SOCI Chapter 9 - The Family and Intimate relationships

families

groups of people related by birth, affinity, or cohabitation

family households

group of people who share a household by blood, marriage, or legal adoption

marriage

legal union of 2 people allowing them to live together and have children.

nuclear family

2 adults living with one or more children

extended family

goes beyond the nuclear/immediate family consists of 2 or more generations who share the same residence

there is a decline in nuclear families and an increase in

unmarried couples living together

Andrew Cherlin

deinstitutionalization of marriage

deinstitutionalization of marriage

our understanding of the norms and rules of marriage has changed, and people are questioning the role of marriage in their lives and society

5 ways marriage is becoming deinstitutionalized

1. people are choosing to be single or cohabitate

2. divorce rates are higher, changing view of marriage with “till death do us part” Individuals are choosing to leave bad marriages if necessary, especially since there is less stigma surrounding divorce in modern society.

– Religion has also lost some of its influence in society, contributing to the deinstitutionalization of marriage.

3. The role individuals in couples play in modern society are increasingly questioned.

– We no longer assume men are the breadwinners and women stay at home.

– The traditional gender roles in marriage are increasingly coming under scrutiny.

4. Norms surrounding children are changing.

– In the past having children in a marriage was the only acceptable route to parenting.

– Today, many people are single parents and many unmarried couples have children.

5. Diversity in forms of marriage are rising.

– There has been a rise in marriage between couples of different ethnic, class, and religious backgrounds

Cohabitate

refers to same-sex or opposite-sex couples living together without being married

• often leads to common law

Changes in marriage and family are tied to

larger societal changes.

like gender equality and lower levels of religiosity 

increase in gender equality=

higher divorce rates, lower marriage rates, kids before marriage

Religions are generally strong supporters of ….

a traditional view of marriage and child-rearing.

• As religion’s influence in Canada declined, the country experienced

higher rates of cohabitation without marriage, more children raised by unmarried parents, and a rise in divorce rates.

with decrease in religion, we are seeing (3)

lower marriage rates ( cohabitation)

kids before marriage/ raised by unmarried parents

higher divorce rates

individualism

we are more concerned with our own happiness, fulfillment, and individuality

• pick their own spouses and jobs

• coincided with a decline in religiosity

traditional marriage- think of princess and prince

a way of binding families and communites

types of marriage (4)

1. institutional- A way to bind larger families and communities.

– These marriages have a collective focus, meaning they are meant to solidify ties between families and communities.

2. individualized- Each spouse’s satisfaction is the focus, as is each spouse’s sense of self, happiness, and fulfillment.

– Tend to be more flexible because their goal is to meet the needs of

each spouse

3. companionate - Based on bonds of sentiment, friendship, and sexual ties.

– Clear division of labour in terms of breadwinner and homemaker.

– Couples are friends and confidants and the satisfaction of the couple,

the family as a whole, and the roles each plays in the marriage.

4. Monogamous marriages- Marriages in which the couple relates with one another exclusively.

Polygamous marriages- Having one or more spouse at a time

despite all the issues, do most tend to get married in their lifetime?

yes

fertility rates

average # of kids a women has in her lifetime

we are below the __________ rate

replacement rate

other countries are above the _____________ rate

replacement rate

Two prominent theoretical traditions

1. structural functionalism

2. conflict theory

structural functionalism

Focuses on how the family functions to create stability and order in society

4 main important values of structural functionalism

RSSR

1. reproductive- maintain population

2. socialization- Families socialize children, teaching them about the larger culture and its norms and rules

3. support- parents support kids when their young, kids support parents when their old

4. regulation- Families work to regulate behavior as well, traditionally, families have regulated sexual behavior

Talcott parsons

argued nuclear family was very important bc it frees individuals from obligations of the extended family

This theory allows us to think about what function families serve for individuals and society.

Many feel this s.f theory overemphasizes how

harmonious families are

conflict theory

concerned with the unequal distribution of resources between those with/out power

• Does not see the family as a harmonious institution.

s.f sees family as

harmonious

c.t sees family as

not harmonious

conflict theory sees family as an

arena for a wide variety of conflicts

• young, old, gender, parent vs kid

c.t and s.f agree that family..

works to socialize young people, but c.t argues its problematic bc it reproduces inequalites

when dating, men look for

attractiveness and potential spouses

when dating, women look for..

intelligence and those who grew up in wealthier neighborhoods

Child care in Canada is market-determined

providers sell childcare to parents and guardians just like any other goods and services on the open market

Facts about child care: (10)

1. The early years of childhood set the stage for life

2. Child care in Canada is market-determined: providers sell

childcare to parents and guardians just like any other goods

and services on the open market

3. Some facilities are regulated, but many are not

4. There are not enough regulated childcare spots in Canada

5. Child care is too expensive for many families to afford

6. Some families are eligible for subsidies

7. Many families who need subsidies don’t get them, and some that do still can’t afford childcare

8. Parents are forced to find alternatives to regulated childcare

9. Canada lags behind in support for early childhood care and education

10. People are calling for a universal childcare program that provides

– Affordability

– Quality-control

– Appropriateness

– Universal accessibility