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

2. Social Institutions

3. 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

4. Age at marriage- US (Source: UNFPA)

5. Fertility rate – US Source: UNFPA

6. How have these changes affected marriage and family?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

27. A snapshot of changing family in media

28. 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

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

30. 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

31. Figure 41-1: Trends in Marriage and Divorce in the United States, 1920–201031

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

33. 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

34. 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 ?

35. 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

36. Cohabitation

37. 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)

38. 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

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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

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

46. 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