Families
groups of related people, bound by connections that are biological, legal or emotional
Personal family
people to whom we feel related and who we expect to define us as members of their family as well
--MOST INCLUSIVE DEFINITION
Legal family
group of people related by birth, marriage or adoption
--state imposed legal definition b/c of "marriage
Institutional arena
social space in which relations between ppl in common positon are governed by accepted rules of interaction (mostly informal)
family arena
the institutional area where people practice intimacy, childbearing and socialization and caring work
What are the three types of family arenas?
1. state
2. market
3. marriage
**table 1.1
State (family arena)
Government institutions at all levels
--affects family through regulation
Market (family arena)
Labor for pay, economic exchange and wealth accumulation take place
-how to divide labor, how many kids to have, education, divorce, etc.
How does the state family arena affect the family?
affects family through government regulation
How does the market family arena affect the family?
affect family life, relationships and future family decisions
What's an example where all three family arena intersect?
Welfare
What are the 3 broad perspectives?
Consensus
Breadwinner-homemaker
Conflict
Consensus perspective
Most of us decide to do the same thing (generally) and believe in the same thing (mostly)
-focuses on stability rather than change
Conflict perspective
opposition and conflict define a given society and are necessary for social evolution
-argues that this is the best way to get positive change
Breadwinner-homemaker family
employed father, non employed mother and their children
--both roles are necessary, they create balance
Scenario: My husband moves to Cali to get his PhD. What's the conflict and consensus perspectives?
--Consensus perspective: this will better our family in the long run because it will lead to higher paying job, etc.
--Conflict perspective: I had to sacrifice my dreams and goals to move with him
What are the contemporary theories?
Feminism
Exchange
Modernity
Demography
Symbolic Interaction
Feminism
-Understand and reduce inequality between men and women
-male dominance is not natural, biological or inevitable
-Family structure is socially constructed...nuclear families aren't everything
-PART OF CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
-CRITICAL OF BREADWINNER PERSPECT
Exchange
Ppl or groups with different resources, strengths and weaknesses enter into mutual relationships to maximize their own interests
-CAN BE A PART OF CONSENSUS THEORY
-CAN BE A PART OF CONFLICT
Exchange theory example
Exchange theory plays out in husband and wife....b/c men usually earn more and are the breadwinner, they have more to bargain with. Women typically earn less, so they take on more time consuming tasks (i.e. cleaning)
Symbolic Interaction
the ability of humans to see themselves through the eyes of others and to enact social roles based on others' expectations
ex: being a parent means something different to those that are married v. single
Modernity
Refers to the enlightenment era...theory is about how society is changing and wether we have progressed or not
According to the modernity theory, the state views the individual as...?
citizen
According the modernity theory, the market views the individual as...?
worker/consuemer
According to the modernity theory, the family is...?
social actor, free will, makes choices about family relations and life
What was the the first wave of modernity?
-more divorce
-increase age at first marriage
-fewer children
-fewer ppl living in extended families
What was the second wave of modernity?
-diversity and individuality is the new norm
-up to ppl to pick a family type
family wage
amount needed for stay at home mom's and children to not work....THIS LEADS TO FRAGMENTATION OF FAMILY IDENTITIES
Demography
How family behavior and household structure contribute to the larger population process
What's an example of the demography perspective?
The baby boomer generation and how it affected the population process
Life course perspective
Study of family trajectories of people and groups as they progress through their lives in a social and historical context