Family, Marriage, and Global Families Study Guide

Marriage

A socially acknowledged, approved, legal union.

Monogamy

Marriage to one person at a time.

Polygamy

Marriage to multiple spouses; could involve multiple husbands or multiple wives.

Endogamy

Marriage between people with similar characteristics.

Exogamy

Marriage between people with different characteristics.

Intimacy

Close and/or personal relationship.

Intimate Relationship

A domestic, emotionally close relationship.

Cohabitation

Living together without being married.

Living Apart Together

Couples who are in a long-term relationship but live separately.

Arranged Marriages

Marriages that are arranged by someone other than the couple.

Single-Parent Families

Families headed by only one parent; notable for having the highest rates in some countries.

Nonresident Parents

Parents who live separately from their children.

Stepfamilies and Blended Families

Families where one or both partners bring children from previous relationships, forming a new family unit.

Adoption

The legal process of taking a child into one's family and raising them as one's own.

Same-Sex Families

Families composed of two parents of the same sex raising children.

Structural/Functional Theories

View family as a social structure that benefits society by maintaining stability and order.

Extended Family

Family unit that includes two or more generations living together or in close contact.

Functions of Family

Family fulfills various roles such as socialization, emotional support, and economic stability.

Criticisms of Structural/Functional Theory

Criticisms include overlooking inequality, gender roles, and changing family dynamics.

Conflict/Critical Theories

View family as a unit filled with stress, strain, and conflicts rather than harmony.

Stress and Strain in Families

Families experience internal tensions caused by competition and conflict.

Key Issue: Resources

Access to and control of resources is a central source of family conflicts.

Feminist Theory

Focuses on the ways family structures perpetuate gender inequalities.

Divorce

The legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.

Legal Mechanism for Divorce

Divorce is the legal process used to formally end a marriage.

Myth About Marriage

The idea that 'half of all marriages end in divorce' is a common myth.

Problems Associated with Divorce

Divorce is often linked to emotional, financial, and familial issues.

Factors in Divorce

Factors influencing divorce include economic problems, infidelity, and lack of communication.

Global Families

Families are changing worldwide due to globalization.

Decline of Traditional Families

Traditional family structures are declining as globalization increases.

New Family Types

There is a wide range of emerging family types beyond the traditional nuclear family.

Conflict in Global Families

Globalization creates new possibilities for conflicts within and between family types.

Global Flows Involving Families

Movements of families across countries and borders.

Family Mobility

The ability of an individual to move internationally and later have the entire family follow.

Immigration and Family

Immigrating to a new country often involves starting a new family structure.

Transnational Adoptions

The adoption of children from other countries, creating transnational family ties.

Global Economic Flows

Movements of money, goods, and services that influence family stability and opportunities.

Global Migration

Movement of people across countries that affects family structures and dynamics.

Global Trafficking

Illegal movement of people, especially for exploitation, impacting families globally.

Global Conflict

Wars and conflicts across nations that displace families and alter family life.