Sociology ; Life at Home: Families and Relationships
11/7/23 CHAPTER 12 - Life at Home: Families and Relationships
What is family?
Census Burea;
related by blood, marriage, or adoption living in the same household Two or more individuals
Sociologist
a social group whose members are bound by
- legal (marriage), biological, and/or emotional ties.
Fictive KIn- close relations with people we consider ‘ like family” not related by blood or marriage
Sandwich Generation; three generations in the household (grandparents, parents, and kids)
Boomerang kids are young adults or other adult children who move back in with their parents after living independently.)
Mate selection
Endogamy; marriage to someone within one’s social group
(ex., race, class, ethnicity, education, religion, region, or nationality)
Exogamy; marriage to someone from a different social group
Propinquity; tendency to marry or have relationships with people in close geographic proximity
Monogamy; practice one person at a time. The only legal form of marriage in the U.S.
Polygamy
Polygyny; when a man is married to many wives
Polyandry; women with multiple husbands
Polyamory; everyone can be with anyone
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Structural Functionalism; Family is one of the basic institutions that keep society running smoothly
Producing children/future workers
Socialize children
Economic production
Gender matters (INSTRUMENTAL VS. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT/ROLES)
Sexual control
Conflict Theory
Produce future exploited workers
Gender matters
Within families, there is conflict over scarce resources (time, energy and leisure time)
Symbolic Interactionists
• Examine the types of social dynamics and interactions that create and sustain families
• Experiences of family bonds are socially created;
• The family vs. families
• Fictive kin
11/9/2023
Family and the Life Course
Family shapes children by family size, birth order, presence/absence of parents, SES, etc.
Children shape family based on marital satisfaction, household division of labor, health, etc.
Divorce and Breakups
Current population survey, 2020
50 percent of all first marriages end in divorce.
- most who divorce remarry (57%).
After divorce;
Mothers disproportionately receive custody
The trend towards joint custody
Women = downward economic mobility (especially with custody of their children)
Intergenerational transmission
Cohabitation (live together, not married )
Who is more likely to cohabit? Those who intend to marry less educated and affluent divorcees
Why Cohabit?
Economic of scale
Presence of child(ren)
Practice marriage
Marital alternative
Types of Cohabitation
Spousal - intention to get married
One-time- live with person A, break up, marry person B
Serial
Comparison
11/7/23 CHAPTER 12 - Life at Home: Families and Relationships
What is family?
Census Burea;
related by blood, marriage, or adoption living in the same household Two or more individuals
Sociologist
a social group whose members are bound by
- legal (marriage), biological, and/or emotional ties.
Fictive KIn- close relations with people we consider ‘ like family” not related by blood or marriage
Sandwich Generation; three generations in the household (grandparents, parents, and kids)
Boomerang kids are young adults or other adult children who move back in with their parents after living independently.)
Mate selection
Endogamy; marriage to someone within one’s social group
(ex., race, class, ethnicity, education, religion, region, or nationality)
Exogamy; marriage to someone from a different social group
Propinquity; tendency to marry or have relationships with people in close geographic proximity
Monogamy; practice one person at a time. The only legal form of marriage in the U.S.
Polygamy
Polygyny; when a man is married to many wives
Polyandry; women with multiple husbands
Polyamory; everyone can be with anyone
Sociological Perspectives on the Family
Structural Functionalism; Family is one of the basic institutions that keep society running smoothly
Producing children/future workers
Socialize children
Economic production
Gender matters (INSTRUMENTAL VS. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT/ROLES)
Sexual control
Conflict Theory
Produce future exploited workers
Gender matters
Within families, there is conflict over scarce resources (time, energy and leisure time)
Symbolic Interactionists
• Examine the types of social dynamics and interactions that create and sustain families
• Experiences of family bonds are socially created;
• The family vs. families
• Fictive kin
11/9/2023
Family and the Life Course
Family shapes children by family size, birth order, presence/absence of parents, SES, etc.
Children shape family based on marital satisfaction, household division of labor, health, etc.
Divorce and Breakups
Current population survey, 2020
50 percent of all first marriages end in divorce.
- most who divorce remarry (57%).
After divorce;
Mothers disproportionately receive custody
The trend towards joint custody
Women = downward economic mobility (especially with custody of their children)
Intergenerational transmission
Cohabitation (live together, not married )
Who is more likely to cohabit? Those who intend to marry less educated and affluent divorcees
Why Cohabit?
Economic of scale
Presence of child(ren)
Practice marriage
Marital alternative
Types of Cohabitation
Spousal - intention to get married
One-time- live with person A, break up, marry person B
Serial
Comparison
