Sociology Chapter 14 - Marriage and Family

Family

A socially recognized group that forms an emotional connection and serves as an economic unit of society. (Usually joined by blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption.)

Family of Orientation

Family into which a person is born.

Family of Procreation

Formed through marriage.

Marriage

A legally recognized social contract between two people, traditionally based on a sexual relationship and implying a permanence of the union.

Monogamy

Marriage to one partner.

Polygamy

Marriage to more than one person at a time.

Polygyny

Marriage of one man to more than one woman at a time.

Polyandry

Marriage of one woman to more than one man at a time.

Bigamy

Act of entering into marriage while still married to another person. (A felony offense in the US)

Descent

Socially recognized links between ancestors and descendants or one’s traceable ancestry.

Bilateral

Traced through either parent.

Unilateral

Traced through ancestors of one sex.

Matrilineal

Mother’s line only.

Patrilineal

Father’s line only.

Ambilineal

Either line, situationally dependent.

Patrilocal

Wife lives with/near husband’s family.

Martilocal

Husband lives with/near wife’s family.

Outsider Stauts

Non-native may feel distance/disconnect from own family.

Family Life Cycle

Predictable steps & patterns over time.

Paul Glick: 7 Step Cycle - Repeats Each Generation

1. Marriage Family, Childless

2. Procreation Family, Children 0 - 2.5 Years

3. Preschooler Family, Children 2.5 - 6 Years

4. School-Age Family, Children 6 - 13 Years

5. Teenage Family, Children 13 - 20 Years

6. Launching Family, Children begin to leave home

7. Empty Nest Family, Adult children have left home

Cohabitation

Residing together without marriage.