Relationships and families

homogamy

• marrying someone similar to u

• in class, education, race, religion or political views

what does choosing a partner depend on

• romantic love

• social factors

assortive mating

• non random matching of people into relationships

• homogamy results from this

mere exposure effect

simply being more exposed to someone can elicit more positive feelings about them

social factors that shape relationships

• homogamy

• marriage market

• pressure from third parties

marriage market

those who are rich or have a lot of education will be more competitive on the market and attract higher status partners

pressure from third parties

opinions of friends parents matter for you relationship choices

why have people turned to online dating

• increases odds of meeting strangers not known by friends or family

• allows people to control their profile and the amount of info to give out

• more efficient and convenient

• increases pool of potential partners

why are homosexual people more likely to be in an interracial relationship

their sexual minority status itself is non-normative, making them more likely to date across race

women and online dating apps

find it safer and have more control over it

kinship

a web of social relations that are important to people’s lives

how is kinship established

• through blood - parents

• through affinities - spouse

• through social ties - community membership

economic family

household of 2 or more people who are related by blood, marriage, cohabitation or adoption

census family

• married or common law couple and their children living in the same home

• can be remarried, lone parents or complex step families with step siblings

extended family

includes aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relatives

nuclear family

• cohabiting man and woman who maintain a socially approved sexual relationhip

• have atleast 1 child

fastest growing household type in canada

multigenerational household

regional variations in family

• family situations of children vary by province and territory

• due to cultural preference, econmic conditions or social/historical factors

cohabitation before marriage marriages

more likely to get divorced

how to have a satisfying heterosexual marriage

• be similar

• be conscientious and dont be neurotic

• be a man

• be a good communicator

• be sexually active and be good at satisfying ur partner

• get past the honeymoon period

• share the housework

• have money or agree on how to spend it

• dont have children

what results in higher divorce rates

• secularization

• liberalizing of social norms

functionalist pov on family

• family is a critical component of society that ensures social order and coordination

• prepare children to thrive in life as adults

functions of a family

• reproduction

• sexual regulation

• socialization

• economic

• shelter and security

• belongingness

conflict pov on family

• organization of social life and family structure is tied to the organization of economic systems

• private ownership mostly by men caused women to lose power

feminist pov on family

• family is a site for exploitation, isolation and violence

• media rep of families normalize and reinforce women’s domestic and care roles

• reinforces gendered division of labour

• families are not private but rather interconnected with other social institutions

interactionism pov on family

interactions within the family and the meanings given to family and kinship relations shape the development of broader social organizations

postmodernism pov on family

• foundation element of the structure of family is beginning to erode

• changes in technology erodes the biological basis of family

family policies

• flexible workplace arrangement

• parental leave

• family policy reform

family policy reform

• implement universal affordable childcare

• more generous leave benefits

why was there an increase in non nuclear families

• response to changes in power relations between men and women

• recognition of different notions of family and kinship

• not lways captured by census data

how do sociologists understand changes to the notion of a family

through study of econ, immigration, gender norms, cultural notions of kinship

marriage trends

• age of first marriage is rising

• marriage rates are decreasing

divorce trends

• rates are decreasing

• mostly cuz people aren’t getting married

children rates

• most women are having children in their 30s

• number of children per household is declining

what does mate selection depend on

• symmetry

• complexion

• height and strength

• dominance and protection

• youth and fertility

pure relationships

people fall in love due to interests and needs of others rather than law, tradition or necessity

what impacts do online dating decisions have

• communication, presentation of self

• pressure to present self in attractive and desirable ways

• people focus more on demographics than social interaction or chemistry

• shopping/catalogue of people mentality

• rational control, rather than unpredictable non rational factors ie chemistry and emotion

• exchange nature; exchange own assets for desirable attributes in a partner

colourism

form of prejudice or discrimination that is based on social meanings attached to skin tone

dating patterns among asians and whites

• reluctant to date darker skinned people

• darker skinned asians prefer those with darker skin

why do darker skinned asians date darker skinned individuals

• prejudice makes them sympathetic

• reluctant to reach out to lighter skinned partners due to rejection