The Changing Family Michael Itagaki Sociology 102, Social Problems

The Sociological Perspective Effects of industrialization on the family:  Father leaves home for work  Shift in status of children: liability, education  declining birthrate

Figure 11.1 (p. 354) U.S. Birthrate, Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States various editions and 2001: Table 4.

The Sociological Perspective Effects of industrialization on the family:  Rural  Urban living  Shift in family functions  More egalitarian approach to family roles  Intergenerational ties  Women entering the work force

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Divorce  Increase in numbers of divorces

Figure 11.2 (p. 356) How Many Millions of Americans Are Divorced? Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989: Table 50; 2003: Table 61.

Figure 11.3 (p. 357) American Marriage, American Divorce Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States, various years, and 1998: Table 92; "Births, Marriages… " 2004.

The Divorce Rate The refined divorce rate = number of divorces each year divided by number of existing marriages in that year.  The divorce rate has doubled since 1940, going from 8.8 to about 16 divorces for every 1,000 marriages  The divorce rate has gone up over the last sixty years, but has declined a little since its high point around 1980.

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Divorce  Increase in numbers of divorces  Number of divorces leveling off  Children of divorce

Figure 11.5 (p. 258) Where Do U.S. Children Live? Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2001: Table 70.

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Divorce  Increase in numbers of divorces  Number of divorces leveling off  Children of divorce  Permanence of marriage changes  Anxiety, depression, reduced standard of living

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Births to single women  Rates climbing

Figure 11.7 (p. 360) Of All Births, What Percentage are to Single Women? Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1992: Table 87; 1998: Table 100, 2003: Table 84.

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Births to single women  Rates climbing  One-parent families

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Births to single women  Rates in U.S. not as high as some  U.S. highest rates of juvenile delinquency and violent crimes  Culture of violence/fear

Figure 11.9 (p. 362) The Increase in Births to Single Women in the Most Industrialized Nations Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract 2001: Table 1331.

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Births to single women  Rates climbing  One-parent families  Single-parent families  Kids at risk for school dropout, crime  Absence of father contributes

The Scope of the Problem Indicators  Family violence  A violent institution  Investigate further next class session

Symbolic Interaction Increase in divorce  Changing ideas of marital satisfaction  Overloaded institution  Ideals of love  Changing marital roles  Women in the work force  Egalitarian roles  Changing view of divorce  Legal changes/cultural acceptance

Conflict Theory Patriarchy  Traditional roles represent inequality

Conflict Theory Patriarchy  Traditional roles represent inequality  “The second shift”

Functionalism Seven functions (p. 366)  Economic production  Socialization of children  Care of the aged/sick  Recreation  Sexual control of family members  Reproduction

Of All Births, What Percentage are to Single Women? The Increase in Births to Single Women in the Most Industrialized Nations

Research Findings Cohabitation & First marriage  Changes in age at first marriage

Figure The Median Age at Which Americans Marry for the First Time. Page 327

Research Findings Cohabitation  Changes in age at first marriage  Cohabitation  10 times more common than 30 years ago

Figure (p. 370) Cohabitation in the United States Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1985: Table 54; 2003: Table 69.

Research Findings Cohabitation  Changes in age at first marriage  Cohabitation  10 times more common than 30 years ago About 40% will be in a cohabiting family  Commitment disparity Couples that cohabit before marriage are more likely to divorce than those that don’t.

Figure (p. 381) The Percentage of Americans Who Have Never Married Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2003: Table 63.

Research Findings Cohabitation  Changes in age at first marriage  Cohabitation  Increasing number of Single Americans

Research Findings Family Violence  Social Heredity of violence

Figure (p. 374) How is Marital Violence Related to the Family Violence That Teenagers Experience? Source: From Murray A. Straus, Richard J. Gelles, and Suzanne K. Steinmetz, Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980), p Copyright © 1980 by Murray A. Straus and Richard J. Gelles. Reprinted with permission.

Table 11.2 (p. 381) How U.S. Families Are Changing

Class Activity What is Feminine? What is Masculine?

Class Activity How do these perceptions affect our attitudes about domestic violence?  Nearly one-third of American women (31%) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.

Class Activity How do these perceptions affect our attitudes about domestic violence?  Women of all races are about equally vulnerable to violence by an intimate. (Bureau of Justice, 1995)  Women are seven to 14 times more likely than men to report suffering severe physical assaults from an intimate partner. (National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998)

Class Activity How do these perceptions affect our attitudes about domestic violence?  Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. (Silverman, Raj, Mucci, Hathaway, 2001)  Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. (Kaiser Permanente, 1995)