1. Welcome To Sociology 3221 Sociology of Family
Professor: Dr. Richard Pitt
Teaching Assistant: Lacee Satcher

2. M o d e r n F a m i l y

3. A = 470 to 500 A- = 450 to 469 B’s = 400 to 449 C’s = 350 to 399
D’s = 335 to 349
F’s = 0 to 299
Article Review I
Article Review II
Mini- Project
Exam
Media Family Project
Grade Scale

4. Average Grades In This Class
Article Review 1 (100)
Article Review 2 (100)
Mini-Project (100)
Examination (100)
Media Family Paper (100)
84 points
85 points
91 points
80 points
424 points ( the same as an 85% )
Grade? B
Most of these grades are subjective. We will NOT quibble with you over grades or points.

5. Why Do People Kill Themselves?
Suicide Rates
The National Institute Of Mental Health (2009) says:
“The number one risk factor for suicide is depression and other mental disorders. More than 90% of people who die by suicide have these risk factors”
15-24 year olds
% Suicide
White Men
18%
Black Men
12%
Latino Men
Asian Men 7%
Native Men
33%
15-24 year olds
% Suicide
White Women 4%
Black Women 2%
Latino Women 3%
Asian Women
Native Women
10%
CLEARLY
something else is going on here.
Older White men commit suicide at the highest rates of any population group. Widowhood, illness, and social isolation are common risk factors.
Living alone and being single increases suicide risk. Divorced and separated people are more likely than married ones to commit suicide.
China is the only country in the world where the female suicide rate is higher than the male rate.
Suicide rates and the rates of drug overdoses are higher in rural counties than in big cities.
Religion seems to protect people against suicide.
There are 1100 suicides (and 24k attempts) on college campuses every year and it is the SECOND LEADING CAUSE of death (after accidents).
Duh.
Why Do People Kill Themselves?
Data from US Dept of Health and Human Services

6. Two Kinds Of Suicide Affected By Social Integration
Emile Durkheim 1897
EGOISTIC
Society Is Too Weak
Two Kinds Of Suicide Affected By Social Integration
ALTRUISTIC
Society Is Too Strong

7. Understanding Theory and Family
• Theory Defined: A general way of thinking that has been shared in common by a community of scholars.
• Family Theory Considerations:
The Gap Between Ideals and Reality
Familiarity and Mystification
Frontstage and Backstage
Talk and Action
Families As Social Constructions
Defining Family Is Important
Understanding Theory and Family

8. Which Characteristics Do You Agree With?
How Do We Define Family?
Blood (Consanguineal) or Legal Relationships
Marriage (Conjugal/Affinal) Relationships
Common Nomenclature
Commitment/Reciprocity
(Clear) Gender Roles
Division of Labor
Shared Living Space
Shared Property
Shared Values
Organizational Unit
Intimacy (love/care)
Stratified (by age, gender)
Self-Identifies As Family
Society Identifies It As Family
High Degree of Integration
Which Characteristics Do You Agree With?