Sociology of the American Family, Social Class, and Mobility

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, historical trends, social mobility studies, race socialization, and immigration policies affecting American family structures.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

process established for certain individuals brought to the US as children who meet specific guidelines

allowing them to request temporary deferred removal action for a period of two years without receiving lawful status

Social Class

primary status assigned at birth through family, which directly influences an individual's chances of obtaining a good job, owning a home, and accumulating wealth

Raj Chetty

whose research on intergenerational upward mobility showed that physical location heavily determines a child's chances of achieving greater financial success than their parents

Intergenerational Social Mobility (Atlanta vs. San Jose)

likelihood of a child born into the bottom fifth of income distribution rising to the top fifth

4.5% for a child in Atlanta, Georgia, compared to 12.9% for a child in San Jose, California

Mass Incarceration

multi-decade imprisonment of men of color primarily for nonviolent drug offenses under the War on Drugs

leading to reduced marriage rates, employment challenges, and economic hardship for people of color

Race Socialization

process through which parents pass on to children the knowledge required to navigate the experience of being a racial and ethnic minority in American society

20th Century Family Evolution

period shaped by economic restructuring, feminism, and demographic changes

characterized by women joining the workforce in large numbers, declining fertility rates, smaller family sizes, and increased divorce rates

Digital Revolution

technological trend beginning around 1980s marked by the development of the Internet

serves both to connect family members across long distances and to disrupt local family interactions

Great Recession

economic crisis during the late 2000s that led many couples to delay marriage and childbearing for financial reasons

Boomerang Generation

phenomenon emerging during the late 2000s Great Recession in which young adults left home for college and returned to live with their parents after graduation due to a lack of full-time employment

19th Century Family Evolution

period heavily influenced by the Industrial Revolution and mass immigration

family members became wage workers, mass public education was introduced, and romantic love became a central basis for marriage

Adolescence (19th Century)

distinct life stage that emerged during the 19th century as family structure shifted toward wage labor

19th Century Indigenous Child Separation

practice during the ongoing cultural decimation of Native Americans where indigenous children were routinely taken from their families and placed as servants in white households

Colonial Family Life

historical era defined by limited marital choice for white colonials, restricted social roles for women, and children viewed as an economic unit to support the household

Colonial Violence and Family Disruption

historical violence directed at non-white groups during the colonial period, resulting in genocide against Native Americans and forced breakup of enslaved families under slavery

Evolution of American Family Structure

historical transition of family from a rigid economic unit based on arranged marriage to a fluid group sharing economic responsibilities and bound primarily by romantic love