Ch 11. The Changing Family Flashcards
an institution found in all societies that unites people in cooperative groups to care for one another, including children
Family
a social network of people based on common ancestry, marriage, or adoption
Kinship
a unit composed of relatives in addition to parents and children, all of whom live in the same household
Extended family
a unit composed of one or two parents and his/her/their dependent children who live apart from other relatives
Nuclear family
- many women are in the labour force
- the focus has shifted from the needs of children to the needs of adults
- more single-person households
- many new types of families: common-law, same-sex, living apart together, blended
Reasons for Canadian Families are in Decline
Original concepts of the family in Canada (2)
- Based on Indigenous practices the family consisted of the nuclear family, extended family, and clan structures
- Indigenous social structures did not dictate the clear gender division of labour, gender roles, or segregation of sexes that we currently see
As women’s role in the domestic economy decreased…
…their role in household chores and child rearing increased
As men increasingly worked outside of the home…
…their work at home began to decrease
WWI and WWII had significant impacts on the family structure in North America
The dominance of the nuclear family as the ideal family type during post-war times
Talcott Parson’s idea of the ideal family (expressive/instrumental) reflects this period
Impacts of Structural Changes on the Family
Structural Functionalist Theory
Stresses the importance of family in maintaining the stability of society and well-being of individuals
- regulate sexual behaviour and reproduction
- socialize and educate children
- provide economic and psychological support
- provide social status for members
Families Role (Functionalist)
Social Conflict Theory
Families are sources of social inequality and conflict over values and access to resources which benefits the capitalist class and subordinates women
- women and children are dominated by men like factory workers by managers (engels)
- women do more unpaid work in the home (child care) more than men
Feminist Perspective (3)
- Male domination occurred before capitalism and Inequality causes domestic abuse
- Rates of spousal homicide is higher for females (6 million) than males (2 million) - inequality causes domestic abuse
- Increases in age of first marriage and occupational opportunities may be helping the reduction of inequality
Symbolic Interactional Theory
Partners develop a shared reality through interaction
- Women’s lives have become more “individualized”
- Different expectations of marriage/family
- Society emphasizes romantic love, but this can cause unrealistic expectations
- Men and women may express love in different ways
- Nuclear families used to predominate, now many forms exist
How do changes occur in family? (interactional theory)
Monogamy
marriage between two people
Marriages have been declining from the
1970s (started in the 50s after WWII)
Singlehood
percent of individuals who live in one-person households in Canada has increased; for many it is involuntary
Postponing marriage (and why?) (4)
Mean age of first marriage for men is 31.0, and for women, 29.6 years
- the economic uncertainty due to changing job structure
- women’s participation in work force
- sexual revolution
- rising divorce rate
two unmarried adults living together in a sexual relationship without being married: 18 percent of all couples in Canada in 2011
Common Law/Cohabitaiton
people in an intimate relationship living in another dwelling/location. Couples not living in the same dwelling for job opportunities or to minimize care-giving (among older couples)
Living Apart Together (LAT)
Dual-earner marriage
both spouses in the labour force
Second shift
domestic work that women do at home after completing their workday on the job
Two-parent households
When father take an active part in the family, there are beneficial results. However, constant fighting/abuse, this leads to problems in two-parent household families.
- 16.3 percent of all households (2011)
- Mothers head 80% and fathers 19%
- Children can be at a disadvantage for schooling, drug abuse, and later life problems.
- 21.8% of children in female lone-parent families are below LICO vs 8.2% in two-parent families
Lone-Parent Families
- Less financial security
- Lower academic achievement
- More substance use
- Lower rates of employment
Problems that stem from divorce for children (4)
Reproduction Related Issues (2)
- Reproductive freedom, contraception, and abortion: abortion is not always available and protests take place at clinics, but it appears to be in decline
- Infertility, inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sex, and new reproductive technologies
- 20% of children live under the poverty line
- 40% of First Nations children live under the poverty line
- 10% of families live under the poverty line
- family poverty is gendered
Concerns for the current family (poverty)
- Rational
- Responsive
- Reasoning
- Firm
Four parenting styles - style is more important than family income or structure for explaining behavior problems
