1. 1 - Family and Marriage Across Cultures
The family

2. Activity
Write down the character traits you are looking for in a potential mate (your ideal, the perfect one!).
Now, compare those traits to your own.
Why do most people choose someone who has similar characteristics?

3. The American Family T/F Quiz
Directions: Write down the statement, then answer.
About half of the couples who get married in the U.S. will get divorced.
A new family structure develops after a divorce.
High school sweethearts who marry have less than a 10% chance of being together 20 years later.
In more than half of all marriages, the husband and wife both work outside the home
The divorce rate has steadily been climbing since 1960.

4. Quiz answers True False
Are any of these answers surprising? Why or why not?

5. Defining the Family
How would you define the concept of family? Does anyone know the legal definition?
Sociologically, the family is the smallest unit of measurement.
It is a group related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

6. Defining the Family
Marriage – a socially or legally binding contract/union based on mutual rights and obligations.
What does that mean?
What are the obligations and rights we have?

7. Two Basic Types of Families
Nuclear Family – the smallest unit that can be called a family.
It consists of a parent or parents and any children
Extended Family – two or more adult generations who share the same resources and live in the same house.
Why would sociologists not consider us an extended family?

8. Patterns of Family Structure
Who inherits?
Patrilineal – passed from father to sons. Examples?
Matrilineal – passed from mothers to daughters.
Bilateral – passed equally through both parents. Why is the United States an example?
Matrilineal societies, like the Pueblo above, are not very common. Why do you think this is so?

9. Patterns of Family Structure
Who is in authority?
Patriarchy – oldest man in the household has power over the other family members
Matriarchy – oldest woman in the household has the power over the other family members.
Equalitarian – authority is split between husband and wife.
Patriarchies are common in traditional societies
Can you figure out why this picture is here?
Most families in the USA are Equalitarian.

10. Patterns of Family Structure
Where do couples live?
Patrilocal – living with or near the husband’s family.
Matrilocal – living with or near the wife’s family.
Neolocal – married couples establish residence on their own.
Coach Khoury’s wife is from Japan. Which pattern do you think they fit into and why?
(hint: it could be two…)

11. Marriage Arrangements
Marriage ceremonies take different forms. Coach Khoury participated in a ceremony like this one. Make a list of the similarities and differences to our traditional ceremony.
(6:30)

12. Marriage Arrangements
Monogamy – a marriage consisting of one husband and one wife.
Polygamy – a marriage consisting of a male or female to more than one person at a time.
Polygyny – the marriage of one man to two or more women at the same time
Polyandry – the marriage of one woman to two or more men at the same time
How could polyandry have potentially caused problems in the past? (hint: think about how it connects to Patrilineal society)
The question of whose baby the woman had could cause big problems in inheritance battles.

13. Choosing A Mate
Do you have the complete freedom to choose who you want to date?
WRONG!!! – all cultures, including the US have laws and norms about who can marry whom.

14. Choosing A Mate
Dating someone is not done in isolation. Your decision who to date effects your family and the community as a whole; likewise, the community and family have an effect on the dating process.
Answer the following questions on a piece of paper:
When should parents begin discussing values related to the dating process? Why?
What personal values are important to consider in relation to dating?
What role does the community play in dating?
Does the community have a responsibility to provide dating activity options? If so, what options should be available?

15. Choosing A Mate Exogamy – marrying outside one’s group.
Incest taboo – a norm forbidding marrying close relatives.
How close is too close?
What’s the closest relative you have heard that people can marry?
First cousins can marry in 21 states.
Maybe that is why royal families are a little off 

16. Choosing A Mate Endogamy – you have to marry within your own group.
Homogamy – if you choose to marry someone similar to yourself
Heterogamy – choosing to marry someone with different social characteristics.
Which of these do you think is most common?
Which of the terms does this refer to?
What are the social consequences of this relationship from both groups that are affected?

17. Plan Your Wedding Project
Decide on occupations for yourself and your spouse.
Research the starting salaries of those jobs and decide on a wedding budget.
Brainstorm (together as a class?) different wedding services involved.
Research the price for those services.
If parents are contributing, have them discuss with the parents how much assistance they will get from them.