Sociology Final - Ch. 7: Families

substantive definition of the family

blood and law; genetic heritage, adoption, and marriage

define: bilateral descent

both sides of a persons family are regarded as equally important

how is kinship learned?

culturally

family lives together, while kin....

....do not necessarily

what determines kin?

the principle of descent

define: an extended family

a family in which relatives live in the same household as parents and their children

define: nuclear family

a married couple and their unmarried children living together

two types of polygamy

1) polygyny 2) polyandry

define: polygyny

form of polygamy that allows a man to have many wives simultaneously

define: polyandry

a form of polygamy in which a woman may have more than one husband at the same time

functionalist definition of the family

focuses on what families do

what are the six primary functions of families

1) reproduction
2) socialization
3) protection
4) regulation of sexual behavior
5) affection and companionship
6) provision of social status

definition: patriarchy

society in which men dominate in family decision making

definition: egalitarian family

spouses are regarded as equals

definition: endogamy

the restriction of mate selection to people within the same group

definition: exogamy

the requirement that people select a mate outside certain groups

major example of exogamy

the incest taboo

define: homogamy

tendency to select a mate with personal characteristics and interests similar to one's own

define:machismo

a sense of virility personal worth, and pride one's maleness

define: familism

pride in the extended family, expressed through the maintenance of close ties and strong obligations to kinfolk outside the immediate family

define: adoption

in a legal sense, a process that allows for the transfer of the legal rights, responsibilities, and privileges of parenthood to a new legal parent or parents

define: single-parent family

a family in which only one parent is present to care for the children

define: cohabitation

the practice of a man and a woman living together in a sexual relationship without being married

define: domestic partnership

two unrelated adults who share a mutually caring relationship, reside together, and agree to be jointly responsible for their dependents, basic living expenses, and other common necessities

along what lines do families vary?

1) proximity (extended v. nuclear)
2) authority (patriarchal, matriarchal, and egalitarian)
3) duration (divorce)
4) structure (dual-income, single parent, stepfamilies, cohabitation, single hood, child-free, and same-sex)

how do families vary in terms of proximity

extended v. nuclear

how do families vary in terms of authority

patriarchal, matriarchal, and egalitarian

how do families vary in terms of duration

divorce

how do families vary in terms of structure

relationship (if any), income, children, legal marital bond

what are the 3 kinship patterns?

1) bilateral 2) patrilineal 3) matrilineal

what are the various child rearing patterns?

parenthood, grandparenthood, adoption, dual-income families, single-parent families, stepfamilies

divorce rates began to increase in ____ but then leveled off; since the late ____, the divorce rate has declined by ___percent

divorce rates began to increase in the late 1960s but then leveled off; since the late 1980s, the divorce rate has declined by 30 percent

what do recent divorce rates indicate (3 things)

#NAME?

What are the 4 "diverse lifestyles"?

1) cohabitation
2) remaining single
3) marriage without children
4) lesbian and gay relations