Marriage and FamilyMarriage and Family(Please take notes)(Please take notes)

Family—What Is It?Family—What Is It?

Many sociologists believe :there is no right Many sociologists believe :there is no right or wrong answer to “what is family”or wrong answer to “what is family”

Definitions vary from culture to culture, Definitions vary from culture to culture, sub-culture to sub-culture, and so onsub-culture to sub-culture, and so on

Our text definition:Our text definition:A group of people related by marriage, blood, or A group of people related by marriage, blood, or

adoptionadoption

How does this picture epitomize the American family?

Nuclear v. ExtendedNuclear v. Extended

Who knows the difference?Who knows the difference?

Nuclear: family structure composed one or Nuclear: family structure composed one or both parents and childrenboth parents and children

Extended: two or more adults generations Extended: two or more adults generations of the same family whose members share of the same family whose members share economic resources and a common economic resources and a common householdhousehold

Origins of “family”Origins of “family”

Why do we have families? Where did they Why do we have families? Where did they come from?come from?

Goes back to hunting and gathering daysGoes back to hunting and gathering days Small bands of nuclear families were nomadic Small bands of nuclear families were nomadic

togethertogether Men hunterMen hunter Women gathered, cared for childrenWomen gathered, cared for children

Origins Con’tOrigins Con’tThen humans domesticated animals…Then humans domesticated animals…

No longer needed to be mobile to maintain No longer needed to be mobile to maintain food supplyfood supplyFamilies farmed and stayed in one placeFamilies farmed and stayed in one placeThe bigger the family, the more hands to The bigger the family, the more hands to help on the farmhelp on the farm

Division of laborDivision of labor

Agriculture was basis of family and Agriculture was basis of family and extended families were the basis of extended families were the basis of successful agriculturesuccessful agriculture

Origins Con’tOrigins Con’t

As societal moved from agricultural-based As societal moved from agricultural-based to industrial based, extended families to industrial based, extended families became less importantbecame less importantNuclear families became what we now Nuclear families became what we now think of as “family”think of as “family” Large families no longer needed to work the Large families no longer needed to work the

landland

Now-a-days, what is the advantage of Now-a-days, what is the advantage of smaller families?smaller families?

MarriageMarriage

Textbook:Textbook:

A legal union based on mutual rights and A legal union based on mutual rights and obligationsobligations

What is conspicuously absent in this What is conspicuously absent in this definition?definition?

Same-Sex MarriageSame-Sex Marriage

What are arguments for and against?

Same sex marriageSame sex marriage

Source: NPRSource: NPR

Source: Human Rights Campaign Updated July 6, 2011

Types of MarriageTypes of Marriage

Monogamy: one male and one female Monogamy: one male and one female (traditionally)(traditionally)

Polygamy: more than one male or more Polygamy: more than one male or more than one femalethan one female Polygyny: 1 male + multiple womenPolygyny: 1 male + multiple women

Legal and still common in parts of the worldLegal and still common in parts of the world Polyandry: 1 female + multiple men (very Polyandry: 1 female + multiple men (very

rare!)rare!)