Chapter 12: Marriage and Families Flashcards

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1
Q

How is family traditionally defined?

A

A group of two or more people who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

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2
Q

What is the functional definition of family?

A

A group of two or more people who are mutually committed to one another and who care for one another.

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3
Q

What is a nuclear family?

A

A married heterosexual couple and their young children living by themselves under one roof.

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4
Q

What is an extended family?

A

A family consisting of parents, their children, other relatives, and even non-kin, living under one roof or compound.

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5
Q

What are blended families?

A

Families that include step-parents and/or step-siblings.

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6
Q

What is monogamy?

A

A marriage in which a couple are married exclusively to each other.

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7
Q

What is polygamy?

A

A marriage of one person to two or more people at the same time.

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8
Q

What is polygyny?

A

A form of polygamy where one man has multiple wives.

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9
Q

What is polyandry?

A

A form of polygamy where one woman has multiple husbands.

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10
Q

What is endogamy?

A

The practice of marrying within one’s own social group, such as by race, religion, or social class.

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11
Q

What is homogamy?

A

The tendency to choose and marry a mate with similar characteristics, such as race, religion, and social class.

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12
Q

What is exogamy?

A

The practice of marrying outside one’s own social group or category.

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13
Q

What is bilateral descent?

A

A kinship system where both paternal and maternal ancestors are considered part of one’s family.

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14
Q

What is unilateral descent?

A

A kinship system where lineage is traced through one parent only (either the father or the mother).

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15
Q

What is patrilineal descent?

A

A kinship system where lineage is traced through the father’s side only.

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16
Q

What is matrilineal descent?

A

A kinship system where lineage is traced through the mother’s side only.

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17
Q

What is ambilineal descent?

A

A kinship system where children can be traced through either the father’s or mother’s side, depending on the situation.

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18
Q

What is neolocal residence?

A

A living arrangement where a couple lives separately from both of their families of orientation after marriage.

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19
Q

What is patrilocal residence?

A

A residence system where the wife lives with or near her husband’s blood relatives.

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20
Q

What is matrilocal residence?

A

A residence system where the husband lives with his wife’s blood relatives.

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21
Q

What is a patriarchal family?

A

A family where adult men are the primary authority figures.

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22
Q

What is a matriarchal family?

A

A family where adult women are the primary authority figures.

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23
Q

What is an egalitarian family?

A

A family where adult men and women share authority equally.

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24
Q

How were families structured in preindustrial societies?

A

Families were often extended, with roles based on gender, and economic survival depended on cooperation in small communities.

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25
Q

How did industrialization change family life in the U.S.?

A

Men began working outside the home in factories, and women took on domestic duties, reinforcing gender roles and contributing to the rise of the patriarchal family structure.

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26
Q

What is a key theme in the historical study of families?

A

The nuclear family model of the 1950s, with the male as the breadwinner and female as homemaker, is considered a historical anomaly rather than a long-term norm.

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27
Q

What is the significance of the “Leave It to Beaver” family model?

A

It represents the 1950s ideal of a nuclear family, though less than 60% of American children lived in this family form during that time.

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28
Q

What is the functionalist perspective on families?

A

Functionalists focus on the essential functions families serve in society, such as socializing children, providing emotional support, regulating sexual activity, and offering social identity.

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29
Q

What is the conflict perspective on families?

A

Conflict theorists argue that families contribute to social inequality, reinforce patriarchy, and can be sites of conflict and violence.

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30
Q

What is the symbolic interactionist perspective on families?

A

Symbolic interactionists emphasize the shared understandings and communication patterns within families, and how social class influences marital expectations and relationships.

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31
Q

How do functionalists view sudden changes in family structures?

A

Functionalists believe sudden or far-reaching changes in family structure threaten family stability and societal order.

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32
Q

What is the role of wealth in families, according to conflict theorists?

A

Conflict theorists argue that families reinforce economic inequality by passing down wealth and social status, contributing to stratification.

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33
Q

How do gender roles evolve in families according to functionalism?

A

Functionalists view gender roles as essential for family function, with men typically being the breadwinners and women the homemakers, though this has changed in recent decades.

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34
Q

What impact does romantic love have on marriage in American culture?

A

Romantic love is the common basis for American marriages, though it is less common in other cultures where marriages may be arranged for economic or social reasons.

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35
Q

What percentage of households in the U.S. are family households?

A

About 65%

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36
Q

What is the percentage of adults who have never been married in the U.S. today?

A

29.5%

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37
Q

What percentage of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce after 15 years?

A

42%

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38
Q

What was the percentage of interracial or interethnic marriages in the U.S. in 2020?

A

10%

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39
Q

How has the approval of interracial marriages changed since 1961?

A

Approval of interracial marriage increased from 4% in 1961 to 94% in 2021.

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40
Q

What is the average age of first marriage in the U.S. today?

A

The average age at first marriage is 30.5 years for men and just over 28 years for women.

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41
Q

How do U.S. marriage rates compare to other postindustrial nations?

A

The U.S. has higher rates of marriage and divorce compared to other postindustrial nations.

42
Q

What role does romantic love play in American marriage rates?

A

American marriage rates are partly influenced by a strong cultural emphasis on romantic love as a basis for marriage, which can lead to high divorce rates when love fades.

43
Q

How do independence and individualism impact divorce rates in the U.S.?

A

U.S. emphasis on individualism and independence makes divorce more likely, as people prioritize personal happiness over marital preservation.

44
Q

How many U.S. families have children under 18?

A

About 33.5 million U.S. families have children under 18.

45
Q

What percentage of U.S. families with children are one-parent households?

A

About 30% of U.S. families with children are one-parent households.

46
Q

What is the racial-ethnic variation in single-parent families?

A

Latinx, American Indian, and African American families are more likely to have single parents compared to white and Asian American households.

47
Q

How does having children impact parents’ emotional well-being?

A

Parents, especially those with young children, tend to experience more emotional distress and depression than their childless counterparts.

48
Q

What is the average cost of raising a child in the U.S. from birth to age 18?

A

The cost ranges from $134,000 to $270,000 per child, excluding college education.

49
Q

What is the trend in cohabitation among young adults in the U.S.?

A

The percentage of young adults aged 25-34 living with an unmarried partner rose from 12% in 2008 to 15% in 2018.

50
Q

Does cohabitation affect the success of marriage?

A

Cohabitation before marriage has little effect on marriage success, with couples who don’t cohabit before marriage having slightly better long-term success.

51
Q

How does cohabitation compare to marriage in terms of psychological well-being?

A

Married adults generally report better psychological well-being than cohabiting adults, although cohabiting couples fare better than those living alone.

52
Q

How does the relationship violence rate compare among cohabiting, married, and dating couples?

A

Relationship violence is more common among cohabiting couples than among married or dating couples, especially among young adults (aged 18-28).

53
Q

What does Figure 12.9 show about the U.S. divorce rate?

A

The U.S. divorce rate rose sharply in the early 1900s, with a peak in the 1970s and 1980s, and has since declined, reaching its lowest point in 2022.

54
Q

What are common reasons for the increase in divorce rates during the 1960s and 1970s?

A

Increased economic independence for women, the decline in social disapproval of divorce, and the introduction of no-fault divorce laws.

55
Q

How does the age at marriage affect the likelihood of divorce?

A

Teenagers who marry are more likely to divorce, while those who marry in their late 20s or older are less likely to divorce.

56
Q

How does social class impact divorce rates?

A

People in lower socioeconomic classes are more likely to divorce due to financial stress, while those in economic comfort are less likely to divorce.

57
Q

What are the psychological effects of divorce on spouses?

A

Divorce can lead to poorer mental health and happiness for both spouses, although some may experience improvement after leaving a contentious marriage.

58
Q

How does divorce affect children?

A

Children of divorced parents are more likely to experience emotional distress, behavioral problems, and academic difficulties.

59
Q

How do children fare when living with a single parent?

A

Children generally fare better when they have a close emotional bond with their nonresident father, regardless of which parent they live with.

60
Q

What role does poverty play in family structure?

A

54% of children in low-income families live with a single parent, compared to only 20% of children in higher-income families.

61
Q

How does race and ethnicity impact child poverty rates?

A

African American, Latinx, and American Indian children are more than twice as likely as non-Latinx white children to live in poverty.

62
Q

How does daycare affect young children’s development?

A

Children in daycare exhibit better cognitive skills but may also show slightly more aggression. The quality of daycare matters more than daycare versus staying at home.

63
Q

How does working outside the home affect mothers?

A

Working mothers may experience stress and guilt, but children in daycare often perform better in cognitive skills compared to those raised at home.

64
Q

What is the impact of U.S. daycare quality?

A

The U.S. lags behind other postindustrial nations in providing high-quality, affordable daycare, affecting children’s development.

65
Q

How does marriage impact well-being?

A

Married people tend to be happier, healthier, and have better psychological well-being than unmarried individuals.

66
Q

Are there any exceptions to the benefits of marriage?

A

Marriage benefits seem greater for older adults, whites, and those who were psychologically healthy before marriage. Happy and healthy people are more likely to marry and stay married.

67
Q

What was one of the most controversial contemporary issues concerning families?

A

Marriage equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

68
Q

In July 2010, how many states allowed same-sex marriage?

A

Five states.

69
Q

What legal benefits did civil unions provide to same-sex couples in 2010?

A

Civil unions offered some legal benefits but did not provide the full range of rights and privileges of marriage.

70
Q

What did the 2015 Supreme Court ruling (Obergefell v. Hodges) do for same-sex couples?

A

It extended marriage rights to gay and lesbian people across all 50 states.

71
Q

How many same-sex couple households were reported in the US by 2020?

A

594,000 households, a 50% increase from 2000.

72
Q

What percentage of all partner-headed households in the U.S. are same-sex couple households?

A

1.5%

73
Q

What did the 2015 Supreme Court ruling impact for same-sex couples?

A

It made federally mandated spousal rights and benefits, such as Social Security and family leave, apply to same-sex married couples.

74
Q

How do same-sex couples compare demographically to opposite-sex couples?

A

Same-sex couples are typically younger (average age of 52) and have a higher average household income ($107K) compared to opposite-sex couples.

75
Q

What percentage of same-sex couples have children under 18 years old?

A

18.5%, compared to 44.5% of opposite-sex couples.

76
Q

Is there data supporting that opposite-sex parenting is better than same-sex parenting?

A

No, there is no data to support that claim.

77
Q

How do children of lesbian couples compare in terms of behavioral problems and self-esteem?

A

Children of lesbian couples tend to have slightly lower rates of behavioral problems and higher self-esteem.

78
Q

What was the effect of same-sex marriage legalization on suicide rates among high school students?

A

Suicide rates among high school students declined in states where same-sex marriage was legal.

79
Q

How has social acceptance of LGBTQ+ people affected same-sex households?

A

It has led to an increase in the number of same-sex couple households, as more people feel comfortable sharing their identity.

80
Q

Which racial/ethnic groups are more likely to live with only one parent?

A

Latinx, African American, and American Indian families.

81
Q

Which racial/ethnic groups are especially likely to live in poverty?

A

African American, Latinx, and American Indian families.

82
Q

What family characteristics are common among Latinx, Asian American, and American Indian families?

A

Strong family bonds, loyalty, and extended families.

83
Q

How do extended families benefit racial/ethnic groups facing poverty-related problems?

A

Extended families serve as a valuable shield against racial, ethnic, and poverty-related problems.

84
Q

What are the two types of family violence?

A

Violence against intimates (spouses, partners) and violence against children.

85
Q

What is intimate partner violence (IPV)?

A

Violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner.

86
Q

How many intimate partner violence victimizations occurred in the U.S. in 2020?

A

1.6 million violent victimizations (excluding simple assaults).

87
Q

What percentage of women and men have experienced IPV in their lifetime, according to the CDC?

A

11 million women and 5 million men.

88
Q

Is IPV equally common among men and women?

A

While mutual violence does occur, women’s violence is often less serious and may be in self-defense.

89
Q

What are common cultural myths that explain IPV against women?

A

Some men believe their wives should obey them, which can make it easier for them to justify violence.

90
Q

Why do many women stay in violent relationships?

A

Economic dependence, lack of resources (e.g., shelters), and fear of retaliation from their partners.

91
Q

How does IPV affect LGBTQ+ individuals?

A

IPV is generally higher among LGBTQ+ people than non-LGBTQ+ people.

92
Q

What is the IPV experience rate among gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals?

A

26% of gay men, 44% of lesbian women, and 61% of bisexual women report IPV in their lifetime.

93
Q

How does IPV affect transgender individuals?

A

38% of transgender people have experienced physical IPV, and 25% have experienced sexual IPV.

94
Q

How does IPV affect college students?

A

College students experience psychological IPV most frequently, followed by physical and sexual IPV.

95
Q

What are the types of child abuse?

A

Physical, psychological, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect.

96
Q

Why is it difficult to measure child abuse?

A

Young children may not communicate the abuse, and older children might fear reporting it.

97
Q

How many children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2019?

A

Over 656,000 children (8.9 per 1000 children).

98
Q

What types of abuse do most child victims experience?

A

74.9% experience neglect, 17.9% physical abuse, and 9.3% sexual abuse.

99
Q

What are some reasons child abuse occurs?

A

Economic inequality, cultural attitudes toward corporal punishment, and substance abuse by parents.

100
Q

How common is physical abuse in childhood according to a 1994 Gallup Poll?

A

12% of children had been physically abused.

101
Q

What percentage of girls and boys are sexually abused before turning 18?

A

25% of girls and 10% of boys.

102
Q

What is a significant risk factor for child abuse?

A

Substance abuse by parents. In 2019, 15.9% of maltreated children had alcohol abuse risk, and 29.4% had drug abuse risk factors.