CH11 - Family and Society

family

a group of ppl who identify themselves as being related to one another, usually by blood, marriage, or adoption, and who share intimate relationships and dependency

the family is an __________

institution

why is the family considered an institution

it is an organized system of social relationships that reflect societal norms and exceptions and meets important societal needs

site for the reproduction of a community and citizenry, socialization and transmission of culture, and the care of the young and old

sites for the allocation of social roles, such as “breadwinner” and “caregiver” and contribute to the economy as consumers

marriage

culturally normative relationships usually between two individuals

• economic cooperation, emotional intimacy, and sexucal relations

• legitimized by law, religion, and cultural norms

monogamy

a person may only have one spouse at a time

polygamy

a person may have more than one martial partner at a time

• saudi arabia

polygyny

a form of marriage in which a man may have multiple wives

• Qatar, Sudan

polyandry

a form of marriage in which a woman may have multiple husbands

• Nepal

serial monogamy

the practice of having more than one spouse, but only one at a time; characterizes patterns in the US

endogamous

marriage limited to partners who are members of the same social group or caste

• may be enforced through social or legal sanctions

• ex: India

antimiscegenation laws

laws passed by states to prohibit interracial sexual relations and mariage

ruled unconstitutional in the US in 1967

extended families

several generations living in same household

• eastern/southern europe, africa, asia, and central'/latin america

nuclear families

parents living with biological children, apart from other kin

• northern/western europe, canada, us, and australia

what is Talcott Parsons’ theoretical perspective on families

family is a “factory of personalities”

• women → expressive roles; men → instrumental roles

• complementary roles are positively functional

• ensure cooperation rather than conflict

• status of family derived from male’s position

• supports adults’ emotional well-being

parsons was worried that social change in roles could have negative consequences

what are the critiques of Parsons’s work

reinforcing'/legitimating traditional roles

neglecting relationship power differentials: economic dependency

may perpetuate gender inequality and even violence

what is the feminist/conflict perspective and beyond

emerged from women’s movement of the 1970s

potential site of positive support/unequal power

criticized sexual division of labor: men produce and women reproduce

• designating different spheres of activity, the “private” to women and the “public” to men

• gives males privileged access to money, status, independence, and opportunity

what is Jessie Bernard’s “The Future of Marriage” theory?

confronts the issue of inequality in marriage

marriage is a cultural system - beliefs and ideals, institutionalist arrangement of norms and roles, and a complicated individual level of interaction and intimate experience

• HIS: defines himself as burdened constrained while experiencing authority, independence, and right to sexual, domestic, and emotional services of the wife

• HERS: defines herself as fulfilled through marriage while experiencing dependence and subjugating to her husband

what is the psychodynamic feminist perspective?

Nancy Chodorow: why do women mother?

• infants form bond to mother

• mothers emotionally push away sons, who them develop “masculine” personalities

  • develops as “non-femininity”

• mothers draw in daughters

  • become “relational”: seeking close bonds and defining themselves through relationships

• men define themselves autonomously and struggle to form close bonds

  • rooted in socialization and psychology: the pain of break results in avoidance of future bonds

• women mothers to create a close connection

  • men in heterosexual relationships unprepared for close relational bonding

US families yesterday and today

historian stephanie coontz shoes that nuclear family is relatively recent development

preindustrial/agricultural: families were social and economic units

• multiple generations, boarders, farm workers, large number of children valued for contribution to production, and family economy, long enduring marriages, divorce not easy to secure

how has early industrialization and urbanization affected us families?

passage of child labor laws and rise of mass public schooling, families become smaller as children become more of a cost thana wage-earning benefit

basic nuclear family model (mother working in private sphere of home and father working in public sphere for pay) evolved among middle-class families in late 19th century far less common among working-class families

mother-as-homemaker and father-as-breadwinner model of nuclear family most characteristic of post WWII era of suburbanization

T or F: most children in the US live in 2 parent households

True

_____ percent of adults live alone

25

_______ is not the only way to create a family today

marriage

social class and child-rearing

parental attitudes toward children’s independence may differ by social class

middle and upper class families value:

self-direction and individual initiative in their children

working class parents value:

respect for authority, obedience, and a higher degree of conformity and rely on punishment if these are violated

Concerted cultivation

middle class parenting style emphasizing negotiation, discussion, and cultivation of talents through organized activities

fosters a sense of entitlement and ease in interacting with authority figures, suiting careers requiring strong communication skills

accomplishment of natural growth

working class and poor families tend towards this style, focusing on meeting basic needs and allowing unstructured play

emphasizes obedience over negotiation, leading to early independence but favoring jobs valuing respect for authority

implications

parenting styles significantly shape children’s values, behaviors, and future opportunities

understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing social inequalities and promoting equal opportunities for all children

the economic and labor market impact of globalization on US families

employers demanding skill and formal training

low-skilled US workers priced out

non degreed workers hit hardest

need for two incomes motivated women working outside home

international families and global women

international families: result of globalization

Christine Ho’s research: mothers may emigrate to pursue work

Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild have also studies the “global woman”

• they are filling a “care deficit” in the wealthier countries

• they are increasingly in demand in high-income countries

• there are powerful social forces that figure into the choice to emigrate