Group 3
FAMILY
Joanna DeCicco
Alexei Viana
Naira Suvorova
Ashley Vieira
Ilona Master
Family Group Survey
THE FAMILY
On Becoming a Sociologist
A. Student Ilona Master
Unit 3
Chapter 10 - Family: Same-sex marriages vs. Heterosexual marriages
Core Concepts/Terms/Sociologist Connection
1. Heterosexual Family - domestic group of people linked together through a common
progenitor, a marriage , or adoption. Heterosexual family usually consist of a parents: a
mother and a father, children and sometimes grandparents (extended family) sharing
together joined household.
2. Same-sex Family - represent Endagamy’s form of the family (practice of marrying within
same social group) and is a marriage between two people belonging to the same biological
sex or gender identity. Such families may consist of the same sex partners or parents,
children. Extended type of the family is not popular amongst gay couples.
B. Material Utilized:
1. http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/gaymarriage/ig/Gay-Marriage-Cartoons/
(Cartoons)
2.http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/specialreports/countries-where-same-sexmarriage-is-legal/2012/05/10/gIQAwOziFU_gallery.html#photo=10 (A slideshow of the
countries which legalized same-sex marriages)
3.
http://izaura2.wikispaces.com/file/view/FamilyPolicy.pdf/345953672/FamilyPolicy.pdf
4. http://gaymarriage.procon.org/ (A pros and cons of gay marriages)
5. http://izaura2.wikispaces.com/file/view/GL_10_issues.pdf (10 main legal issues of the
gay marriages)
Current event article / Political cartoon / Video / Resource (texts-www.)/ Other
http://theweek.com/article/briefing_blog/279/gay-in-america (Current event article. The
struggling retailer JCPenney doubles down on its support of same-sex couples, despite a
boycott from the conservative One Million Moms project.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrSkmpHp_T0 (How gay families could lead to the end
of humanity)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIYzlUGenuA&feature=related (scarry anti-gay
marriage ad)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTzbuQq-e-U (parenthood in the same-sex families)
Connections to - Irony. The contoversity of legalization of the same-sex marriages redirects
public attention from life’s real actual issues such as high rate of unemployment and
medical insurance problems (which affects EVERYONE despite his/her sexual preferences)
to the bigotry of the hatred bedrooms’ conversation about pseudo threatening of the core
of the heterosexual family institution by gay marriages.
Reasons for marriage:
● Public declaration of the love
● Formation of a single household unit
● Legitimizing sexual relations and procreation
● Social and economical stability
● Raising and nurturing of children
Differences of the Same-sex and Heterosexual families:
● Families with two mothers or two fathers
● Average gay couple older than average heterosexual couple
● Median gay couple usually is more educated
● Divorced rate of gay couples is slightly higher than of regular families
● Gay couples are more financially stable and successful than heterosexual couples.
C. Sociological Imagination:
Latvia, the country where I came from, overall has an undefined governmental approach
toward gay acceptance that more or less could be put into the words “it is not allowed, but
it is not forbidden”. At the same time, on the constitutional level, Latvia does not recognize
gay marriages. However, what else can be expected from the country, which hosted yearly
Nazi veterans’ parades with parliamentary blessing and participation? While living there, I
have known quite a few people who were at that time deeply closeted and, as a result,
pretended to be “normal” members of society with a standard set: a wife, 1.5 children
during daytime and spent “soul searching” nights amongst similar undercover friends in
the local gay bars. Since Latvian government does not recognize same-sex marriages and
shows low level of tolerance toward gays and lesbians, police will usually take the
approach of “looking the other way” should gay bashing accidents and episodes of hatred
happen. Before coming here, I was sure that America would be more progressive and
forthcoming toward GL problems, but was very disappointed that the USA so willingly and
actively pushy when it comes to political “democratization” of the world was so outdated in
approach and slow reacted in acceptance of the same-sex unions. Will the “wind of change”
actually transform the situation here is unknown, given the fact that the government is
mostly represented by politicians from the old generation, and gays’ issues seems to be the
last agenda on their lists. Sadly, they see gay people not as regular citizens with different
sexual orientation, but more as something abnormal, temporary trendy, and sickening that
somehow may stain the perfect world of heterosexual families.
Conflict:
Homosexuality among humans existed for thousands of years. Over the time, homosexuals
were legally persecuted, outcast and blamed for everything including the end of humanity.
Being gay today is still enough reason to be jailed or even executed in such countries as
Vietnam, Egypt, most of Islamic and South African countries. On April 1st, 2001,
Netherlands was the first country to recognize and legalize same sex marriage followed by
Belgium in 2003. In 2005, Canada and Spain announced that gay and lesbians can marry
and adopt children. In 2009, Norway’s parliament passed the law allowing gay couples to
marry, adopt the children and to use artificial insemination for lesbians. 2007 became a
special year for gay community of the Sweden too. Portuguese become an eighth country
recognizing same sex marriages in 2010 along with Argentina, a first country in Latin
America. Surprisingly, South African Parliament has passed legislation to acknowledge
same sex marriages in 2006. as well In 2010, Iceland’s Parliament unanimously passed
legislation allowing gay marriages, right after Prime Minister J.Sigurdardottir married her
longtime partner and became first open gay to marry in Iceland. However, in USA gay and
lesbian couples are still fighting for their legal rights to be equal to the heterosexual
marriages. As of May 12, 2011, gay marriages has been legalized only in eight states:
Massachusetts (2004), Connecticut (2008), Iowa and Vermont (2009), New Hampshire
(2010), District of Columbia (2010), New York (2011), Washington (2012) and Maryland
(will be effective in 2013). There are also 31 states, which have constitutional corrections
against same sex marriages. Nowadays, many lawmakers still considered gay marriages as
a threat to the heterosexual world. By refusing to accept the reality of the life, which
includes gays and lesbians as vocal, important and influential members of our society,
politicians and lawmakers, has stripped same-sex couples from most legal benefits and
Constitutional rights.
1
Function:
Despite the fact that both parties are paying taxes, all federal and state medicare and social
security withdrawals, they cannot combine, use, or transfer those benefits to “significant
other”. Even though some states are legalize gay marriages and acknowledge same-sex
families, the existence of the huge legal loophole creates unfair and increasingly
complicated situation where selectively gender-blind governmental and financial
institutions have no problem to apply generalized common rules to the both gay and
heterosexual families but have enormous amount of restrictions toward issuing any kinds
of benefits to the same-sex partners in return.
Symbolic Interaction:
The core values of the family is to propagate, to nurture children, to socialize, and to set
moral and ethical codes for the future generation. Economic recession, financial struggles,
partnership’s trust, and parental issues all put enormous pressure on families. However, it
is primal and essential for every human,regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,
to yearn to be part of and to create its nuclear family as a universal constant of the “safe
zone”.
A. Student Ashley Vieira
Unit 3
Chapter 10 Family – Divorce & Legal Separation
Core Concepts/Terms/Sociologist Connection
1. Divorce is the legal separation and dissolving of a marital union. A divorce is, in most
countries, defined by the legal dissolution of the marriage in a court or other authority.
2. Legal Separation is the separation of a married couple through the court. If the couple
feels they would like to continue their marriage, they may do so without any process
because they are still married by the state. If they choose to proceed with a divorce, they
would file the necessary paperwork.
B. Material Utilized:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce#History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_separation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce#Polygyny_and_divorce
http://web-japan.org/tokyo/know/marriage/mar.html
Current event article / Political cartoon / Video / Resource (texts-www.)/ Other
http://www.divorcestatistics.info/what-is-the-current-divorce-rate-in-america.html
(Current Divorce Rates)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V2m27BoHRY&feature=related (Terms of a Legal
Separation)
Connections to- higher divorce rates. Since the 1960’s and 1970’s, divorce rates of
skyrocketed to 50%-60%. They have become more common. A man or woman would
rather not deal with their spouse. Children and emotional loss makes it extremely difficult
to divorce because of the fear of failure or being alone.
C. Sociological Imagination:
Divorce rates have in fact increased. I feel many of times it’s due to the lack of open
communication & also because people are looking to be whom they think their spouse
wants them to be. Because of these factors, I think that is why people look for someone else
so they can be themselves. Someone can live a lie for only so long.
I come from a divorced family. My parents are completely different people. They
came from a time where at age 24 an individual was becoming too old to not be married.
The pressure of societies standards brought two people together, that have nothing in
common. If they had stayed married, my upbringing would have been full of arguments and
differences that would have affected my character. I do feel that as a child from a divorced
family, I did miss out on some important experiences needed while growing up in a loving
home. However, it was not worth the unhappiness it would have brought them and I, just to
experience something I could experience in different ways. It did affect me growing up
because a child cannot understand why a family must be separated, but as an adult I have
come to understand it was the best decision for them as well as me.
I do feel that people today are selfish. Nothing is as it used to be. People don’t want
to have to work at a relationship. They expect the fairy tales they watched as growing up.
Relationships take work no matter how common a couple may be.
Conflict:
Divorce in the early Roman times had no process. It was considered solely under the
basis of infidelity to the “good spouse”. This would mean they were to sleep in separate
beds and never cohabitate again, even though they were still legally bound.
After the reformation, courts became aware that there needed to be a policy and
legal break in the marriage. This did not sit well with the people. In turn they came to agree
that a divorce would not be valid under hints of complicity but only if a party violated a
vow. In 1603-1868, Japan didn’t not allow women to file for divorce. Men could file with a
written letter stating they would like a divorce. Today anyone could request a divorce. The
four different methods in Japan for divorce are mutual, through mediation, divorce in
family court because mediation failed to reach an agreement, or in district court.
Many countries are still against divorce and have no legal process for it. The most
common reasons for divorce are Adultery, Domestic Violence, Midlife crisis, Addictions and
Workaholism. In many cultures religion and beliefs become part of reason for divorce as
well.
Function:
There are cases where divorce is a better decision then to stay together. Many of
divorces with infidelity cause emotional damage to someone’s self image. There is a lot of
resentment that builds towards one another when a spouse has gone through a lot of
emotional, mental and physical breakdowns and abuse. It is healthier for the individual and
everyone involved that the marriage be terminated.
Symbolic Interaction:
Society is constantly changing. With this change there is a lot of pressure to continue
having the “white picket fence life”. However, people are not willing to compromise their
lives and are not willing to fix what is broken. Divorce is the solution for individuals to
move forward with their lives in a more positive fashion.
A. Student Naira Suvorova
Unit 3
Chapter 10- Family: Cohabitation versus Marriage
Core Concepts/Terms/Sociologist Connection
1. Cohabitation is living together in a sexual relationship without marriage.
According to U. S. Census Bureau, the number of unmarried couples living together
doubled in the 1990s from 2.9 million to 6.2 million in 2006. Two thirds of married couples
lived together for an average of 2 years before marriage. One out of every nine cohabiting
couples are homosexual.
2. Serial cohabitation refers to living with one partner for a time and then with another.
3. Premarital cohabitation occurs when the couple is testing the relationship before making
a commitment to marriage.
- They may be divorced and reluctant to marry.
-They may feel that a legal ceremony is irrelevant.
4. Marriage is the union of two people that is typically recognized by the law or cultural
norms. It is the most common foundation for the family formulation in the world.
B. Material Utilized:
Current event article / Political cartoon / Video / Resource (texts-www.)/ Other
1. Ballantine, Jeanne H, and Keith A Roberts. “Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology.”
3ed. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2011.
2. http://thethinkspot.com/sociology/chapters/14
3.Singlehood, cohabitation, and Other Nonmarital Options
www.donnavandergrift.com/Ch09_Benokraitis.ppt[PPT]
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PItNy3xooPI&feature=related
Should people live together before marriage? Dr. John Curtis explores the pros and cons of
cohabitation before marriage.
5.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGBZfmtcQQM&feature=related
Cohabitation is not the same as marriage when it comes to outcomes. Compared to married
couples, cohabiting couples tend to report poorer relationship quality and worse
psychological and financial well-being. Cohabiting relationships and even subsequent
marriage tend to be less enduring.
6. http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/24/living/baby-boomer-divorce/index.html
7.. www.harpers.org (political cartoon)
Connections to- Irony
This cartoon points to the paradox of the common modern belief of our society that
cohabitation before marriage should ensure the stability of marriage and lower divorce
rate. In reality, cohabitation does not guarantee that marriage will be successful and long
lasting. Many cohabitors may drift into marriage rather than making a conscious
commitment. In addition, according to cohabitation experience effect, cohabitors may view
relationships as temporary and ready to break up.
C. Sociological Imagination:
I was born in Armenia where cohabitation was a taboo. Even when my parents moved to
Russia, this tradition remained solid to our family. Sex before marriage was socially
unacceptable for Armenian girl, and it still remains unchanged. Premarital sex is seen as an
offence against the family and a weakening of social bonds. However, it seemed that
premarital cohabitation is okay in European and North American countries in these days
because of relaxation of norms of sexual behaviors, such as increased acceptance of
“premarital sex.” It was considered that cohabitation would bring more stability to
marriage, increase emotional closeness, and reduce amount of conflict.
Cohabitors believe that the quality or duration of their marriage improves if they live
together before getting married but it does not. In the USA, the difference between
unsatisfied couples who cohabit before engagement ( 43%) and those who cohabit after
marriage (40.5%) is really small.
From my personal experience, there is little relationship between cohabitation and
marital satisfaction. We cannot get to know another person when we feel no right to
constrain a partner’s habit, for example, for excessive smoking and drinking, or spending
habits. Also, less commitment in relationship between cohabitors is another factor of
future marital dissatisfaction. Yet people prefer to cohabit to be in more meaningful
relationships but with freedom to leave the union, to reduce loneliness, or to get sexual
gratification or financial benefits. All my relatives started to live together after getting
married and their marriages were pretty stable. Due to their belief that divorce is not an
option, they work out their problems and find a solution. They also devoted to one another
and to their children.
Conflict:
Today, many young couples are cohabiting without the intention of getting married and
having children later. On the other hand, there is a trend when older people choose to live
together without marriage due to the dire economy. They see cohabitation as a way to
avoid raised income taxes brackets which apply to married couples with high double
income, and a possibility to survive in today’s economic crisis by combining two
independent income.
Besides financial issues that brings them together, old people cohabit and seek for the life
partner because of the unhappy relationships in their marriage which may even last more
than 30 years. They look for self-fulfillment and individual happiness, so they get divorced
and cohabit without marital ties.
Our society sees no problem in the young adults’ cohabitation, but strongly disapproves
when it comes to older people. Because the percentage of marriages declines, some
sociological analysts believe that cohabitation is a threat to the stability of society and
families in particular, thus, the solution is to promote marriage as an attractive alternative.
Function:
Many cohabitors do not feel responsibilities to take care of disabled, infirm, or sick
members of their partner's family; therefore, this function of family is lost. Moreover, they
see cohabitation as part of mate selection process or just dating, implying less commitment
in relationships. Having a freedom to leave a union, young adults engage in serial
cohabitation, disrupting sexual regulation produced by society. Society regulates our sexual
behaviors through marriage. Marriage is supposed to keep people out of ongoing
disruption or conflict, taking married people “off limits.”
Symbolic Interaction:
Interaction with others is based on people’s shared meaning of symbols. A wedding ring
symbolizes a foundation of a family where couples are permanently committed to each
other and have certain responsibilities and obligations. Although cohabitors do not wear
wedding rings, it does not necessarily means a lack of commitment. If individuals cohabit as
a path to marriage, relationships can be fulfilling, stable, and lifelong. However, majority of
adults seek for social legitimacy, social or religious acceptance, and a home they can get
through marriage.
A. Student Alexei Viana
Unit 3
Chapter 10 - Family - Extended Families
Core Concepts/Terms/Sociologist Connection
1. Extended Families: refers to the family members who extend beyond the immediate or
nuclear family of parents and their children. The term may be used synonymously with
consanguineal family. An extended family may live together as a single household. Often
there could be many generations living under the same roof, depending on the
circumstances. Alternatively, in societies dominated by the conjugal or nuclear family, it is
used to refer to kindred in addition to those immediate family members, and who live in
different households. Generally, the extended family is contrasted with the nuclear family.
Regardless of whether they live together in a single household or separately, the three- or
four-generation extended family, including grandparents in addition to parents and
children, provides a rich network for human relationships and great support for the raising
of children and continuation of the lineage.
2. Extended family concepts
Membership: Father and mother; sons and wives; daughters until married; grandsons and
wives; granddaughters until married; great grandsons and wives; great granddaughters
until married.
Head of the Family: Father with support of mother. in the absence of the father,
the most capable elder son with guidance of his mother and support of spouse. In the
absence of the elder brother, a competent younger brother takes over.
Distribution of duties:
The head of the family assigns members according to their abilities and availability. The
mother is responsible for nurturance, clothing, household activities, gift giving and
acceptance of gifts. She consults her daughters-in-law and wives of younger brothers and
educates them for proper decision-making in her absence.
●
Extended middle-class Midwestern U.S. family of Danish/German extraction
B. Material Utilized:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family#Kinship_terminology
www.varnasrama.org/.../Extended%20Family%20Systems%20&
Current event article / Political cartoon / Video / Resource (texts-www.)/ Other
Kardashians Family
http://deens-japan.com/diary.cgi?field=10
The image above is a popular Manga(cartoon) in Japan that says Sazae-san. This Manga of
Sazae-san started in 1946, and expresses an ideal family. Sazae-san is still telecasted on the
television now.
The members of an extended family sometimes are too large that they don’t even know
who the other relatives are and often this causes problems.
Connections to- real fact in Japan (cartoon #1)
The average number of people per family in Japan was 2.58 in 2005, according to a public
survey, but it used to be about 5 back in 1955. After the Second World War, many people
moved to metropolitan areas, leaving the farms where they needed to live with their
extended family who helped out with the farm work. Thus, nuclear families which consist
of one couple and their children started becoming more common. Meanwhile, the number
of senior citizens over 75 years old who live alone is estimated to triple in the next 10 years.
The family in Japan is a few people now. Moreover, there are a lot of couples who don't
want the child. Therefore, the population of Japan decreased in recent years. And, the work
force is insufficient, and this becomes a big problem of the society.
C. Sociological Imagination: I was born in Colombia in an extended family. What i
remember is that my family was composed by my dad, mom, a brother (older than me),
stepsister (from mom side), a sister, and my grandmother (dad’s mom)- in other words, it
was an extended family. My parents taught me that a family is a highly important
institution to Colombians engraved by the traditional Roman Catholic church teachings.
Members of the extended family are close and children rarely ever move far away from
their parents. There is a deep sense of familial responsibility that stretches through many
generations.
Traditionally, men were usually the head of the household, in charge of earning most of the
family's income while women were responsible for cooking, housework and raising
children. However, as in most cultures around the world, the dawn of the 20th century
brought forth a great empowerment for women who were given a right to vote during the
1950s rule of dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. The Constitution of 1991 gave a wider
opportunity for women and today the majority of families (regardless of economic class)
have two working parents due to the need of an income to sustain a family.
At a child's baptism, the parents of the child will choose godparents, padrinos. A child's
padrinos will play an important role in his life, giving advice, and when needed, financial
support.
Conflict: Family harmony provides a sense of belonging and a feeling of security unlike
many other types of relationships. When conflict arises, it threatens that security. Whether
the disharmony initiates from within the family unit or from external sources, individual
family members and the family as a whole can experience a range of negative emotions and
consequences. Unresolved conflict may irreparably damage a marriage and the entire
family.
One major source of family conflict is within the area of finances--specifically, the
lack of enough money to pay bills, maintain the mortgage or rent, buy sufficient food and
other necessities and have any remaining money for recreation. Similarly, disagreements
may spring from determining what bills to pay, how much to pay for certain items or how
to invest money.
A job or career, the main source of a family's finances, may contribute to conflict within a
family. If a parent's job keeps him away from home most of the time, the spouse at home
with the children often feels neglected or overwhelmed. If both parents work, the children
may suffer from lack of parental bonding and involvement. Conversely, if the parent
becomes unemployed, this causes its own form of stress and conflict, as finances dwindle
and uncertainty sets in about the future.
Another cause of family conflict is the inevitable rivalry that occurs between siblings.
Children typically seek their parents' attention and approval, even if this requires tattling
on, or sometimes causing harm to, a sibling. Whether a child expresses jealousy of her
sibling, competes with him or teases him non-stop, it is destined to cause conflict. Each
child deserves an equal amount of parental love and acceptance, yet sometimes a parent
may favor one child over another. This merely intensifies the conflict.
Jokes and movies abound regarding conflict with in-laws (especially mothers-inlaw); however, when you actually become involved in disagreements with your in-laws or
extended family, it is no laughing matter. While it is preferable to respect your elders-parents and grandparents on both sides equally--this can prove to be challenging. If
relatives routinely interfere in your family's decisions and lifestyle, conflict frequently
results.
Function:
Extended families are like microcosms of an entire world. They are the first training
grounds, where people learn interpersonal skills. People in extended families learn lessons
of patience, tolerance, cooperation and adjustment. They also learn what it means to take
collective responsibility. One for all and all for one.
Symbolic Interaction:
Every parent raises their child/children in different ways. Everyone has a different
way of handling being a single parent and trying to substiane a family as well.
A. Student Joanna DeCicco
Unit
Family
Chapter 10 - Single Parent Families
Core Concepts/Terms/Sociologist Connection
1. Single Parent - A parent who has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of
the child or children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver who is not
living with a spouse or partner, or those who are not married.
2. Dominate Caregiver - The parent in which the children have residency with the majority of
the time; if the parents are separated or divorced children live with their custodial parent and
have visitation with their noncustodial parent.
3. Single parenting can be caused by separation, divorce, or a death of a parent.
B. Material Utilized:
Current event article / Political cartoon / Video / Resource (texts-www.)/ Other
http://singlemomsnet.com/parenting/permalink.php?article=Adjusting+To+Being+A+Single+Pare
nt.txt
http://www.sagepub.com/newman2studyfamilies/essays/single_parent.htm
http://singleparents.about.com/od/legalissues/p/portrait.htm
Connections toThis cartoon shows a single parent who has no time for themselves because all of
their time goes to the children. Single parents in society today have their share of daily
struggles and long-term disadvantages because their main focus is having the best for their
child.
C. Sociological Imagination:
In 2009, there were approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States.
Those parents are responsible for raising 21.8 million children. That is around 26% of
children under the age of 21 in the United States. 84% of single parents are mothers and
16% are fathers. Many families are considered single parents because of divorce or
separation but 1.7% are single parents because they are widowed.
I have never had a first hand experience with having a single parent family but my
friend’s mom is a single parent. She became a single parent because her husband passed
away. From seeing his family, I have noticed that there is a lot of fighting that goes on
caused by the stress of the mother and the short term anger of her children. The mother
is also stressed with finances because now, as a single mother, she does not have the
income of the father. Even though she gets money from the state, it is not as much as the
father use to make himself, so she still has to work harder to support her family.
Conflict:
Many single-parent households are female-headed, their economic burden is much
greater than that of a single-father family. This issue results from the fact that single
women typically do not earn the same income as a single man. There is a consequent
economic struggle not experienced in the single-father household. Single mothers often
must work overtime shifts to compensate for the low salaries, thus taking time away from
their children and other domestic chores. This results in a child that is home alone, without
adult supervision, or placed in a daycare service for up to 8-10 hours per day. Government
subsidized daycare is not yet a realized dream, and many single mothers pay large fees for
this service.
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Visitation and custody problems
Problems fighting over child between parents
The effects of continuing conflict between the parents
Less opportunity for parents and children to spend time together
Effects of the breakup on children's school performance and peer relations
Disruptions of extended family relationships
Problems caused by the parents' dating and entering new relationships
Function:
Life in a single parent household is very common but can be quite stressful for the
adult and the children. Members may unrealistically expect that the family can function like
a two-parent family, and may feel that something is wrong when it can not. The single
parent may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of juggling caring for the children,
maintaining a job, and keeping up with the bills and household chores. And typically, the
family's finances and resources are drastically reduced following the parents' breakup. To
function as a family, single parenting building families involves fostering relationships and
establishing bonds, trust, honesty, disciplines, roles and responsibilities of each family
member. A single parent has to function as a two parent home but only with one parent
but the same responsibilities.
Symbolic Interaction:
There is not really a physical symbol like a wedding ring for a single parent. There
is no way to know if someone is a single parent unless you know the family personally. The
only symbols recognized are the legal papers that show why there is single parent in a
family or the legal papers stating the custody agreement for the child between parents.