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Chapter 11
The Changing Family
Defining Family
• A family is a relationship in which people:
– Live together with commitment
– Form an economic unit
– Care for the young
– Consider the group critical to their identity
• Traditional family based on kinship:
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Defining Family
– Network of people based on common
ancestry, marriage or adoption
• Prior to industrialization extended family
was common:
– But today in industrial society most are
nuclear families
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Current Views on the Family
• Family today has changed from family of
the past:
– Marriage is no longer a cultural imperative
– Cohabitation
• The family is adapting to societal changes:
– And people remain committed to marriage as
evidenced by serial monogamy
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© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Singlehood
• Singlehood continues to increase in U.S.
• Reasons people choose singlehood:
– Greater freedom from commitment
– More career opportunities
– Desire for self-sufficiency and freedom to
change
• Some people are involuntarily single:
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Singlehood
– Varies greatly by race and ethnicity
• Many more African American males and females
have never been married compared to whites
– By necessity
• Economic reasons prevents many young, workingclass people from marrying because:
– They can’t afford to set up their own household
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Postponing Marriage
• Median age for first marriage has
increased
• Reasons for postponing marriage:
– Economic uncertainty; concern about divorce
– Women increasing participation in labor force
– Sexual relationships outside marriage are
more acceptable; contraception more
effective
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Cohabitation and Domestic Partnership
• Cohabitation:
– Two unmarried adults living together in a
sexual relationship without legal marriage
– Some times a step in the dating process
– Mixed results on it’s relationship to marital
success
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Cohabitation and Domestic Partnership
• Domestic Partnerships
– A legal move by states to allow some people
similar rights and benefits as married couples
– Common among gay and lesbian couples
who can’t legally marry in most states:
• Although preference is still for same sex marriage
which accords more rights to the couple
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Dual-Earner Marriage
• Marriages in which both spouses are in
the labor force
– More common among minority families
• Many women in these marriages end up
doing the “second shift”
– Women do about 1 extra month more of work
each year than their husbands
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Two Parent vs. Single Parent Homes
• A very conflicted 2 parent home is worse
than a supportive single parent home
• Effects of a single parent household on
children
– Negatives
– Positives
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Child Related Family Issues
• Reproductive freedom:
– Very controversial topic related to
contraceptive use as well as abortion
– Has both personal and social consequences.
• Infertility and Reproductive Technologies:
– Many new technologies to help them, but
don’t always work
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© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teen Pregnancy
• The teen birthrate is higher in the U.S.
than any other high-income nation
• Largest increase in African American girls
• Likely to drop out of school
• Have no social support outside of family
• Children from teen moms have limited
opportunities
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© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Divorce and Remarriage
• We have a high rate of divorce in the U.S.
– Factors affect likelihood of divorce
– Race and ethnicity
• Even though divorce rates are high:
– Remarriage rates are also high in the U.S.
creating many blended families
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Domestic Violence
• Child Abuse:
– Neglect that is physical, mental, sexual or
negligent treatment of a child under 18
• Much remains hidden unless serious injury/death
• Spouse Abuse:
– Historically it was ignored and tolerated
– Women more likely to be victims
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Perspectives on Family
• Functionalist and Conservative
– Family provides social order and economic
stability
– Family is the solution to many societal
problems
– Dysfunctional families threaten well-being of
individuals and society
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Perspectives on Family
• Conflict and Feminist
– Family as a major source of inequality and
conflict
– Family reproduces inequality that exists in
larger society
• Reinforces patriarchy and female subordination
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Perspectives on Family
• Symbolic Interactionists
– Focus on how family members play their
diverse roles
– Problems occur because:
• Men & women experience marriage differently
• Unrealistic expectations about love and marriage
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