Family and Parenthood WGS 240 - Dr. Mary Kruk

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding family structures, marriage, and social institutions discussed in the lecture on Family and Parenthood.

Family

An institution characterized by social organizations that involve established patterns of behavior around a purpose, foundational for interpersonal relationships.

Institution

A social organization with established patterns of behavior that functions through social norms, sometimes institutionalized into law.

Nuclear Family

The ideal family structure in the U.S., consisting of two parents raising children together in the same household.

Coverture

A legal doctrine that transferred a married woman's legal rights to her husband, making her legally invisible.

Blended Family

A family structure that includes spouses with children from previous relationships living together.

Polyamory

A family arrangement involving more than one romantic partner in committed relationships.

Chosen Family

A concept referring to relationships that are filled with emotional bonds, often replacing traditional ties of kinship.

Egalitarian Relationship

A relationship where responsibilities and benefits are shared equally between partners.

Same-sex Marriage

The legal union of partners of the same gender, recognized by law since 2015 in the U.S.

Institution of Marriage

A social construct that historically enforces economic and social dependencies, particularly empowering traditional gender norms.