SOCIOLOGY
A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e
James M. Henslin
Chapter Sixteen:
The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
What is a Family?
 In U.S. - One Woman, Man, and Children
 Other Cultures Polygamy and Polyandry
 Approved Group into which a Child is
Born?
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Chapter 16: The Family
Family Defined
“A family consists of people who consider
themselves related by blood, marriage, or
adoption.”
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Chapter 16: The Family
Family Can Be...
Nuclear – Husband, Wife, and Child(ren)
Extended – Nuclear plus: Grandparents, uncles, and
aunts
Family of Orientation – family in which you grow up in
Family of Procreation – the family formed when a couples
first child is born
 Marriage – A groups approved mating arrangements,
usually has some ritual to follow
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Chapter 16: The Family
Common Cultural Themes
Families Establish Patterns of…
 Mate Selection – Endogamy – Within group
Exogamy – Outside group ex. Incest
 Descent – Bilateral - from both parents
Patrilineal – Tracing from father only
Matrilineal – Tracing from mother only
ex. Naxi of China
 Inheritance – Depends on your decent system
 Authority- Patriarchy – ex. Marriage names
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Chapter 16: The Family
Working with a partner…
 Outline each of the theoretical perspectives

Functionalist (p453)

Conflict (p453-454)

Symbolic Interactionist (p456)
 Summarize Figures: 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, and 16.4

For 16.1 and 16.3 list what your opinions
are and why. How has this changed over
time
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
The Family Life Cycle
 Love and Courtship in Global Perspective
 Article on page 457
 Marriage

Social Channels of Love and Marriage

Homogamy – the tendency of people with similar
characteristics to marry one another

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Propinquity – spatial nearness
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
The Family Life Cycle
Family Transitions in Later Life
 Adultolescents and the Not-So-Empty Nest
 Boomerang Children

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42% of 24-29 year olds
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Chapter 16: The Family
Diversity in U.S. Families
 Latino Families
 Families from Mexico – headed by married
couple ---Puerto Rico
 Time in the United States
 Machismo – masculinity
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
Diversity in U.S. Families
 One-Parent Families
 85% in 1970 ----69% today
 Led by women ---tend to be poor
 Blended Families – one whose members were once
part of other families EX. Page 466
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
Diversity in U.S. Families
 Families Without Children
 19% without Children
 “DINKS”
 Stuck at home, Bored, considered Lazy
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
Trends in U.S. Families
 Unmarried Mothers
10% in 1970 and 34% 2007

Why? Industrialization? Further research needed…
 Cohabitation - adults living together in a sexual relationship
without being married
 Grandparents as Parents

White 4 % Latino 7% African American 14%

Skipped Generation Families
 Postponing Marriage and Childbirth

One of the most significant changes in marriage

Oldest then its ever been in history
???? The Sandwich Generation and Elder Care

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Chapter 16: The Family
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Chapter 16: The Family
Divorce and Remarriage
 Problems in Measuring Divorce
 Children and Grandchildren of Divorce
More than 1 million a year
 More likely to become?
 What helps this transition?
 Serial Fatherhood – Father reduces contact with
family following a divorce
 One sixth see dad one a week – Most never

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Chapter 16: The Family
Two Sides of Family Life
The Dark Side
 Battering

Equally likely to attack

85% of injured are women

Why doesn’t she just leave? P 477

How to handle frustration?
 Child Abuse

Home for sale p, 478

3 million cases reported each year, 900,000 substantiated
 Marital Rape

1/3 to ½ half of women in shelters

Less likely to report

Intimacy Rape - Cohabitation
 Incest
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Chapter 16: The Family
Two Sides of Family Life
The Bright Side—Successful Marriages
 Spouse is Best Friend
 Like Spouse as Person
 Think Marriage is Long-Term
Commitment
 Believe Marriage is Sacred
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Chapter 16: The Family
Two Sides of Family Life
The Bright Side—Successful Marriages
 Agree with Spouse Aims and Goals
 Believe Spouse Grown More Interesting
 Want Relationship to Succeed
 Laugh Together
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Chapter 16: The Family
Happy Families
 Spend a Lot of Time Together
 Are Quick to Express Appreciation
 Committed to Promoting Mutual Welfare
 Talk and Listen a Lot
 Are Religious
 Deal with Crises Positively
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Chapter 16: The Family
The Future of
Marriage and Family
 No Danger of Becoming a Relic
 Cohabitation, Single Mothers, Age at
Marriage, Grandparents as Parents will
Increase
 Continued Distorted Images of Marriage
and Family
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