SOCIOL 62 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Process Migration, Egalitarianism, Heteronormativity
What is Sociology?
-scientific study of human social life, groups, societies -systematic explanation of patterns
Durkheim: Social Facts
-there are societal roles!
-outside the consciousness of the individual, until they try to test them
-coercive power, invisible strings that assert themselves only when one tries to resist
-illusion of individual autonomy
Social Facts Related to Family
-tendency to marry or date people who are similar to us (endogamy: within social group, local
community, homogamy: close in status, similar to you)!
-taboo nature of incest, illegality of polygamy!
-courtship and marriage rituals (engagement ring, wedding ceremony)
-norm of monogamy!
-age norms for family transitions
Sociological Research
-a systematic observation which analyze group behavior instead of individual acts
-aim to be generalizable!
-aim to generate theories that help understand human behavior
Why study family sociologically?
-family is one of the most universal and basic building block of society!
-this approach allows researchers to
-systematically observe family behavior!
-draw conclusions about family behavior!
-dispel stereotypes!
-correct misconceptions based on casual observation -inform policymaking
Family definition
Census, a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder )related by birth, marriage, or
adoption and residing together.
-changes over time (increasing age at marriage)!
-variations across region (high divorce rate in CA)!
-differences across social groups (low marriage rates among African Americans)
-Goode (1964)!
-two adult people of opposite sex residing together!
-division of labor, economic and social exchanges, share things in common, children (Protection,
corporation, nurturance- relationship with siblings
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-why does it matter?!
-legal concerns, health concerns, economic concerns, demographic concerns
-Powell et al.
exclusionists: heavily value traditional values 45% -moderates: emphasized importance of children 29% -
inclusionists: all types of configurations are families, focuses on gay and lesbian marriage 26%
Acc to Powell most Americans :
-heteronormative definitions of family!
-importance of children!
-uncertainty of cohabitation!
-overall illegitimacy of people without intimate relationship or children
***Change in defining family from 2003-2006 regarding same sex individuals or couples
Demographic changes in family since 1960s
-delaying or foregoing marriage -increase in cohabitation !
(people postponing marriage )!
-increase in divorce!
-increase in non marital childbearing -changing attitudes
-increasing life expectancy (children spend more time with their grand parents) -reduction in fertility rate
(woman are having fewer children and later in life) -immigration
-women entering labor market (particularly large increases for women with young children
Marriage costs and benefits
-costs!
-wedding and reception
-tax penalty for dual earner couples -high risk of dissolution bc not all last!
-greedy institution; meaning: when you are married ,you are less likely to need friends and family support
since it takes you away from them
-benefits!
-survivor benefits if a partner passes away
-health benefits -form of insurance -intrinsic rewards
Trends in marriage
-more optional, you have a choice to whether or not get married -more likely to be delayed -27 females 29
males - until 1960 the avg age of first marriage for woman 20 and for men 23 - marriage is most common
is highly educated
-important race and class variation -cycling in and out of marriage -majority of people end up marrying
-90% in US!
-higher for some subgroups bc symbolic importance and bc it is optional and currently adults in the US
are married 53%
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Who marries whom?
-endogamy= marrying within social group, homogamy= marrying to someone close in Status, similar
education , income, class background !
-why? supply ( tend to interact with people who are same as us, Age , ethnicity, social class ) demand (the
idea that people are attracted to someone like themselves) , interference of third parties (parents often
want us to marry someone like ourselves )
-decline in marrying by residential proximity (travel is easy, online dating)
-increase in marrying spouse with similar level of education (rich people marry rich, poor marry poor)
-tendency to marry someone with same religious background -race matters(though gender differences)
-white men tend to date more asian and hispanic woman than blacks, but all numbers drop when coming
to cohabiting/marriage -white women date way more hispanics and blacks with a milder decrease in
cohabitation and marriage with these races
****Asian have the highest percent in marriage because among others they have higher income so they
are more capable of getting married
HISTORICAL CHANGE IN MARRIAGE !!
Institutional marriage
Type of marriage took place in the 20th century , children were expected to be obedient , Romanic love
was not necessary, souses were expected to work together under husband authority , Farming ,
heteronormative = a worldview that promotes heterosexuality as the normal sexual orientation .
Laws and churches supported this marriage , sex was only for reproduction , most of these features are
lost today but marriage continues to be regulated by social norms , legal requirements , church and
religious tradition
-emphasis on male authority, duty, conformity to social norms!
-husband was head of household (few rights afforded to women, assumption that wives had same opinion
as husbands)
Companionate marriage
-emphasizes affection, friendship, sexual gratification -importance of emotional ties!
-still gendered division of household labor (called specialization model)
Early 20th century, kind of full force by 1940s , focuses on the quality of the relationships of the two
partner, interpersonal, communication, trust. Love is necessary , female homemaker model, traditional
division of labor, heteronormative, men work outside the home and woman inside the home . This type
continued until WWII and characterized by high marriage rate in lower age and lots of children , most
men and woman were satisfied.
Individualized model of marriage
-focus on self-development, flexible roles, open communication -couple development still important but
much less
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Scientific study of human social life, groups, societies -systematic explanation of patterns. Outside the consciousness of the individual, until they try to test them. Coercive power, invisible strings that assert themselves only when one tries to resist. Tendency to marry or date people who are similar to us (endogamy: within social group, local community, homogamy: close in status, similar to you) Courtship and marriage rituals (engagement ring, wedding ceremony) A systematic observation which analyze group behavior instead of individual acts. Aim to generate theories that help understand human behavior. Family is one of the most universal and basic building block of society. Correct misconceptions based on casual observation -inform policymaking. Census, a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder )related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together. Variations across region (high divorce rate in ca) Differences across social groups (low marriage rates among african americans) Two adult people of opposite sex residing together.
