families Ebook

The Sociology of the Family Adam Isaiah Green Introduction to Sociology Winter 2013 nuclear family: is composed of a cohabiting man and woman who maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and have at least one child traditional nuclear family: the wife performs free domestic labor while the husband works outside the home for money This family form is based on a gendered division of labour Heteronormativity • A set of interrelated ideas about the traditional nuclear family, including: a) the idea that heterosexuality is normal and morally superior to homosexuality b) that heterosexual monogamous marriage is normal and morally superior to any other kind of family arrangement c) that a woman’s natural role in life is to bear children in marriage and the domestic labor of the household; a man’s natural role is to provide for and protect his family The Traditional Nuclear Family and New Alternatives legally married  singlehood, with children  two-parent  permanent  male primary provider, ultimate authority sexually exclusive  heterosexual  never married nonmarital cohabitation voluntary childlessness single-parent divorce, remarriage egalitarian (dual-career) extramarital relationships same-sex relationships, households The Growing Diversity of Canadian Families, 1931-2001 http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/analytic/companion/fam/family.cfm The Growing Diversity of Canadian Families, 1981-2006 (in percent) 1981 Lone-parent families, 11.3 Common-law couples without children, 3.7 Common-law couples with children at home, 1.9 Married couples without children, 28.1 Married couples with children at home, 55 2006 Married couples without children, 29.9 Lone-parent families, 15.9 Married couples with children at home, 38.7 Common-law couples without children, 8.5 Common-law couples with children at home, 6.9 FUNCTIONALISM: The Five Functions of Families  Sexual regulation     Economic cooperation Reproduction Socialization Emotional support Crude Divorce Rate, Canada, 1968-2003 The crude divorce rate is the number of divorces that occur in a year for every 1,000 people in the population Divorces per 1,000 population 3.1 2.3 0.5 1968 1988 Year 2003 Crude Marriage Rate, Canada, 1921-2003 12 10.6 10 4.7 2003 2002 1996 1990 1981 1971 1961 1951 1941 1931 1921 Marriages per 1,000 population The crude marriage rate is the number of marriages that occur in a year for every 1,000 people in the population Rosie “the riveter” MODE OF PRODUCTION OF HUMAN FAMILIES HUNTING GATHERING SOCIETIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES; DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS MONOGAMY IS LOVE?  Marxists assert the primacy of class inequality, especially under capitalism, in creating gender inequality in the family: Class inequality Problem of wealth transmission Economic control Sexual control  But feminists assert the priority of patriarchy over class inequality because patriarchy existed in pre-capitalist and communist societies Total Divorce Rate, Canada, 1993-2003 Divorces per 1,000 marriages by 30th anniversary 450 400 401 405 400 369 350 348 361 376 383 2002 2003 300 250 200 150 100 50 1993 1994 1995 1996 Year 1997 1998 The Five Bases of Marital Satisfaction      Economic forces Divorce laws The family life cycle Housework and childcare Sex Family Satisfaction and the Family Life Cycle Family satisfaction (scale 1-5) 4.5 4.3 Men 4.1 Women 3.9 3.7 -p n No ts n e ar 49 25 nc u La ng hi t Es en m ish l ab t t ul d A n re d il ch at e m o h ss Ch le ild ne o n or at e m o h + 50 Three Factors Account for Emotional Distress among Children of Divorce  High level of parental conflict  Decline in living standards  Absence of a parent SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ... Canadian Families, 1931-2001 http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/analytic/companion/fam/family.cfm The Growing Diversity of Canadian Families, 1981-2006 (in percent) 1981 Lone-parent families, ... Lone-parent families, 15.9 Married couples with children at home, 38.7 Common-law couples without children, 8.5 Common-law couples with children at home, 6.9 FUNCTIONALISM: The Five Functions of Families. .. year for every 1,000 people in the population Rosie “the riveter” MODE OF PRODUCTION OF HUMAN FAMILIES HUNTING GATHERING SOCIETIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES; DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS MONOGAMY IS