Chapter 12

FAMILY AND MARRIAGEFAMILY AND MARRIAGE

After studying this chapter, you should After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the followingbe able to do the following

Explain the functions of the family.Explain the functions of the family. Describe the major variations in family structure.Describe the major variations in family structure. Define marriage and describe its relationship to Define marriage and describe its relationship to

the phenomenon of romantic love.the phenomenon of romantic love. Describe the various rules governing marriage.Describe the various rules governing marriage. Explain the ways in which mate selection is not Explain the ways in which mate selection is not

random.random.

FAMILY ARRANGEMENTSFAMILY ARRANGEMENTS

FAMILY – FAMILY – DEF: DEF: A social group A social group characterized by common residence, characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction.economic cooperation, and reproduction.

TRADITIONAL FAMILY includes adults TRADITIONAL FAMILY includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, of relationship, and one or more children, of the sexually cohabiting adults.the sexually cohabiting adults.

Do you agree with this definition?Do you agree with this definition?

How would you define a family?How would you define a family?

FAMILY STRUCTURESFAMILY STRUCTURES

Nuclear family Nuclear family The most basic family form and is made The most basic family form and is made

up of a married couple and their biological up of a married couple and their biological or adopted children. or adopted children.

The nuclear family is found in all societies, The nuclear family is found in all societies, and it is from this form that all other and it is from this form that all other (composite) family forms are derived.(composite) family forms are derived.

FAMILY STRUCTURESFAMILY STRUCTURES

Polygamous families Polygamous families Nuclear families linked together by multiple Nuclear families linked together by multiple

marriage bonds, with one central individual marriage bonds, with one central individual married to several spouses. married to several spouses.

- - Polygynous Polygynous when the central person is when the central person is male.male.

- Polyandrous - Polyandrous when the central person is when the central person is female.female.

Common family arrangement around the worldCommon family arrangement around the world

FAMILY STRUCTURESFAMILY STRUCTURES

Extended familiesExtended families Other relations and generations in addition to the Other relations and generations in addition to the

nuclear family. Along with married parents and their nuclear family. Along with married parents and their offspring, there may be: offspring, there may be:

- parents’ parents- parents’ parents - siblings of the parents- siblings of the parents - siblings’ spouses and children- siblings’ spouses and children - in-laws- in-laws. .

Functions of a familyFunctions of a family

FAMILY FUNCTIONSFAMILY FUNCTIONS

Family is a universal institution that fulfills Family is a universal institution that fulfills the functions listed before, the methods the functions listed before, the methods used will vary by cultureused will vary by culture

Not all functions are seen in all societiesNot all functions are seen in all societies

GENERATIONAL RELATIONSGENERATIONAL RELATIONS

Patrilineal systemPatrilineal system Generations are tied together through the males Generations are tied together through the males

of a family; all members trace their kinship of a family; all members trace their kinship through the father’s line. through the father’s line.

Matrilineal systemMatrilineal system The generations are tied together through the The generations are tied together through the

females of a family. females of a family. Bilateral systemBilateral system

Descent passes through both females and Descent passes through both females and males of a family.males of a family.

FAMILY AUTHORITYFAMILY AUTHORITY

Patriarchal family Patriarchal family • Describe situations in which Describe situations in which most family affairs are most family affairs are

dominated by men.dominated by men.

Matriarchal familyMatriarchal family• MMost family affairs are dominated by women, ost family affairs are dominated by women, is is

relatively uncommon but does exist.relatively uncommon but does exist.

MARRIAGEMARRIAGE

Marriage Marriage DEF: DEF: An institution found in all An institution found in all societies, is the socially recognized, societies, is the socially recognized, legitimized, and supported union of legitimized, and supported union of individuals of opposite sexes. individuals of opposite sexes.

Marriage is the binding link that makes the Marriage is the binding link that makes the institution of family possible.institution of family possible.

MARRIAGEMARRIAGE

Romantic love as the reason for marriage is Romantic love as the reason for marriage is a value in American Societya value in American Society

- 81% of U.S. women express that deep - 81% of U.S. women express that deep feelings are more important than money.feelings are more important than money.

Most cultures do Most cultures do not not value romance, they value romance, they focus on economic and social relations.focus on economic and social relations.

MARRIAGE RULESMARRIAGE RULES EEndogamyndogamy

LLimit the social categories from within which one can imit the social categories from within which one can choose a marriage partner. choose a marriage partner.

Exogamy, Exogamy, Require an individual to marry someone outside his or Require an individual to marry someone outside his or

her culturally defined group. her culturally defined group.

MonogamousMonogamous Each person is allowed only one spouse at a time. Each person is allowed only one spouse at a time.

PolygamyPolygamy an individual may have more than one spousean individual may have more than one spouse

MARITAL RESIDENCEMARITAL RESIDENCE

Marital residence rules govern where a couple Marital residence rules govern where a couple will live after marriage.will live after marriage.. .

- Patrilocal residence - - Patrilocal residence - Calls for the new couple to Calls for the new couple to settle down near or within the husband’s father’ssettle down near or within the husband’s father’s

- Matrilocal residence - - Matrilocal residence - Calls for the new couple to Calls for the new couple to settle down near or within the wife’s mother’ssettle down near or within the wife’s mother’s

- Bilocal residence - - Bilocal residence - New couples choose whether New couples choose whether to live with the husband’s or wife’s family of origin. to live with the husband’s or wife’s family of origin.

- Neolocal residence - - Neolocal residence - The couple may choose to The couple may choose to live virtually anywhere,live virtually anywhere,

HOMOGAMYHOMOGAMY

Is the tendency to marry those that are like Is the tendency to marry those that are like ourselves. ourselves.

Although the U.S. does not have actual rules Although the U.S. does not have actual rules about this, homogamy is still very prevalent.about this, homogamy is still very prevalent.

The Transformation of the The Transformation of the FamilyFamily

Families of industrialization faced Families of industrialization faced three pressuresthree pressures

FAMILY TRANSFORMATIONFAMILY TRANSFORMATION Industrialism demands that workers be Industrialism demands that workers be

geographically mobile so that a workforce geographically mobile so that a workforce is available wherever new industries is available wherever new industries emerge. emerge.

Industrialism requires a certain degree of Industrialism requires a certain degree of movement between the social classes.movement between the social classes.

The modern nuclear family is more open The modern nuclear family is more open to inheritance and descent through both to inheritance and descent through both sides of the family, allowing all children sides of the family, allowing all children opportunity to rise in society.opportunity to rise in society.

FAMILY TRANSFORMATIONFAMILY TRANSFORMATION Decline of the traditional family structure Decline of the traditional family structure

can also be attributed to the postponement can also be attributed to the postponement of marriage high divorce rates. of marriage high divorce rates.

Marriage rate may be down but Marriage rate may be down but cohabitation is up.cohabitation is up.

CohabitationCohabitation Unmarried couples living together out of wedlock Unmarried couples living together out of wedlock

AMERICAN NUCLEAR FAMILYAMERICAN NUCLEAR FAMILY By early 1900s, American Nuclear Family:By early 1900s, American Nuclear Family:

- Child-centered- Child-centered - Greater equality for women- Greater equality for women -- Decreased link with extended familiesDecreased link with extended families - Greater social mobility- Greater social mobility - Greater geographical mobilit- Greater geographical mobilit - Marriage based on romantic ideal- Marriage based on romantic ideal - Clear separation of work and leisure - Clear separation of work and leisure

NUCLEAR FAMILY CHANGES NUCLEAR FAMILY CHANGES In the modern era there has been a In the modern era there has been a

transfer of family functions from the family transfer of family functions from the family to outside institutions (school, courts, etc)to outside institutions (school, courts, etc)

Childlessness among married couples has Childlessness among married couples has been increasing in recent years. been increasing in recent years.

Couples are marrying older and bearing Couples are marrying older and bearing children at an older agechildren at an older age

NUCLEAR FAMILY CHANGESNUCLEAR FAMILY CHANGES

Divorce became easier as most states Divorce became easier as most states passed laws that allowed “no fault” passed laws that allowed “no fault” divorces.divorces.

Statistics suggest co-habitation before Statistics suggest co-habitation before marriage increases divorce rates.marriage increases divorce rates.

- or is this due to the demographics of - or is this due to the demographics of those who cohabitate (young, poor, low those who cohabitate (young, poor, low education)education)

STEPFAMILIES/BLENDED FAMILIESSTEPFAMILIES/BLENDED FAMILIES Stepfamilies, also known as blended Stepfamilies, also known as blended

families, are transforming basic family families, are transforming basic family relationships.relationships.

The largest group of stepfamilies is The largest group of stepfamilies is composed of families formed by the composed of families formed by the remarriage of divorced men and women.remarriage of divorced men and women.

Today 17% of families involve a step-childToday 17% of families involve a step-child

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIESSINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

The growth in single parent households The growth in single parent households has been influenced by three trends: has been influenced by three trends:

- High divorce rates - High divorce rates - A increase in the percentage of - A increase in the percentage of

babies born to unwed mothersbabies born to unwed mothers - The rapid growth of cohabitation- The rapid growth of cohabitation

GAY AND LESBIAN FAMILIESGAY AND LESBIAN FAMILIES

A phenomenon that is not new but one A phenomenon that is not new but one that has become more and more visible is that has become more and more visible is the household consisting of a gay or the household consisting of a gay or lesbian couple. lesbian couple.

- In some states these couple have the - In some states these couple have the same ability to adopt children as same ability to adopt children as “traditional families”“traditional families”

SINGLESSINGLES

The proportion of households having one The proportion of households having one person living alone increased from 17% to person living alone increased from 17% to 26% between 1970 and 2005.26% between 1970 and 2005.

- This could reflect a delay in living with - This could reflect a delay in living with others or a trend towards single lifestylesothers or a trend towards single lifestyles

or it could reflect the aging population.or it could reflect the aging population.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The traditional family is being replaced, in The traditional family is being replaced, in part, by new family arrangements that may part, by new family arrangements that may better suit today’s lifestyles.better suit today’s lifestyles.

There is little evidence that the family as a There is little evidence that the family as a institution is in decline or weakening. The institution is in decline or weakening. The functions it serves are vital to society.functions it serves are vital to society.

GROUP EXERCISEGROUP EXERCISE

GOING BACK TO THE FUNCTIONS OF GOING BACK TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY, HOW IS THE NUCLEAR THE FAMILY, HOW IS THE NUCLEAR FAMILY VARIANT YOU’RE GIVEN, FAMILY VARIANT YOU’RE GIVEN, MORE ABLE, LESS ABLE OR EQUALLY MORE ABLE, LESS ABLE OR EQUALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE EACH OF THESE ABLE TO PROVIDE EACH OF THESE FUNCTIONS?FUNCTIONS?

EXPLAIN!!EXPLAIN!!