copyright © 2012 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved. family-related problems chapter 3...

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 3Family-Related Family-Related

ProblemsProblems

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Myth or Fact?

Divorce is a modern phenomenon and was relatively unheard of in premodern societies.

The U.S has more teenage pregnancies than any other industrial nation.

Myth Fact


Polygamy

Marriage in which there are more than two spouses.

Polygyny - Concurrent marriage of one man with two or more women.

Polyandry - Concurrent marriage of one woman with two or more men.

Bigamy - The criminal offense of marrying one person while still legally married to another.


Same-Sex Relationships In the U.S. the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage

Act defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country to offer legal marriage to same-sex couples.

In 2003 Belgium became the second country to legalize same-sex marriage and was followed in 2005 by Canada and Spain.


Households

Family household 2 or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption

who reside together.

Nonfamily household May consist of one person who lives alone, two or more

people as roommates, or cohabiting heterosexual or homosexual couples.


Families

Family the social institution based on kinship that functions

to replace members of society and to nurture them In the U.S. today cultural norms call for people

To practice monogamy To have an egalitarian family

Families in the U.S. have transitioned from an extended family to a nuclear family; yet many families form a modified extended family.


The Functionalist Perspective

Some form of the family exists in all societies because families perform certain basic functions essential to human survival and the maintenance of society including regulation of sexual behavior and reproduction socialization and education status conferral economic activity protection affection and companionship


The Conflict Perspective The family serves the interests of the dominant

groups in society. There is no reason to assume that a single family

form will benefit everyone. The dominant form can perpetuate social and

economic inequality. The most common type of authority structure in

families is patriarchy, which refers to a family in which males

dominate the regulation of political and economic decision making, whereas women and children are subordinate.


The Interactionist Perspective

Family form is a matter of social definition. People are socialized to accept their society’s

family form as “natural.” Today there is much less widespread consensus

regarding family and family-related behavior.


Attitudes Toward Marriage and Family

In the U.S. today more people marry than ever before, well over 90% this may reflect the long transition from “arranged

marriages” to “participant-run” romances where the selection of a marital partner is based primarily on the individual desires of the prospective mates

marriage is viewed quite positively by many people, but alternatives are also becoming more popular


The Divorce Rate

The refined divorce rate is determined by dividing the number of divorces each year by the total number of existing marriages in that year. The divorce rate has doubled since 1940, going from

8.8 to about 18 divorces for every 1,000 marriages The divorce rate has gone up over the last sixty

years, but has declined a little since its high point around 1980.


Societal Conditions Related to the Rising Divorce Rate

The family performs fewer functions today. The increasing equality between men and

women has created opportunities and tensions. There is less stigma attached to divorce today. Pressures have surfaced to simplify the legal

process for obtaining a divorce.


Who Gets Divorced?

Couples with an increased likelihood of divorcing have the following characteristics: social differences between the couple low socioeconomic standing young age at marriage whirlwind romances


Divorce and Children

When parents divorce what are the consequences for the children? The impact on children depends on their age. Children in divorced homes seem to be more prone to

delinquency. A decline in school performance and a higher school dropout

rate is a common consequence. It is not the divorce itself that produces the negative

consequences; the social and emotional conditions that often surround divorce are also a part of the problem.

Research suggests that the impact on children persists into adulthood.


The Marital Decline Perspective

According to the marital decline perspective:

• Personal happiness is more important than marriage and family obligations.

• The decline in lifelong marriage and the increase in single-parent families have contributed to poverty, delinquency, substance abuse, violence, and the erosion of neighborhoods and communities.


The Marital Resiliency Perspective

Includes the following beliefs:

• Poverty, unemployment, poorly funded schools, discrimination, and the lack of basic services are more serious threats to the well-being of children and adults than the decline in married two-parent families.

• Divorce provides a second chance for happiness for adults and an escape from dysfunctional and aversive home environments for many children.


Diverse Family Lifestyles

Single Parenthood

Single Parenthood

CohabitationCohabitation

SinglehoodSinglehood

Dual Earner

Families

Dual Earner

Families

DiverseFamily

Lifestyles

DiverseFamily

Lifestyles


Violence in the Family

Intimate Partner Violence Includes violence between spouses, cohabitating

partners, boyfriends/girlfriends, and dates Reasons for intimate partner violence

Use of violence to settle disputes, especially by males Marital poverty Sexual inequality An inconsistency between a man’s and woman’s

achievements Social isolation


Patterns of Partner Violence

1. Common couple violence refers to occasional acts of violence arising from arguments that get “out of hand.”

2. Intimate terrorism is violence that is motivated by a wish to control one’s partner and involves violence, economic subordination, threats, isolation, verbal and emotional abuse, and other control tactics.


Patterns of Partner Violence

3. Violent resistance refers to acts of violence that are committed in self-defense.

4. Mutual violent control is a rare pattern of abuse that is a battle for control in the relationship.


Cycle of Abuse

A pattern of abuse in which a violent or abusive episode is followed by a makeup period when the abuser expresses sorrow and asks for forgiveness and “one more chance,” before another instance of abuse occurs.


Nonfatal Intimate Partner Victimization Rate by Marital Status

Gary

Update from 7e page 162


Violence in the Family

Child Abuse Irrespective of social class considerations, it

appears that child abuse is a behavior pattern that is passed on from generation to generation in some families.

Abuse of the Elderly Abuse is more likely to occur when the caregiver

is dependent on the elderly person under his or her care.


Future Prospects

The family performs important functions in society, and some type of family will undoubtedly continue to perform those functions in the future.

Despite the rapid rise in divorce in recent decades, the divorce rate will not necessarily continue to rise substantially in the future.

One of the most positive steps toward reducing family violence has been bringing the issue into the open.

Social policies related to children and the family can be highly controversial and cover such topics as teen pregnancy and child-care.

copyright © 2012 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved. family-related problems chapter 3...

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