INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY A Canadian Focus Ninth Edition

Chapter 10 Families Definitions Marriage: a commitment and ongoing exchange. Expressive: emotional dimension Instrumental: task-oriented dimension Family: two or more people related by blood, adoption or some form of extended commitment, residing together. Variability in Family Patterns Number of partners: Monogamy: two partners Polygyny: one man, two or more women Polyandry: one woman, two or more men Group marriage: multiple partners 75% of world’s societies, but not 75% of world’s population, accept some form of polygyny. Sex Codes and Bonds Regulation of sex behaviour varies. Extramarital coitus is more prohibited than premarital coitus Consanguine (blood) bonds are important in tribal societies. Kinship bonds are less important with the nuclear family. Now same-sex marriage: 0.5% of couples in Canada. Uniformity and Family Patterns Lifelong heterosexual marriage is the norm, but the Israeli kibbutz placed a lower premium on marriage. Incest taboo: almost universal. Importance of inheritance: provides continuity, but can perpetuate inequality. If for sons, it promotes gender inequality. Family Change 1870-1950: emerging concern with child quality. Smaller families, Declining economic benefit of children 1960-1970 Younger age at marriage, rise in divorces 1970-1985 Growth of common-law and children in unions 1985- Levelling of divorce levels, more post-marital cohabitation Plateau in fertility, more births after age 30 1950s might not be a “golden age.” (cont’d) Table 10.1 Macro or Structural Explanations of Family Change Changes in one part of society affect other parts. In pre-industrial societies, families are economic units as well as units of reproduction and socialization. Industrialization brings structural differentiation and families lose roles, especially economic roles. With wage labour for young, families have less control With women entering labour force, women postpone marriage, childbirth, and are less dependent on a breadwinner Micro or Cultural Explanations In pre-industrial societies, people got emotional support through religion. Mechanical solidarity held people together. In industrial societies, organic solidarity, or division of labour, hold people together. Families become centres of nurturing and affection. Families: from institution to companionship, a loosening up of relationships. Anticipating Marriage and Mate Selection From early to mid-20th century: Downward trend in age at home leaving, first marriage, first birth, last birth, and home leaving of children Subsequently: Upward trend with later age at home leaving, first union, and first birth. Upward trend and experience in cohabitation, separations But many outcomes are influenced by increased longevity. Socialization for Marriage Most are motivated towards marriage. Dating provides opportunities to practice, but girls and boys are socialized by same sex peers: “boys like sex and girls like boys.” Courtship encourages each to be more responsive to the other. Dating is a bargaining relationship? Girls support a “love” standard and boys a “fun” standard. Table 10.2 Home Leaving and Cohabitation Many young people have stayed at home and other have returned, due to education, economics, and parent’s relationship. Great increase in cohabitation, now it is an alternative to marriage and many have children. Homogamy: people marry those like themselves regarding religion, ethnicity, education, etc. Heterogamy: an age difference still occurs, perhaps leading to permanent disadvantage. Marital and Family Interactions Paid and unpaid work: mostly women and men follow complementary-roles model, men do paid and women do unpaid work, but some women and men do a double burden and some do role-sharing. Lone-parent families: big increase recently. Usually at an economic disadvantage, but could experience increased self-esteem Table 10.3 Childbearing and Children Economically, children are very costly, especially with greater provision for old age. Psychological burden can be high also, but over 90% of young people plan to have children. Greater proportions of children have “inexperienced parents,” few siblings, and fewer and later births. Diversity of family trajectories: much combining and re-combining, but children of lone-parents are at a disadvantage. Marital Breakdown Increase in separations and divorce, but 70% of families with children include both biological parents. One-third of recent marriages will end in divorce. Cohabitation is a predictor of divorce. Higher education and higher incomes for husbands reduce the risk of divorce. Marital Functions Decrease in instrumental functions of families, thus less to hold them together. Increase in expressive functions, but if gratification is not mutual, divorce can follow. Higher probability of divorce with early marriage. Higher incidence of divorce for re-marrieds. Divorce occurs because exchanges are unrewarding. Redefinition of Marriage Commitment Social stigma of divorce has decreased. Grounds for divorce have broadened: any reason as long as partners have lived apart for a year. Even with the levelling of rates, 34% of marriages will end in divorce within 25 years. Canadian rate is lower than U.S. rate, same as United Kingdom and Sweden, and higher than France and Germany. Future Change and Continuity Marriage not likely to go out of style. 70% will experience a life-long relationship. Biggest change: liberation of gender roles and an unlinking of gender and caring: Women work and men care for children more Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * *