What Is a Family?: What Is a Family? A social unit of some number of people who are linked intimately Related in some way Usually living together Engaging in sex Having responsibility for rearing children Functioning as an economic unit


Types of Families: Types of Families Nuclear Family: a social unit composed of a husband, a wife, and their children Family of orientation: family to which one was born Family of procreation: a person, spouse, and their children Blended family: spouses and their children from former marriages live as a single nuclear family Binuclear family: divorced parents form separate households; children divide their time with each Extended Family Composed of two or more generations of kin that functions as an independent social and economic unit


Kinship Patterns: Kinship Patterns A network of people who are related by marriage, blood, or social practice Kinship is a means by which societies can socialize children and transmit culture from one generation to the next Kinship creates complex social bonds Affinal relationships are social bonds based on marriage


Marriage: Marriage Two individuals involved in a socially approved relationship Intimate, mutual long-term obligations Fulfilled customary ceremonial or legal requirements


Romantic Love: Romantic Love An emotional identification between two individuals Intense Convinced they cannot live without each other Not considered important for marriage until 20th century An important incentive to marry Love provides a source of support Strong commitment to each other


Courtship : Courtship The relationship between two people who are preparing for marriage to each other Endogamy: people marry within their own group Exogamy: people marry outside of their own group Propinquity: people meet only when they are not apart Ethnicity and race: people tend to marry within their own groups Values: endogamy is reinforced by cultural values


Dimensions of Marriage and Family: Dimensions of Marriage and Family Number of spouses Monogamy: one male spouse, one female spouse Polygamy: multiple spouses Polygyny: multiple wives Polyandry: multiple husbands Groups marriage: multiple spouses


Dimensions of Marriage and Family: Dimensions of Marriage and Family Residence Norms related to where married couples should reside Matrilocal arrangement: kin lives with wife’s mother Patrilocal arrangement: kin lives with husband’s mother Neolocal arrangement: kin set up independent household Bilocal arrangement: each spouse maintains a separate residence


Dimensions of Marriage and Family: Dimensions of Marriage and Family Descent The system by which kinship is traced over generations Patrilineal: kinship is traced through male Matrilineal: kinship is traced through female Bilineal: kinship is traced through both sides of the family Power The system by which power is assigned Patriarchy: male has most power Matriarchy: female has most power Matricentric: females have some power


Alternative Family Forms: Alternative Family Forms Serial monogamy More than one spouse but not at same time Single parent Mostly result of divorce Gay and lesbian Legal issues debated Cohabitation A household without marriage Independent living Men or women who live alone


The Mexican American Family: The Mexican American Family Strong family values Family has priority over individual Extended families maintained Patriarchy Machismo: a value system embracing highly masculine behaviors including a double standard Authoritarian child rearing Father has final disciplinary authority Influences of American culture Patriarchy and extended family decline


Marital Dissolution: Marital Dissolution Divorce Dissolution of legal ties that bind a marriage Legal separation Couples agree to take up separate residences Informal separation: one spouse temporarily moves out Desertion One spouse leaves the other for a prolonged period of time


Explaining Marital Dissolution: Explaining Marital Dissolution Society Nuclear family is subject to many stresses but has limited resources Lower social classes more vulnerable Falling out of love Passion yields to reality Women’s changing roles Less economic dependency


Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence Amount 1/5 of women abused Class differences Type of violence and reporting patterns Stay or leave? Retribution and psychological dependence Options Shelters and legal system Global patterns National tolerance level Stress from rapid social change


Functionalism and the FamilyThe Family Satisfies Common Social Functions: Functionalism and the Family The Family Satisfies Common Social Functions Socialization Family is responsible for primary care and early learning Birth; regulates sexual activity Choosing mates and perpetuating population Economic Assigning assets Important economic production and consumption unit Support and comfort Help with problems Social placement Children inherit status and class of parents


Family: Conflict Perspective: Family: Conflict Perspective Power relationships Men control wealth Norms require women to do most domestic chores Perpetuation of social inequality Family is a model of patriarchy that dominates society


Family: Symbolic Interactionism: Family: Symbolic Interactionism People construct their own families No two families are alike Family is source of major roles and identity As new roles are learned New concepts of reality are created