization of the family.  In a nuclear family, kinship system consists of parents and children.  May include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Kinship System  Kin can be affiliated, as when a nonrelated person is considered “as kin.”  A relative may fulfill a different kin role, such as a grandmother’s taking the role of a child’s mother.

Changes in Patterns of Marriage and Family Life  Increase in cohabitation –In addition to almost 5 million heterosexual couples, there are 600,000 same-sex couples living together outside of marriage.  Role of Marriage –The women’s movement, family policy, and changing values, have altered the role of marriage in people’s lives.

Changes in Patterns of Marriage and Family Life  Divorce –Slightly less than half of all those who currently marry will divorce within seven years.  Normalization of Divorce – Divorce has become so widespread that many scholars view it as one variation of the normal life course of American marriages.

Changes in Patterns of Marriage and Family Life  Remarriages, Stepfamilies and Single- Parent Families –The majority of young Americans will have some experience with these either as children or adults.  Remarriage –Half of all recent marriages are remarriages.  Definition of the family has moved beyond the nuclear family to include the extended family.

How Families Have Changed, MarriageDivorce NumberRateNumberRate 19702,159, , ,390, ,189, ,443, ,182, ,329, ,135,

How Families Have Changed, Unmarried Couples Unmarried Couples with Children ,000196, ,589,000431, ,856,000891, ,486,0001,563,000

How Families Have Changed, Children Living with Two Parents Children Living with One Parent ,681,0008,426, ,543,00012,349, ,820,00015,842, ,688,00019,227,000