Chapter 10:Chapter 10:

Marriage and Alternative Family Marriage and Alternative Family LifestylesLifestyles

What to Expect in This What to Expect in This Chapter...Chapter... Defining the FamilyDefining the Family Functions of the FamilyFunctions of the Family Family StructuresFamily Structures Aspects of MarriageAspects of Marriage The Changing FamilyThe Changing Family Alternative LifestylesAlternative Lifestyles

Defining the FamilyDefining the Family Distinguishing between Distinguishing between householdhousehold and and

familyfamily– A A householdhousehold refers to all individuals who refers to all individuals who

share a common dwelling, regardless of share a common dwelling, regardless of kinship or economic tieskinship or economic ties

– A A familyfamily is defined by anthropologist is defined by anthropologist George Murdock as a social group having a George Murdock as a social group having a common residence, economic ties and common residence, economic ties and reproduction, consisting of two adults of reproduction, consisting of two adults of the opposite sex and their childrenthe opposite sex and their children

Sociologists today find this definition Sociologists today find this definition restrictive; there are single parent restrictive; there are single parent families, childless families, etc.families, childless families, etc.

Functions of the FamilyFunctions of the Family

Family Structures: Family Family Structures: Family FormForm

Nuclear Family—Nuclear Family—the most the most basic family form basic family form comprised of a married comprised of a married couple and their childrencouple and their children

Extended FamilyExtended Family—includes —includes additional generations additional generations beyond nuclear family, beyond nuclear family, comprising grandparents, comprising grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc. living in aunts/uncles, etc. living in the same householdthe same household

Family Structures: Family Structures: Marriage FormMarriage Form

Monogamous marriagesMonogamous marriages —marriage —marriage patterns that involve one male and one patterns that involve one male and one femalefemale

Polygamous marriagesPolygamous marriages —marriage patterns —marriage patterns that involve one central individual of one that involve one central individual of one sex and two or more individuals of the sex and two or more individuals of the opposite sex. Polygamous marriages take opposite sex. Polygamous marriages take two forms:two forms:– PolygynyPolygyny —marriage pattern involving —marriage pattern involving

one central male married to two or more one central male married to two or more femalesfemales

– PolyandryPolyandry—marriage pattern involving —marriage pattern involving one central female married to two or one central female married to two or more malesmore males

Family Structures: Family Structures: Lineage SystemsLineage Systems

LineageLineage refers to the way in which the refers to the way in which the generations trace their identitygenerations trace their identity

There are three ways in which families There are three ways in which families trace their lineage worldwide:trace their lineage worldwide:– Patrilineal systemsPatrilineal systems——lineage is traced lineage is traced

through the males of the familythrough the males of the family– Martilineal systemsMartilineal systems—lineage is traced —lineage is traced

through the females of the familythrough the females of the family– Bilateral systemsBilateral systems—lineage is traced —lineage is traced

through both males and femalesthrough both males and females

Sociologists distinguish between Sociologists distinguish between patriarchalpatriarchal and and matriarchalmatriarchal authority authority structuresstructures– Patriarchal structuresPatriarchal structures are those in which are those in which

the major affairs of the family are the major affairs of the family are dominated and controlled by men dominated and controlled by men

– Matriarchal structuresMatriarchal structures are those in which are those in which family affairs are dominated by womenfamily affairs are dominated by women

In the United States, power is In the United States, power is generally shared by both men generally shared by both men women. This is sometimes called a women. This is sometimes called a bilateralbilateral authority structure authority structure

Family Structures: Family Structures: Systems of AuthoritySystems of Authority

Aspects of MarriageAspects of Marriage

Defining MarriageDefining Marriage

Marriage is the Marriage is the “...socially recognized, “...socially recognized, legitimized, and supported union of legitimized, and supported union of individuals of opposite sexes.”individuals of opposite sexes.”

Marriage differs from other unions or Marriage differs from other unions or partnerships in the following ways:partnerships in the following ways:– The marriage ceremony takes place in a The marriage ceremony takes place in a

public mannerpublic manner– Sexual intercourse is explicitly recognized Sexual intercourse is explicitly recognized

as an element in the relationshipas an element in the relationship– It provides the basis for legitimizing It provides the basis for legitimizing

offspringoffspring– It is intended to be a stable and enduring It is intended to be a stable and enduring

relationshiprelationship

Romantic LoveRomantic Love

Romantic love is seen as the basis for Romantic love is seen as the basis for marriage in American and many western marriage in American and many western societiessocieties

Romantic love can be defined in terms of 5 Romantic love can be defined in terms of 5 elements;elements;– Idealization of the loved oneIdealization of the loved one– Idea of a “one and only”Idea of a “one and only”– Love at first sightLove at first sight– Love winning out overallLove winning out overall– Indulgence of personal emotionsIndulgence of personal emotions

In many societies, romantic love is not seen In many societies, romantic love is not seen as a necessary part of marriageas a necessary part of marriage

Choice of PartnerChoice of Partner All societies have two types of rules for All societies have two types of rules for

choosing marriage partnerschoosing marriage partners– Rules of Rules of endogamyendogamy—stipulate that an individual —stipulate that an individual

must marry within certain social groups, such as must marry within certain social groups, such as one’s own social class or raceone’s own social class or race

– Rules of Rules of exogamyexogamy—stipulate that one must marry —stipulate that one must marry outsideoutside of certain social categories, such as one’s of certain social categories, such as one’s own family or sex.own family or sex.

It is common for people to marry people It is common for people to marry people similar to themselves, tendency that is similar to themselves, tendency that is referred to as referred to as homogamyhomogamy

Marital ResidenceMarital Residence Most societies have strong norms about where Most societies have strong norms about where

a couple should live, commonly called a couple should live, commonly called marital marital residence rulesresidence rules– Patrilocal residencePatrilocal residence calls for the new couple to live calls for the new couple to live

with the husbands familywith the husbands family– Matrilocal residenceMatrilocal residence calls for the new couple to live calls for the new couple to live

with the wife’s familywith the wife’s family– Bilocal residence Bilocal residence allows the couple to live with either allows the couple to live with either

the husband’s or the wife’s familythe husband’s or the wife’s family– Neolocal residenceNeolocal residence, characteristic of the United , characteristic of the United

States, encourages the couple to establish States, encourages the couple to establish independent residenceindependent residence

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: Extended to Nuclear Extended to Nuclear FamilyFamily

The Industrial Revolution was instrumental in The Industrial Revolution was instrumental in the shift from the extended family to the the shift from the extended family to the nuclear family nuclear family – Industrialism demands that workers be Industrialism demands that workers be

geographically mobilegeographically mobile– Industrialism also requires social mobility which is Industrialism also requires social mobility which is

not compatible with the more traditional extended not compatible with the more traditional extended familyfamily

– Nuclear family emphasizes bilateral inheritance Nuclear family emphasizes bilateral inheritance and descent, encouraging women to become part and descent, encouraging women to become part of the workforceof the workforce

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: Changes in the Marriage Changes in the Marriage RateRate

Sociologists examine trends in marriage in Sociologists examine trends in marriage in three ways:three ways:– Calculating the total number of marriagesCalculating the total number of marriages– Examining the Examining the marriage ratemarriage rate (number of marriages (number of marriages

per 1,000 population)per 1,000 population)– Examining the marriage rate of unmarried women Examining the marriage rate of unmarried women

aged 18-44aged 18-44 The latter has been a preferred statistic The latter has been a preferred statistic

because it identifies trends in because it identifies trends in first time first time marriagesmarriages

As the chart on the next page shows, As the chart on the next page shows, marriage is less popular among single womenmarriage is less popular among single women

Marriages per 1000 Unmarried Women Aged 15-44

80

100

120

140

160

180

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Mar

riag

es p

er 1

000

Wom

en 1

5-44

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1997

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: CohabitationCohabitation

Cohabitation, or “living Cohabitation, or “living together” out of wedlock, together” out of wedlock, has increased nearly has increased nearly eightfold since 1970eightfold since 1970

More than 40% of women More than 40% of women have been in an unmarried have been in an unmarried domestic partnership at domestic partnership at some time in their livessome time in their lives

The Changing Family: Childless The Changing Family: Childless Couples and Changing Household Couples and Changing Household SizeSize

Since 1984, there have been more couples without Since 1984, there have been more couples without children than those with childrenchildren than those with children– Some are “pre-parents:” couples who intend to have children Some are “pre-parents:” couples who intend to have children – Others are “empty-nesters:” children have already leftOthers are “empty-nesters:” children have already left– Still others are childless by choice or fertility problemsStill others are childless by choice or fertility problems

In 1790, the average household size was 5.8 members; In 1790, the average household size was 5.8 members; in 1998, the average size was 2.6 members. Several in 1998, the average size was 2.6 members. Several factors account for this:factors account for this:– Elderly parents not as likely to live with childrenElderly parents not as likely to live with children– Higher divorce ratesHigher divorce rates– Later marriages/less childrenLater marriages/less children

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: Women in the Labor Women in the Labor ForceForce

WWII marked a turning point WWII marked a turning point in women entering the labor in women entering the labor forceforce– Nearly 65 million women had Nearly 65 million women had

paying jobs in 1999—up more paying jobs in 1999—up more than 200% in 50 yearsthan 200% in 50 years

Occupational segregation is Occupational segregation is still present, but lessening as still present, but lessening as revealed in the following tablerevealed in the following table

Percent of Workforce That Is Female,Percent of Workforce That Is Female,

Selected Occupations, 1983 and 1999Selected Occupations, 1983 and 1999OccupationOccupation 19831983 19991999

SecretariesSecretaries 99.099.0 97.697.6

Registered NursesRegistered Nurses 95.895.8 92.592.5

SalesSales 58.758.7 72.772.7

AccountantsAccountants 38.738.7 58.258.2

Financial ManagersFinancial Managers 38.638.6 53.353.3

College FacultyCollege Faculty 36.336.3 42.342.3

PhysiciansPhysicians 15.815.8 26.626.6

LawyersLawyers 15.315.3 28.528.5

ClergyClergy 5.65.6 12.012.0

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: Family ViolenceFamily Violence Spouse and child abuse occur in all Spouse and child abuse occur in all

sectors of society. sectors of society. The following categories are most at The following categories are most at

risk, however:risk, however:– Urban, lower class familiesUrban, lower class families– Families with more than 4 childrenFamilies with more than 4 children– Families that are socially isolatedFamilies that are socially isolated

Some studies suggest that family Some studies suggest that family violence may be decreasingviolence may be decreasing

The Changing Family: The Changing Family: Divorce and RemarriageDivorce and Remarriage

Divorce rates have risen considerably Divorce rates have risen considerably since 1970since 1970– A major reason is a shift in divorce laws in most A major reason is a shift in divorce laws in most

states allowing for “no fault” divorcestates allowing for “no fault” divorce The divorce rate is now leveling offThe divorce rate is now leveling off High divorce rates do not necessarily High divorce rates do not necessarily

signify a rejection of marriage. Most signify a rejection of marriage. Most people who divorce eventually remarrypeople who divorce eventually remarry– This typically involves the blending together of This typically involves the blending together of

two families, called “step- families” or “blended two families, called “step- families” or “blended families”families”

– Sociologists refer to the pattern of divorce and Sociologists refer to the pattern of divorce and remarriage as “serial monogamy”remarriage as “serial monogamy”

Alternative LifestylesAlternative Lifestyles

The following trends, which represent a The following trends, which represent a shift from the traditional nuclear family shift from the traditional nuclear family have been observedhave been observed