Chapter 11 Marriage and the Family in the USA

 Traditional Definition of the Family:  Social Change Definition of the Family:  Family Change Perspective;  The Family Decline Perspective;  David Popenoe

The Update  The Changing American households (University of Chicago study, 1999)  married couples with children in 1998 – 26%  1970 – 45%  with kids under 18 years 1998 – 36%  with kids under 18 years 1970 – 50%

 56% of adults married – 1998  75% of adults married – 1972  Unmarried couples with no kids in 1998 – 33%  Unmarried couples with no kids in 1972 – 15-16%

Marriage and the Family  Functions of the family in Sweden:  Two types of families:  Nuclear family – family of orientation and family of procreation  Extended family – Consanguine  Rules of descent: matrilineal (the Nayar family), bilineal, patrilineal  Rules of Residence: matrilocal, patrilocal, neolocal

 Family Authority:  matriarchal, patriarchal, egalitarian  Number of marriage mates:  Monogamy  Polygamy  Polygyny (man and multiple wives)  Polyandry (woman and multiple husbands)  Todas and Maraquesan Islanders

 Theoretical Analysis of Family  The Conflict Perspective: Randall Collins

Divorce  Demographic features:  Age, SES, Race, Religious Affiliation  Reasons  Divorce laws – covenant marriage  Contraceptives  Women in labor force

 Welfare Assistance  Changes in attitudes  Culture of divorce  American culture  Effects: