Marriage and family are key structures in most societies. While the two institutions have historically been closely linked in U.S. culture, their connection is becoming more complex. The relationship between marriage and family is an interesting topic of study to sociologists.
Section Quiz
Sociologists tend to define family in terms of
how a given society sanctions the relationships of people who are connected through blood, marriage, or adoption
the connection of bloodlines
the status roles that exist in a family structure
how closely members adhere to social norms
Answer
A
Research suggests that people generally feel that their current family is _______ than the family they grew up with.
less close
more close
at least as close
none of the above
Answer
C
A woman being married to two men would be an example of:
monogamy
polygyny
polyandry
cohabitation
Answer
C
A child who associates his line of descent with his father’s side only is part of a _____ society.
matrilocal
bilateral
matrilineal
patrilineal
Answer
D
Which of the following is a criticism of the family life cycle model?
It is too broad and accounts for too many aspects of family.
It is too narrowly focused on a sequence of stages.
It does not serve a practical purpose for studying family behavior.
It is not based on comprehensive research.
Answer
B
Short Answer
According to research, what are people's general thoughts on family in the United States? How do they view nontraditional family structures? How do you think these views might change in twenty years?
Explain the difference between bilateral and unilateral descent. Using your own association with kinship, explain which type of descent applies to you?
14.2: Variations in Family Life
People's concepts of marriage and family in the United States are changing. Increases in cohabitation, same-sex partners, and singlehood are altering of our ideas of marriage. Similarly, single parents, same-sex parents, cohabitating parents, and unwed parents are changing our notion of what it means to be a family. While most children still live in opposite-sex, two-parent, married households, that is no longer viewed as the only type of nuclear family.
Section Quiz
The majority of U.S. children live in:
two-parent households
one-parent households
no-parent households
multigenerational households
Answer
A
According to the study cited by the U.S. Census Bureau, children who live with married parents grow up with more advantages than children who live with:
a divorced parent
a single parent
a grandparent
all of the above
Answer
B
Couples who cohabitate before marriage are ______ couples who did not cohabitate before marriage to be married at least ten years.
far more likely than
far less likely than
slightly less likely than
equally as likely as
Answer
C
Same-sex couple households account for _____ percent of U.S. households.
1
10
15
30
Answer
A
The median age of first marriage has ______ in the last fifty years.
increased for men but not women
decreased for men but not women
increased for both men and women
decreased for both men and women
Answers
C
Short Answer
Explain the different variations of the nuclear family and the trends that occur in each.
Why are some couples choosing to cohabitate before marriage? What effect does cohabitation have on marriage?
14.3: Challenges Families Face
As the structure of family changes over time, so do the challenges families face. Events like divorce and remarriage present new difficulties for families and individuals. Other long-standing domestic issues such as abuse continue to strain the health and stability of today’s families.
Section Quiz
Current divorce rates are:
at an all-time high
at an all-time low
steadily increasing
steadily declining
Answer
D
Children of divorced parents are _______ to divorce in their own marriage than children of parents who stayed married.
more likely
less likely
equally likely
Answer
A
In general, children in ______ households benefit from divorce.
stepfamily
multigenerational
high-conflict
low-conflict
Answer
C
Which of the following is true of intimate partner violence (IPV)?
IPV victims are more frequently men than women.
One in ten women is a victim of IPV.
Nearly half of instances of IPV involve drugs or alcohol.
Rape is the most common form of IPV.
Answer
C
Which type of child abuse is most prevalent in the United States?
Physical abuse
Neglect
Shaken-baby syndrome
Verbal mistreatment
Answer
B
Short Answer
Explain how financial status impacts marital stability. What other factors are associated with a couple’s financial status?
Explain why more than half of IPV goes unreported? Why are those who are abused unlikely to report the abuse?