Chapter 11 The Changing Family Social Problems A

The Problem in Sociological Perspective • Effects of the Industrial Revolution on the family § Men left home § Children became an economic liability § Formal education § A lower birthrate § From rural to urban § Loss of functions § Changes in women’s roles Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

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The Scope of the Problem • Divorce § Increased steadily since 1970 • Is divorce a sign of weakness or strength? • The children of divorce • The Nagging Dilemma of Divorce Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson

One Parent Families • Births to unmarried women • Having just one parent • • Impact on children Absence of the father Trying to be two parents Discipline Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Other Problems • Runaway children § Pushouts: children shoved out by parents who no longer want them • Family violence Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Looking at the Family Theoretically: Why Is Divorce Common? • What marriage means to people has undergone extensive and fundamental change • For most the family is a major support system Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Symbolic Interactionism: Changing Symbols • Major Shifts in Mate Selection • The love symbol: engulfment into unrealistic expectations • Changing ideas about children • Changing expectations of parenting • Changing marital roles • Perception of alternatives • Changing ideas about divorce • Legal Changes Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Functionalism • How changes in the traditional functions of the family are related to divorce § Economic production § Socialization of children § Care of the sick and injured § Care of the aged § Recreation § Sexual control of family members § Reproduction Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Conflict and Feminist Theory • Male domination of marriage and family §False consciousness §Reproductive labor §Second shift • Power and the marital experience §Today’s women are less dependent on mates. • Marriage as an Arena for an Outgoing Historical Struggle Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Research Findings POSTPONING MARRIAGE • The U-Turn in Age at First Marriage Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Research Findings POSTPONING MARRIAGE • Cohabitation § Rapid increase as sexual norms changed • Remaining Single COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN • In U. S. , about 1 of 5 (19%) wives do not give birth • Choosing not to have Children • The “mythical child” Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

FAMILY VIOLENCE • Extent of violence―FBI reports • Intimate partner violence • Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence • Equality Between the Sexes? • Social Class and Violence Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

• Alcohol and violence • • • § The more people drink, the more likely they are to beat their spouse. The social heredity of violence Why Doesn’t She Just Leave? Spouse abuse as a defense for homicide Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sexual Abuse in the Family • Types of Marital rape § Non-battering rape § Battering rape § Perverted rape § Effects of marital rape § Why do some women put up with marital rape? • Fear, low self-esteem, and little support Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

• Incest § § § Incest taboo Extent of incest Who are the offenders? Family! Effects on victims The Pro-Incest Lobby Pedophile Liberation Army (PLA) Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

The End of Marriage and Traditional Family? • Marriage is Weakening • Marriage Continues Strong • Changes and Challenges • What Do These Changes Mean? • The idea that the family has declined is a “sociological myth. ” Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Social Policy • The Lasch Accusations: intrusions by professionals § Christopher Lasch • “People are trying to find in the family a refuge of love and decency in a cruel and heartless world. ” § We have become a “therapeutic society. ” § No evidence that these so-called experts have benefited the family • The dilemma of family policy: taking sides § Lasch’s claims expose division within social policy addressing family needs. Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

• • The battleground of definitions: intervention or interference? § Symbolic interactionists stress that our understanding of what “ought” to be depends on values. § Often difficult to face controversial social policy without being prejudiced. The issue of poverty § Many sociologists see poverty as the root of family troubles. Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

The Future of the Problem • Rapid social change as normative § Change is so rapid and extensive that parents and children live in different worlds. • Future shock § Vertigo, the confusion, the disorientation experienced when our familiar world is transformed • Changes we can expect § § Age at first marriage will continue upward Cohabitation will continue to increase Marriage will become even more oriented around companionship Divorce rate will likely decline • The ideological struggle Social Problems: A Down-To-Earth Approach, Tenth Edition by James M. Henslin © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved