Family Studies

Traditionally, both law and social science have specified that the family consists of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as \"a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption and residing together in a household.\" textbook: A family is any sexually expressive, parent-child, or other kin relationship in which people—usually related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption—(1) form an economic and/or otherwise practical unit and care for any children or other dependents, (2) consider their identity to be significantly attached to the group, and (3) commit to maintaining that group over time.

• New communication and reproductive technologies o Communication technologies, such as Facebook, email, and webcams allow greater opportunity for support and connection. o It has also been the source of concern and conflict for families, as such information contradicts values and norms encouraged within the family group. o Reproductive technologies allow increased opportunity for creating families. Medical advancements have made it possible for infertile, single, and homosexual couples to experience biological parenthood. o Additionally, such advancements raise important family and ethical questions, as well as point out social class inequality as it relates to the costs of such procedures. • Changes in America's race/ethnic composition o The United States is seeing greater and increasing racial and ethnic diversity. o Making up about one-third of the U.S. population today, racial and ethnic minorities are projected to reach 50% of the population by about 2042. o As a result, there is greater variation in the structure, form, and experience of family life. • Economic uncertainty o The recession that began in 2008 has led to or may lead to various changes in the family, including but not limited to the following: • Delayed marriages/decrease in marriage rates • A decline in birth rates • Changes in educational opportunities afforded by parents for their children • Increased incidence of homelessness, extended families, boomerang kids, and intergenerational households

Default choice making: • Choices people make when they are not aware of alternatives or when they pursue the path of least resistance. • Sometimes, college students choose their courses or even their majors by default. • Many decisions concerning marriages and families are made by default. Knowledgeably choice making: • Two components in choosing knowledgeably: • Recognizing as many options or alternatives as possible • Recognizing the social pressures that may influence personal choices • One aspect of making knowledgeable choices is considering the consequences of alternatives rather than gravitating toward the one that seems most attractive.

Family Decline Perspective: • Cultural change toward excessive individualism and self-indulgence has led to high divorce rates and could undermine responsible parenting. Family Change Perspective: • Argue that we need to view the family from a historical standpoint. 19th and early 20thcenturaries families were broken up by illness and death and children were sent away • Historically accepted adjustments to changing conditions in the wider society

30

The interdependency of people, organizations, economies, or governments across national boarders.

41

20-21%

Latino/ Hispanic

African American

Gender (or gender role) refers to societal attitudes and behaviors associated with the two sexes.

Modern sexism denies that gender discrimination persists and includes the belief that women are asking for too much—a situation that results in resistance to women's demands.

Feminine people are thought to embody expressive (or communal) character traits - warmth, sensitivity, the ability to express tender feelings, and placing concern about others' above self-interest.

The satisfied single: a woman (heterosexual or lesbian, employed, possibly a parent) who is happy and not in a serious relationship with a male

80%

Process by which people develop their human capacities and acquire a unique personality and identity and by which culture is passed from generation to generation

Attracted to people of the same sex

The Exchange Perspective: Rewards, Costs, and Equality in Sexual Relationships • Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction: • Satisfaction depends on the costs and rewards of a sexual relationship, and the participant's comparison level (what the person expects out of the relationship). • Comparison level for alternatives: what are alternative options and how do they compare? • Expectations include some degree of equality.

Gay men

1. Intimacy - close, connected feelings. -Develops more slowly 2. Passion - drives that lead to romance, physical attraction and sexual consummation. - is quickest to develop and quickest to fade. 3. Commitment - the decision to love someone and maintain that love. - Develops gradually

• Be reluctant to suggest what they want. • Allow others to be constantly late and never protest. • Help loved ones develop talents while neglecting their own. • Be sensitive to others' feelings and hide their own.

• A divorced parental family transmits to its children a heightened risk of getting divorced. • However, not all children of divorced parents will themselves divorce. • Children of divorce are themselves more likely to get divorced because they have: a. More, and more serious, personality problems. b. Neither been exposed to nor learned supportive communication or problem-solving skills. c. More accepting attitudes towards divorce

Homogamy: People tend to marry people of similar race, age, education, religious background, and social class. Heterogamy, marrying someone dissimilar in race, age, education, religion, or social class

Beliefs about rape that function to blame the victim and exonerate the rapist. • Rape was somehow provoked by the victim • Men can't control their sexual urges • Rapists are mentally ill

a. Rapport - rests on mutual trust and respect b. Self-revelation - sharing intimate information c. Mutual dependency - developing interdependence d. Needs fulfillment - developing emotional exchange and support

• Handles ordinary disagreements with inappropriate anger or rage • Struggles to regain self-control when a minor issue triggers anger • Goes into tirades • Quick to criticize or verbally mean • Unduly jealous, restricting and controlling • History of violence in previous relationships

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a. Single homes - Earlier premarital intercourse - Lower academic achievement - Lower expectations for college - Higher rates of school suspension and delinquency Fewer problem behaviors More money spent on child's education Healthiest prenatal behaviors

• Kids are unemployed finding it hard to obtain jobs on a regular basis • Economic recession • Housing can be too expensive in urban areas • Indulgent parenting style • Can be a cultural circumstance

Joint residence and finances, plus a state of loyalty and commitment -Access to joint health service. Some marital rights w/o being married.

Legislation that allows any 2 single adults- including same-sex partners or blood relatives, such as siblings or a parent an adult child-to have access to virtually all marriage rights and benefits on the state level, but non on the federal level. Designed to give same-sex couples many of the legal benefits of marriage while denying them the right to legally marry.

• Same-sex families comprise a family form that is not going to disappear; if marriage is thought to be good for spouse and children emotionally, financially, and healthwise, then to deny those benefits to a significant number of individuals is unethical and socially costly. • Denying lesbians and gays the right to marry legally violates the U.S. Constitution because it discriminates against a category of citizens. • Children of gay male or lesbian couples also view the legalization of same-sex marriage as giving them security and comfort. • Gay men and lesbians themselves have been divided somewhat on the desirability of legalized same-sex marriage.

• Changes in the economy and subsequently in gender roles • As women's employment increased, fertility declined. • Declining infant mortality rates • It became unnecessary to bear so many children to ensure the survival of a few • The ideal family size in the United States is now 2.5 children.

• Cost of raising a child born in 2007 to the age of 18, including college - $269,040. • Opportunity Costs o Parents forego income and investment when they raise their children. o Parents work additional hours and have less leisure time. • Research finds that not only do parents report lower marital satisfaction than nonparents, but the more children there are, the lower marital satisfaction is. • Parents are also more likely to experience depression than are nonparents. • Greater ability to control fertility • Participation of women in work force • Concern about overpopulation • Rejection of the traditional family • The voluntarily childless have more education and are more likely to have managerial or professional employment and higher incomes. • More urban, less traditional in gender roles, less likely to have a religious affiliation, and less conventional than their counterparts • Value relative freedom to change jobs or careers, move around the country, and pursue endeavors • More satisfied with their relationships than parenting couples are

• Consequences: • Women who postponed parenthood found that combining established careers with parenting created unforeseen problems. • Late mothers had more confidence about their ability to manage, more money to arrange services, and more confidence about parenting. • Late fathers expressed a great deal of joy in parenthood. • Children born to older parents benefit from the financial and emotional stability that older parents can provide. • Also often experience anxiety about their parents' health and mortality.

U.S.

40%

Abortion under certain circumstances