Social Institutions“The Family”

So, what exactly is a family?The Debate over Family Definitions: • a group of people related by either blood, marriage, or

adoption• a social institution that unites individuals into

cooperative groups that care for one another, including any children

• people with or without legal or blood ties who feel they belong together

- definition varies from society to society- definition can change over time

Family of Orientation: family that one is born into

∞ Gives name identity∞ Give heritage∞ Gives ascribed status∞ Grants orientation to the world

Family of Procreation: established upon marriage

∞ Legal to have children∞ Gives name∞ Becomes ones family of orientation∞ Grants orientation to the world

Basic Types of Families

Nuclear Family: family structure comprised of parent(s) and children

Extended Family: family structure comprised of two or more generations of adults who live in the same household & share economic resources

Which Sitcom Represents Which?

Family Matters The Simpsons

Additions to Family TypesBlended Family: family structure

formed when at least partner in a marriage has been married before and has children from the previous marriage

Single Parent Family: family structure in which one parent is head of household raising children without other parent

Additions to Family Types

Childless Family: family structure in which the married couple choose to or cannot have children

Same Sex Family: family structure composed of a homosexual couple living together as a family with or without children

Which Sitcom Represents Which?Modern Family

King of Queens

The Brady Bunch

Full House

Family StructureHead of Family Patrilineal Matrilineal Bilateral

For Descent & Inheritance

Male Line Female Line Both Equally

Example Iran & Iraq Pueblo People United States

Authority In Family:

Patriarchy Matriarchy Equalitarian

Who Oldest Male Oldest Female Shared By Both

Example Iraq & China Rare/Obsolete United States

MarriageTwo Basic Forms of Marriage℗Monogamy: marriage between one man & one women℗Polygamy: marriage of man/women to more than one

person

Two Types of Marriage℗Exogamy: marriage to person outside kind

or group℗ Result: Heterogamy (different)℗ Ex: outside blood line

℗Endogamy: marriage to person inside kind or group

℗ Result: Homogamy (similar)℗ Ex: within race/age/caste

Reasons for Marriage

o Loveo Arrangemento Economic Benefito Social Classo Companionship

Reasons for Divorce

o Personal Factors- age - years -quality

o Societal Factors- economic changes- generational change- independence- values/attitudes of society

10% of American adults over age 15 are divorced!

Divorce rate is ten times what it was a century ago!

Recent Family TrendsWays in which American families are changing:℗ Cohabitation: people living together without marrying

• 500,000 in 1970 to 5.6 million in 2005 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006)• 9% of all couples (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005)

℗ Postponing Marriage: people are delaying marriage• 1950 average median age for marriage was 20.3 (women) & 22.8 (men)• 2003 average median age jumped to 25.3 (women) & 27.1 (men) (U.S.

Census Bureau, 2004)

℗ Single Parents: children being raised by just one parent

℗ 2005 1 in 3 families with children under 18 had just one parent in the household 9 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006)

℗ Since 1970 the number has more than doubled

℗ Same-Sex Families: movement to win the right to marry

℗ 25% of same-sex couples are raising children (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002)

℗ Mothers Joining the Workforce: ℗ 18% of young children are spending time in child-care

programs (Urban Institute, 2004)