In Class writing assignment – results What is family? Pregnancy is the determining factor – 10 Maternal nurture is the determining factor – 11 Biological fatherhood is the determining factor – 5 Both fatherhood and nurturance are important - 1

History of the family Hunter-gatherer societies Small families living in small clans, intermariage, mobility Horticultural societies Some stability of the population and some marriage rules, gender equality Advanced horticultural societies Larger, complex, extended families; emerging importance of fertility; stronger rules for marriage by social class Agrarian states Large households with family and non-family members; high fertility; high mortality; strong control of female sexuality; patriarchalism

Agrarian states – Gender stratification Patriarchal system resulted in domination of women by men in marriage therefore in sexual activity (especially premarital) Higher level of control over women was associated with more property (higher stakes in controlling sexual activity) – sign of status Ideological importance of domination of women – women as agents of temptation, to be controlled for their own good Symbols of domination became symbols of status – veils, binding of feet, female genital mutilation In lower classes with limited property females were relatively free and relatively less dominated

Can we come up with a “grand” theory of gender stratification? Applicable throughout this varied history of economic, political, and ideological systems Predictive of the degree and the type of gender stratification

Synthesizing Economic and Political Theories: Factors contributing to gender stratification Control of one gender over the other can be attained by controlling the means of production Significance of female labor for the survival of the family is not enough, female control of means of production is important Kinship system and its implications for female acquisition of the means of production is important Matrilineal vs patrilineal Matrilocal vs patrilocal Control over political system and weapons is important

Gender stratification When men could control the means of production (weapons, land, capital markets) there will likely be gender stratification favoring men When women control the means of production there will likely be gender equality. Why not female domination?

The industrial revolution (1600-1800’s) Increasing complexity of the economy Increasing polarization of the social classes Difficulties with managing large household as a place of work and residence Better circulation of goods throughout the world Increasing dependence on money (gold) Professionalization of the workforce in the government, military, cottage industries, and agriculture Decline of aristocracy and royalty

Family during the industrial revolution Home became an increasingly private domain Rising middle class made marriage a less important means to gaining status Rise of the marriage market (no longer arranged by the greater household) Wives were no longer needed to run the household (the economic unit) Women needed husbands for economic survival – ideal of lifelong love and commitment Men needed wives for domestic help and little else

Industrial revolution and conflict of interest between men and women Men were economically independent Could maintain a separate sphere of entertainment Could go through the formality of courtship for relative advantage in the marriage market Women were economically dependent Needed a lifelong marriage for security Were confined to the domestic domain Careers were expected to end when women were married (middle and upper classes)

Theoretical frameworks of family How do we try to understand, predict and interpret behaviors of the individuals in the family? Theoretical frameworks of family

The question “why”? Your best friend seems to be in love with someone and they have been dating for several months, seemingly in bliss! Suddenly your friend declares that they broke up. WHY? A friend of your father’s seems to be unfaithful to his wife for a number of years. Indeed, everyone seems to know about his indiscretions but his wife appears to be oblivious and the marriage goes on. WHY? Some women seem to be perfectly happy staying home and taking care of the house and the children. Others seem to be trying to juggle a career and a family, feeling rushed all the time, even though they do not seem to need the money. WHY?

The question “why”? You have been going out of the house at around 8 am and coming back around 9 pm for a couple of weeks because of school, extra curricular activities, and a new boyfriend/girlfriend. Suddenly one evening your mother appears to be extremely upset with you. WHY? Miss X is extremely fond of Mr Y, who she knows as a class mate in 3 of her 6 classes. They have had friendly conversations but nothing more so far. Miss X would love to go out on a date with Mr Y but she cannot seem to get herself to ask him out. WHY?

Overview – 2 theoretical frameworks Exchange theory Symbolic interaction theory

Theories They are models that clarify and explain the behavior of individuals in a family or families. Theories must be able to explain and predict outcomes. Theories must be general, from which specific implications can be drawn. Scientific inquiry must continually test and improve theories. In social sciences the theories almost always allow us to make deductions about tendencies in behaviors. No individual or deterministic predictions

Theoretical framework A set of ideas or interrelated statements that come together to help explain behavior in an internally consistent manner.

Assignment: Informal reading 2 Marriage and divorce of Mariah Carey