cohabitation
practice of living together as a male-female couple without marrying; could be to share rent; platonic; trail marriage
extended family
a family in which relatives - such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles - live in the same home as parents and their children
family
a set of people related by blood, marriage, or some other agree-on relationship, r adoption, who share the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society
nuclear family
a married couple and their unmarried children living together
polyandry
a form of polygamy in which a woman may have more than one husband at the same time
polygamy
a form of marriage in which an individual may have several husbands or wives simultaneously
serial monogamy
a form of marriage in which a person may have several spouses in his or her lifetime, but only one spouse at a time (most common in U.S.)
single-parent family
a family in which only one parent is present to care for the children
monogamy
a form of marriage in which one woman and one man are married only to each other
polygany (polygyny)
a form of polygamy in which a man may have more than one wife at the same time
bilateral descent
a kinship system in which both sides of a person's family are regarded as equally important
patrilineal descent
a kinship system in which only the father's relatives are significant
matrilineal descent
a kinship system in which only the mother's relatives are significant
patriarchy
a society in which men dominate in family decision making
matriarchy
a society in which women dominate in family decision making
egalitarian family
an authority pattern in which spouses are regarded as equals
endogamy
the restriction of mate selection to people within the same group
exogamy
the requirement that people select a mate outside certain groups
incest taboo
the prohibition of sexual relationships between certain culturally specified relatives
homogamy
the conscious or unconscious tendency to select a mate with personal characteristics similar to one's own
adoption
In legal sense, process that allows for the transfer of legal rights, responsibilities, and privileges of parenthood to a new legal parent or parents
blended family
Cornel West - now becoming the norm
family
basic building blocks of society; cultural universal; primary group; in state of flux
cultural universal
found in every culture
primary group
small, intimate, group you go to , trustworthy, rely on
Cradle of Violence" article
violence takes place within the family; women more at risk - usually by males they know; women from all social economic classes; alcohol exacerbates the violence, but does not cause it
today's family
very small, intimate; no longer just related by blood - now blended families, adoption, etc.
strong family units
result in strong society
extended family
less living together today - due to both working, too busy; move average of 7 ties; families on the go - don't eat together much due to work, sports, lessons (music), etc.
institution for pro-creation
family
average age to get married
Men=28.2, women=26.1
men marrying women with higher incomes
22% (role reversal; role strain)
565 Societies
George Murdock - found 80% had some form of polygamy
types of marriages
monogamy, serial monogamy, polygamy, polygyny, polyandry
pre-arranged marriages
grow to love your partner
trial marriages
persons are engaged
group marriages
not legalized; e.g., share childcare
marriage is culturally determined
e.g. pre-arranged; polygamous
monogamous
a cultural trait, not a biological trait
marriage
a cultural phenomenon (a cultural norm) - what the norm is in your culture
reasons for divorce
money/finances; different goals; no chemistry; careers; miscommunication; lack of communication; no communication; infidelity
divorce
50 % within first 10 years (of first marriage); higher with each subsequent marriage
Functionalist view of Family
family is contributor to social stability; roles of family members. William Ogburn - 6 functions of family: reproduction, protection, socialization, regulation of sexual behavior, affection & companionship, provision of social status
Conflict view of Family
family as perpetrator of inequity; transmission of poverty or wealth across generations
Interactionist (Symbolic) view of Family
Relationships among family members
Feminist view of Family
family as perpetrator of gender roles; female-headed households