1. The institution of marriage/family
All you need is love?
The institution of marriage/family

2. What do you consider to be a family?
When considering a household
What do you consider to be a family?

3. 1) 2 men who live together, no children

4. 2) 2 women who live together, no children

5. 3) Unmarried man and woman , no children

6. 4) 2 men with children

7. 5) 2 women with children

8. 6) Unmarried man and woman, with children

9. 7) Woman with children

10. 8) Man with children

11. 9) Husband and wife with children

12. They are patterns, and yet they change
The paradox of institutions…
They are patterns, and yet they change

14. The ROM COM

15. Was invented.

16. Discussion Questions What are reasons people marry? What is “love”?
“good” reasons?
“bad” reasons?
What is “love”?

17. Family (the institution)
Oct 28: Guided Notes
Family (the institution)

18. Evolution of the family
The family is a key agent of socialization— family is the place where we acquire the social and cultural resources necessary for survival
“Institutional family” “Companionship family”  “Postmodern family”

19. Institutional family
Traditionally, the family was the economic, political, and social hub of society.
Marriage was the primary means of making social connections.
In other words, for thousands of years, the biggest reason people got married was to get in-laws.
Marriage was calculated.

20. Companionship family The Industrial revolution 19th century
Work moved from farms to factories
Stats:
In 1800—12% of Americans were employed by others
In 1910—85% of Americans were employed by others
Development of spheres
“private sphere”: relationships are immediate, intimate, local
“public sphere”: realm beyond the home. Economics and politics are distinct institutions separate from family.

21. Model of marriage that develops is knows as “companionship marriage”
What people often refer to as “traditional”
Focus on couple
Marriage was no longer about exchanging resources (economic/social), but instead about a husband and wife providing each other with emotional support
Tada! The invention of “love” as a prerequisite for marriage

22. Husband/wife roles Husband: Wife: “breadwinner”
Active in public sphere
Wife:
Mother, wife, guardian of morality, homemaker
Remains in private sphere

23. Myth of the companionship family model
Became the dominant cultural story
Held up as ideal, even if not realistic for working-class families
Heavily promoted in media (ex: tv shows such as “Leave it to Beaver”)
Alternatives seen as abnormal
In a 1957 survey, 80% of respondents agreed that “anyone who preferred to remain single was ‘sick’, ‘neurotic’, or ‘immoral’”

24. Postmodern families An expansion of the companionship model
Based on love / emotional fulfillment
But increased freedom of form family will take
Mix of opposite sex couples, same-sex couples, single parents, interracial families, cohabiting couples, families with children, families without children, singles and more
And in increase in shared parenting
The fundamental value is not togetherness, but autonomy, which gives family members greater choice and freedom in public sphere
Idea of marriage still holds much symbolic significance
Used to be considered foundation of adult life, now sometimes seen as capstone