MARRIAGE AND FAMILY MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN A

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE • What is family? – Family is universal, all groups organize members into families, different definitions around the world – Western world family is husband, wife, children – Other cultures more than one wife (polygamy), more than one husband (polyandry) • Broad definition is people that consider themselves related by blood, marriage or adoption

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Family classifications • Nuclear- husband wife children • Extended- includes aunts, uncles, grandparents • Family of orientation- family that person grows up in • Family of procreation- formed when couple has their first child • Marriage- groups approved mating arrangements, usually marked by ritual (wedding), that indicates new status

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Common Cultural Themes • Each group establishes norms of who marries whom • Endogamy- members must marry within groups, sometimes written into law • Exogamy- must marry outside of group – Incest taboo example of exogamy • All societies have system of descent (how you are related to others) • Bilateral Family used in our culture (trace through mother and father) • Other types patrilineal (trace through father), matrilineal (trace through mother)

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY FROM A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE • Incest taboo- helps families avoid role confusion – Forces people to look outside of family for marriage partners – Isolation and overload are dysfunctions • Isolation of nuclear family, extended family becomes less important – Not as many people to rely on for material and emotional support, stresses spread among fewer people (causes emotional overload, makes family vulnerable to more dysfunction)

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY FROM A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE • Conflict Theory- power of wives increasing – Women contribute more to income and decision making – Seen in power struggle over housework (called second shift, creates discontent among wives) • Symbolic Interactionist perspective deals with gender roles

FAMILY LIFE CYCLE • Childbirth and Childrearing – Parents spend more time with kids today than 30 years ago (mothers and fathers) – Single mothers rely on daycare and grandparents more to raise children – Marital satisfaction drops after birth of child, adding third person means interaction must be shared

FAMILY LIFE CYCLE • Childbirth and Childrearing • Social class makes difference how children are raised – Working class children develop naturally, place limits on children and let them choose their activities – Children expected to follow rules, concern with outward conformity, more likely to use physical punishment – Middle class- children need nurturing, pick activities they think will develop child’s thinking and social skills – Concern that children develop curiosity and self expression, withdraw privileges or affection for punishment

FAMILY LIFE CYCLE Family Transitions in Later Life • Empty nest- when children leave home new domestic situation that arises • Boomerang kids- Children leaving home later, more return home after college (causes problems in home between children and parents) • Widowhood- women more likely to become widows (live longer on average), living spouse needs to reassess life

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES • Culture, socioeconomic status major factors in determining family but there is an element of racial diversity • African American familieslikely to marry later, more likely to be headed by women • Fictive kin- people who help out seen as relatives, stretching of kinship, owe obligations to those that help • African American women tend to marry men with less education (women on average more educated in this racial group

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES Latino Families • Longer they are in US the more families resemble American family • Strong family orientation, disapproval of divorce • Loyalty to extended family • Machismo used to be big part of family culture (strength of male important), declining in recent years • Husband-father plays bigger role than other ethnic groups

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES Asian American Families • Family life reflects cultures where they are from, changes the more time they are in America • More permissive in child rearing • Punishment centers on shame and guilt • Tend to be have more respect for the elderly, family obligation • Success of child brings respect to family

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES One Parent Families • Increase in number recently • More likely to live in poverty, primary source of strain • Women usually head of one parent families • Children more likely to do poorly in school, have emotional problems and economic hardships

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES Families without children • Childlessness has grown over past 20 years • Common reason is sense of freedom • More education for women, acceptance of contraception, high cost of raising children cited as reasons Blended Families • Significantly increasing because of divorce • Creates complicated family relationships

DIVERSITY IN U. S. FAMILIES Gay and lesbian families • More common in European countries • 2004 Mass. First state to legalize gay marriage • Most couples with children located in larger cities • 1/5 previously married, have children from heterosexual marriage • Same sex couples more likely to breakup