Module 39: Global View of the Family Sociology in Modules Richard T. Schaefer 3rd edition

Social Institutions

Global View of the Family Universal Principles Family as social institution exists in all cultures Family: set of people related by blood, marriage or other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society

Age at marriage- US (Source: UNFPA)

Fertility rate – US Source: UNFPA

How have these changes affected marriage and family?

What constitutes a family? The American view 2010 Survey found 98% - traditional family 83% Unmarried couples with children 40% unmarried couple without children 64% gay couples with children 33% gay couples without children

Composition: What Is the Family? Nuclear family: nucleus or core upon which larger family groups are built Extended family: family in which relatives live in same home as parents and children

Composition: What Is the Family? Monogamy: form of marriage in which one woman and one man are married only to each other Serial monogamy: when a person has several spouses in his or her lifetime, but only one spouse at a time

Composition: What Is the Family? Polygamy: when an individual has several husbands or wives simultaneously Polygyny: marriage of a man to more than one woman at the same time Polyandry: marriage of a woman to more than one husband at the same time; extremely rare

Authority Patterns: Who Rules? Patriarchy: males are expected to dominate in all family decision making Matriarchy: women have greater authority than men Egalitarian family: family in which spouses are regarded as equals

Figure 39-1: U.S. Households by Family Type, 1970–2012

Sociological Perspectives on the Family Do we really need the family? Engels: family the ultimate source of social inequality due to its role in transfer of power, property, privilege

Functionalist Perspective Family serves six functions for society: Reproduction Protection Socialization Regulation of sexual behavior Affection and companionship Provision of social status

Conflict Perspective Family reflects inequality in wealth and power found within society In wide range of societies, husbands exercise power and authority within the family View family as economic unit that contributes to social injustice

Feminist Perspective Interest in family as social institution Looked particularly closely at how women’s work outside the home impacts their child care and housework duties Urge social scientists and agencies to rethink notion that families in which no adult male is present are automatically cause for concern Feminists stress need to investigate neglected topics in family studies

Module 40: Marriage and Family Sociology in Modules Richard T. Schaefer 3rd edition

Marriage and Family Over 95% of all men and women in U.S. marry at least once during their lifetimes Most consistent aspect of family life in the U.S. is the high rate of marriage

Courtship and Mate Selection Internet is latest courtship practice Process of mate selection is taking longer today than in past Aspects of Mate Selection Endogamy: specifies groups within which spouse must be found; prohibits marriage with members of other groups Exogamy: requires mate selection outside certain groups, usually family or certain kin

Courtship and Mate Selection Aspects of Mate Selection (continued) Incest taboo: social norm common to all societies prohibiting sexual relationships between certain culturally specified relationships Homogamy: conscious or unconscious tendency to select mate with personal characteristics similar to one’s own

Courtship and Mate Selection The Love Relationship Coupling of love and marriage not universal U.S. parents and peers expected to help child confine search for a mate to “socially acceptable” members of opposite sex Many world cultures give priority to factors other than romantic feelings

Variations in Family Life and Intimate Relationships Social Class Differences U.S. upper class emphasizes lineage and maintenance of family position Lower class families likely to have only one parent at home, and children typically assume adult responsibilities Social class differences less striking today Less privileged families tend to hang on to their adult children for the labor or income they can contribute to the family’s welfare

Child-Rearing Patterns Dual-Income Families Among married people between 25 and 64, 96% of men and 69% of women in labor force Rise due to economic need, coupled with desire to pursue careers

Child-Rearing Patterns Single-Parent Families Only one parent present to care for children In 2010, single parents headed about 24% of White families with children under 18 24% of White families with children 37% of Hispanic families with children 62% of African American families with children Households headed by single fathers more than quadrupled from 1987 to 2011

Child-Rearing Patterns Stepfamilies Approximately 45% of all people in U.S. will marry, divorce, and remarry Nature of blended families has social significance for adults and children Cherlin: children whose parents have remarried do not have higher levels of well-being than children in divorced single-parent families

Module 41: Alternatives to Traditional Families Sociology in Modules Richard T. Schaefer 3rd edition

A snapshot of changing family in media

Variation in family life Ideal family (Census 2010) 99.8% believe in traditional family However 66% live in household with two parents 3% children live with cohabitating parents 27% single parent families

Alternatives to Traditional Families Divorce U.S. family life includes competing commitments To marriage To self-expression and personal growth

Statistical Trends in Divorce Divorce rates increased in late 1960s, then leveled off Since late 1980s, declined by 30% Partly due to aging baby-boomer population and decline in proportion of people of marriageable age About 63% of all divorcees have remarried

Figure 41-1: Trends in Marriage and Divorce in the United States, 1920–2010 31

Factors Associated with Divorce Greater social acceptance of divorce More liberal divorce laws Fewer children Greater family income Greater opportunities for women

Impact of Divorce on Children National study that tracked 6,332 children before and after divorce found behavior did not suffer Other studies have shown greater unhappiness among children who live amidst parental conflict Still, too simplistic to assume children are automatically better off following breakup

Diverse Lifestyles -Single parents Census data (2010) 27% children live in single parent households 23% live with mother (10% - cohabitating boyfriends) 4% live with fathers (20% cohabitating girlfriends) Living with stepfather/ mother 4% (3 million children) live with guardians – 54% are guardians are grandparents) Why is this relevant ?

Diverse Lifestyles Marriage has lost much of its social significance as rite of passage Decline in U.S. marriage rates since 1960 Marriage often postponed until later Partnerships without marriage formed

Cohabitation

Diverse Lifestyles Cohabitation Male-female couples who choose to live together without marrying About half of currently married couples in U.S. lived together before marriage Estimated 7.5 million people in 2011 Changing perceptions Only 38% think cohabitation negatively society (2010) Who are those cohabitating Majority non-Hispanic with no high school diploma and grew up in a single- parent households (census 2010)

Staying Single 25-29 age group - never married (2010) 62% women (11% of total population of this age group) 48% men (19% of total population of this age group) More acceptance for men than women Labels for women – “Old maid” Racial differences

Same-sex couples Since 2000, 50% increase in same sex marriages Better reporting Greater acceptance 1% US household are same-sex Variation by sate

Diverse Lifestyles Marriage without Children Modest increase in childlessness in U.S. About 16–17% of women will complete childbearing years without bearing children Economic considerations have contributed

Intersection of Race and Class Southern states have higher marriage and divorce rate Highest among Native Americans and Alaskan natives, followed by African Americans and Whites Highest among lower education level and those who marry young

Problems within marriage and family Domestic violence – Intimate partner violence More women are victimized 1 in 4 women have experienced some IPV in lifetime IPV often starts are emotional abuse and leads to other forms of abuse Structural Functionalism cannot explain such events

Profile of IPV victims Who are they? IPV is grossly underreported Race Income (unemployment) High rates of depression Where it happens? - mostly home Often involves substance abuse IPV is grossly underreported

2010- 3.3 million reported cases of child abuse (5.9 million children) Forms of Abuse Neglect (78%) Physical abuse (11%) Sexual abuse (8%) Psychological maltreatment(7%) Medical neglect (2%) Most neglected are infants – high dependency- shaken baby syndrome 81% perpetrators are parents

Causes Age of parents Financial stress Drug and alcohol use Social isolation Depression Low parental education History of child abuse

Effects Effects on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing – injury, poor health and mental instability 80% will display depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation by age 21 25% will suffer from poor academic performance, teen pregnancy and other risky behaviors