1. Marriage and Changing Family Arrangements Chapter 12

2. Learning Objectives Explain the functions of the family.
Describe the major variations in family structure.
Define marriage and describe its relationship to the phenomenon of romantic love.
Describe the various rules governing marriage.
Explain the ways in which mate selection is not random.
Summarize recent changes in the family as an institution.
Explain the impact of changes in divorce and child-custody laws.
Describe the various alternative family arrangements in contemporary American society.

3. The Nature of Family Life
Murdock (1949): Definition of Family
“A social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults.”
Too limited by contemporary standards

4. The Changing Family 1960-72% of adults were married; 2010-51%
% of year olds were married; %
More people are cohabitating
Historically, the American family was quite stable
1970s-changes became evident

5. The Changing Family Marriage rate began to fall; divorce rates rose
During next decade, “traditional” families will account for two of three households.
Married couples will make up slightly more than half of all households.

6. Social Functions of Family
Regulating sexual behavior
Patterning reproduction
Organizing production and consumption
Socializing children
Providing care and protection
Providing social status

7. Providing Care and Protection
Not only food and shelter, but also help with problems and emotional support

8. Providing Social Status
Ascribed statuses: social class and ethnic identity
Social class-the single biggest factor affecting one’s life

9. Regulating Sexual Behavior
Incest taboos-found in all societies
Approx. 30 states prohibit marriage of first cousins

10. Organizing Production and Consumption
Families consume food and other products as a social unit.
A society’s economic system and family structures are closely related.

11. Socializing Children
Accept the lifestyle of the culture; skills; values
Especially important during childhood and adolescence

12. Functions of a Family Regulating Sexual Behavior
Patterning Reproduction
Organizing Reproduction and Consumption
Socializing Children
Providing Care and Protection
Providing Social Status

13. Family Structures
Nuclear family – most basic form; married couple with biological or adopted children
Polygamous family – central individual married to several spouses.
Polygynous-male with more than one wife
Polyandrous-female with more than one husband
Extended family – includes other generations and relations / cooperative unit

14. Systems of Generational Relationships
Patrilineal System
Ties and dominance through male (father) lineage
Matrilineal System
Ties and dominance through female (mother) lineage (less common)
Bilateral system
Ties through both male and female lineage (most common in United States)

15. Definition is evolving with changing recognition on a global basis
Defining Marriage
“Socially recognized, legitimized, and supported union of individuals of opposite sex”
Definition is evolving with changing recognition on a global basis

16. Components and Rules of Marriage
Romantic love
Idealization / a one and only / love at first sight / love conquers all / emotional indulgence
Marriage rules
Endogamy or exogamy
Monogamy or polygamy

17. Marital Residence
Marital residence rules govern where a couple settles
Patrilocal residence
Couple settles near or within the husband’s father’s
Matrilocal residence
Couple settles near or within the wife’s mother’s home
Bilocal residence
Couple chooses whether to live with the husband’s or wife’s family of origin
Neolocal residence
Couple may choose to live virtually anywhere

18. Mate Selection
In the United States, this process is not based on statistical probabilities of random connection, but dominated by homogamy
“The tendency of like to marry like”

19. Homogamy
Primary Variables
Age
Race
Religion
Social Status

20. The Transformation of the Family
Impact of industrialization
Isolated nuclear family
Weak ties to extensive kinship network
Increased movement between classes

21. The Evolved Nuclear Family
Child-centered family
Companionate marriage (romantic love)
Increased equality for women
Decreased extended family and kinship
Increased geographic mobility
Increased social mobility
Clear separation between work and leisure

22. Traditional Family Decline
Postponement of marriage
Single-parent homes
Divorced or never-married parent
Decline in marriage rate
Cohabitation increase
Childless marriage
Household size decline
Impact of divorce

23. Impact of Divorce

24. Social Process of Divorce
Changing divorce laws
Pre-1970
Fault required for divorce
Post-1970
No-fault divorce dominates
Child custody issues
Pre-1970 preference for mother
Move toward balance today
Greater potential for joint custody
Problems remain

25. Family Diversity Growing single population
27% of households consist of one person
Single-parent family statistics
National – 41% of births to unmarried women
African American – 72.5%
Hispanic – 53.3%
Gay and lesbian couples

26. The Future? Social universals continue
Marriage
Divorce
Remarriage rate is high
Family as institution remains valued
Family arrangements evolving to changing lifestyles
Continued evolution and flexibility a certainty