Family Structures, Marriage Norms, and Family Dynamics in Sociology

Family

A group of two or more people related by blood, marriage, or adoption who live together or have lived together.

Household

All people who occupy the same housing unit, regardless of relationship.

Nuclear Family

Family structure consisting of husband, wife, and their children.

Extended Family

Nuclear family plus additional relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins).

Family of Orientation

The family in which a person grows up.

Family of Procreation

The family formed when a couple has their first child.

Polygyny

A form of marriage in which a man has more than one wife.

Polyandry

A form of marriage in which a woman has more than one husband.

Endogamy

The practice of marrying within one's own group (race, class, religion).

Exogamy

The practice of marrying outside one's own group; the incest taboo is an example.

Incest Taboo

Social norm prohibiting sex or marriage between close family members.

Marriage

A group's approved mating arrangement, often marked by a ritual or ceremony.

Mate Selection

Norms and rules that determine who is considered an acceptable marriage partner.

Descent System

How kinship is traced through generations (bilineal, patrilineal, matrilineal).

Bilineal Descent

Kinship is traced through both mother's and father's side.

Patrilineal Descent

Kinship and property traced only through the father's side.

Matrilineal Descent

Kinship and property traced only through the mother's side.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men dominate women.

Matriarchy

A social system in which women dominate men.

Egalitarian Authority

System where authority in marriage is shared more or less equally between men and women.

Functionalist Perspective on Family

Family performs essential functions: economic support, socialization of children, care of sick/elderly, recreation, sexual regulation, reproduction.

Incest Taboo (Functionalist View)

Prevents role confusion and forces people to seek marriage partners outside family, forming wider social alliances.

Conflict Perspective on Family

Family is a site of power struggle; focus on inequality, housework, resources, and decision-making.

Second Shift (Arlie Hochschild)

Women who work outside the home often still do most household labor, causing dissatisfaction.

Power in Marriage

Conflict theorists argue disputes over housework reflect deeper power inequalities in marriage.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Examines everyday meanings and roles within families; how people define marriage, parenting, and housework.

Jesse Bernard

Husbands and wives experience 'two marriages'—each perceives the marriage differently, often leading to dissatisfaction.

Romantic Love

Emotional and cognitive basis for choosing a mate in U.S. culture.

Emotional Love

Feeling of sexual attraction and affection.

Cognitive Love

Feeling of being 'in love' and labeling emotions.

Homogamy

Marrying someone with similar characteristics (race, class, education, religion), often due to spatial nearness.

Child Rearing

Traditionally seen as the mother's responsibility, but this has shifted as more women work outside the home.

Working-class parents

Emphasize conformity; middle-class parents value self-expression and curiosity.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Stage when children leave home, though many return as "adultolescents"—young adults (25-29) living at home.

Adultolescents

Young adults who return to live with parents due to education costs or financial strain.

African American Families

Family patterns vary by social class; fictive kin helps with economic survival in poor families.

Fictive Kin

Nonrelatives who are accepted as family and assist in times of need.

Marriage Squeeze

Shortage of eligible African American men compared to women, affecting marriage rates.

Latinx Families

Often emphasize extended family, Catholic religion, and strong family ties; social class influences family structure more than ethnicity.

Asian American Families

Tend to adopt U.S. nuclear patterns but retain Confucian values: hierarchy, respect for elders, obligation.

Native American Families

Struggle between traditional values and assimilation; elders play strong roles in family life.

One-Parent Families

Increase caused by divorce and single motherhood; most are led by women and face higher poverty rates.

Voluntarily Childless Families

Growing number of couples choosing not to have children due to careers, finances, or personal preference.

Blended Family

Family whose members were previously part of other families (e.g., stepfamilies).

Same-Sex Families

Face similar issues as heterosexual families—housework, finances, relatives—but may also face stigma.

Cohabitation

Unmarried couples living together in a sexual relationship; differs from marriage because it assumes 'as long as it works.'

Delaying Marriage

People are marrying later; average age of U.S. brides at highest in recorded history.

Sandwich Generation

Adults who care for both their aging parents and their own children simultaneously.

Grandparents as Parents

Increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren due to parents' work or absence.

Divorce Rate

United States has highest divorce rate in industrialized world; roughly 50% of marriages end in divorce.

Effects of Divorce on Children

Children may feel distant from parents, are less likely to marry, and more likely to divorce later.

Child Adjustment After Divorce

Better when both parents are supportive, routines are consistent, and finances are stable.

Dark Side of Family

Includes domestic violence, child abuse, and incest.

Domestic Violence

Wives and husbands may both engage in violence, but husbands often inflict more serious harm.

Child Abuse

Two million U.S. children reported annually as abused or neglected.

Incest

Sexual relations between family members; most common among uncles, cousins, fathers/stepfathers, and brothers.

Bright Side of Family

Factors that make marriages work include: spending time together, appreciation, commitment, good communication, and resolving conflict.