Chapter 13 Families and Family Life True or False 1. Families are not types but rather a set of dynamic processes. Answer: True 2. A man with multiple marital partners is engaging in polygamy. Answer: True 3. The traditional family rose to prominence in the 1950s as a consequence of World War II prosperity. Answer: True 4. The nuclear family consists of the people linked to us by birth—our parents, siblings, and extended kin. Answer: False 5. Our family of orientation consists only of our spouses and children. Answer: False 6. The U.S. Census Bureau would classify college roommates as a family unit. Answer: False 7. Proponents of the family decline perspective argue that basic social and economic forces have eroded the foundations of the breadwinner-homemaker family. Answer: False 8. The proponents of the family values perspective view the acceptance of same-sex marriage as the devaluation of heterosexual marriage. Answer: True 9. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that less than half of American households contained a married couple. Answer: True 10. Ninety percent of all Americans eventually marry. Answer: True 11. The rise of industrialization fostered the rise of a new family unit, the "conjugal family." Answer: True 12. Christine Whelan's research (2008) found that the most important trait that men seek in prospective wives is good looks. Answer: False 13. Christine Whelan's research (2008) found that the least important trait that men seek in prospective wives is good health. Answer: False 14. Families tend to ignore the economic value of care, especially when it is performed by a family member without a wage or salary attached to the work. Answer: True 15. Second shift is a term coined by journalist Lisa Belkin. Answer: False 16. Women more than men are adversely affected by the second shift. Answer: True 17. Parents today spend less time with their children than parents of decades ago. Answer: False 18. Children in high-conflict families whose parents’ divorce fare better than children raised in high-conflict families whose parents do not divorce. Answer: True 19. Most Americans consider having a baby as the most significant marker of adulthood. Answer: False 20. "Concerted cultivation" is a parental practice common to low-income American families. Answer: False 21. "Natural growth" is a parental practice engaged in by working-class families. Answer: True 22. Most Europeans can begin families without regard to considerations of healthcare and educational access. Answer: True 23. U.S. social policy stresses the collectivistic approach. Answer: False 24. Sweden's policy of parental leave allows parents to take up to 480 days off work after a child is born or adopted. Answer: True 25. A 2007 Pew survey found that most Americans are accepting of unwed motherhood. Answer: False Multiple Choice 1. __________ is the practice of marriage of one individual to two or more other individuals. A. Patri localism B. Patriarchy C. Polygamy D. Progressive plurality Answer: C 2. In China, the eldest son and his wife are expected to live with his parents and obey their authority. China is an example of a(n) __________ society. A. matrilocal B. patrilocal C. polygamous D. polyamorous Answer: B 3. Who referred to middle-class women's confinement to domesticity as "the problem that has no name"? A. Gloria Steinem B. Hillary Clinton C. Betty Freidan D. William Whyte Answer: C 4. Sociologist William Whyte referred to the conformity expected of the __________ in 1950s America. A. "traditional family" B. "suburban patriarch" C. "organization man" D. "suburban matriarch" Answer: C 5. __________ define families as groups of people who live together and share legal ties. A. Anthropologists B. Biologists C. Historians D. Demographers Answer: D 6. Anthropologists see families as __________. A. kinship systems B. familial networks C. legal entities D. inheritance clusters Answer: A 7. Johanna's parents and her two sisters comprise her __________. A. family of orientation B. family of procreation C. extended family D. blended family Answer: A 8. Earl is married and has two children. His spouse and his children comprise his __________. A. family of orientation B. family of procreation C. extended family D. blended family Answer: B 9. Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski's study of the Trobriand Islanders observed that __________. A. uncles performed many of the duties that Western societies associate with fatherhood B. polygamy was the norm rather than the exception C. same sex-marriages were as common as heterosexual relationships D. marriages between cousins and siblings were common among the ruling elite Answer: A 10. The U.S. Census Bureau would consider all the following sets of people as families EXCEPT __________. A. a married couple with two adopted children B. an elderly woman and her adult son and his wife C. a married couple with no children D. college-age roommates Answer: D 11. Some residents in low-income neighbourhoods create networks of caretaking and financial support with other residents outside kinship bonds, which sociologists call __________. A. fictive kin B. substitute family C. bonded family D. extended family Answer: A 12. In 1950, almost __________ percent of U.S. households consisted of a married couple. A. 50 B. 60 C. 70 D. 80 Answer: D 13. Which family form is the numerical majority in the present-day United States? A. The traditional breadwinner-homemaker couple and their children represents the numerical majority. B. The dual-earner couple represents the numerical majority. C. The cohabitating homosexual couple represents the numerical majority. D. There is no numerical majority. Answer: D 14. Which of the following statements about the changing composition of U.S. households over the last 40 years, from 1970 to 2011, is true? A. The percentage of men living alone has decreased. B. The percentage of nonfamily households has increased. C. The percentage of married couples with children has increased. D. The percentage of women living alone has decreased. Answer: B 15. The proponents of the family decline perspective identify all of the following factors as contributors to declines in adult commitment EXCEPT __________. A. lower marriage rates B. rising divorce rates C. rising rates of cohabitation D. lower rates of premarital sex Answer: D 16. An important argument in Favor of diverse family forms, the __________, is ignored by proponents of family decline. A. freedom to choose in intimate matters B. devaluation of heterosexual marriage C. undermining of family bonds needed to raise healthy children D. weakening of fathers' positions as heads of households Answer: A 17. The economic restructuring perspective on family change asserts that __________. A. economic forces have eroded the breadwinner-homemaker family B. declining morality has eroded the breadwinner-homemaker family C. social policies should focus on reviving "traditional" marriage to reverse erosion of the breadwinner homemaker family D. selfishness and unfettered individualism have eroded the breadwinner-homemaker family Answer: A 18. Proponents of the economic restructuring perspective on family change consider all of the following to be consequences of a new economic order EXCEPT __________. A. the blurring of gender boundaries B. the rise of dual-earner families C. an emphasis on individual choice and self-reliance D. financial stability among middle-class families Answer: D 19. The gender restructuring perspective on family change recognizes that __________ has(have) changed but __________ has(have) not. A. the structure jobs and careers; the care-taking needs of families B. women; men C. mothers; fathers D. the care-taking needs of families; the structure of jobs and careers Answer: D 20. Robert and Sarah both work full-time jobs. They take turns cooking dinner and taking their children to their extracurricular activities. Their relationship can best be described as __________. A. egalitarian B. traditional C. polarized D. inequitable Answer: A 21. In 2006, for the first time in U.S. history, the Census Bureau __________. A. started tracking cohabiting couples B. reported that less than half of U.S. households contained a married couple C. started tracking gay and lesbian couples D. reported that over half of U.S. households contained married couples with children Answer: B 22. What percentage of Americans eventually chooses to marry? A. 50 B. 60 C. 75 D. 90 Answer: D 23. The rise of the conjugal family unit during the period of rapid industrialization elevated emotional need for love and companionship as criteria for selecting marriage partners over __________ A. social affability B. parental approval C. ethnic group membership D. religious affiliation Answer: B 24. The rise of industrialization in the nineteenth century fostered the rise of __________. A. broken families B. extended families C. conjugal families D. blended families Answer: C 25. One of the liberalizing outcomes of the sexual revolution was the __________. A. destigmatization of premarital sex B. resurgence of sexual double standards C. closeting of gay and other previously hidden relationships D. rising incidence of AIDS Answer: A 26. During the polarizing trend in gender roles that proceeded from industrialization, the process in which women became responsible for emotional and caretaking duties to the exclusion of men has been termed __________. A. the second shift B. the female burden C. instrumentation D. the feminization of love Answer: D 27. According to sociologist Christine Whelan, in 2008, men ranked __________ as the most desirable trait in a potential wife. A. good looks B. sociability C. intelligence D. mutual attraction Answer: D 28. According to sociologist Christine Whelan, in 2008, men ranked __________ as the least desirable trait in potential wives. A. dependable character B. good health C. good cook D. chastity Answer: D 29. In the past two years, Joseph has made and broken intimate bonds with five partners in a pattern of behavior known as __________. A. polygamy B. cenogamy C. serial relationships D. sexual double standard Answer: C 30. All of the following are types of care work EXCEPT __________. A. paid work feeding disabled adults B. unpaid work nursing disabled children C. paid work grooming elderly residents in a nursing facility D. unpaid work canvassing for votes for the passage of mental health tax levies Answer: D 31. The "opt-out revolution" refers to __________. A. women who balance work and family B. men who leave the workplace to care for their children C. women who leave the workplace to care for their children D. women who reject marriage in Favor of alternatives to traditional marriage Answer: C 32. Women are far more likely than men to assume household duties in addition to working full-time jobs, an inequality that Arlie Hochschild has dubbed __________. A. the second shift B. the care-work conflict C. the female burden D. instrumentation Answer: A 33. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild attributes marital tensions that stem from second-shift inequality to women who __________. A. fail to adjust to their evolving roles B. feel unappreciated and shortchanged C. participate, to an excessive degree, in the lives of their children D. put workplace priorities before at-home priorities Answer: B 34. In an effort to cope with marital tensions faced by an unequal second shift, Nancy and Evan Holt, the couple described in your text, __________. Hochschild stresses, however, that developing strategies such as this do not and cannot change the underlying conditions from which the tensions stem. A. decided that it was best that Evan pick up a second part-time job B. determined that Nancy should quit her job and become a stay-at-home mother C. divided up the household chores between the two of them D. hired a part-time nanny Answer: C 35. Who are most likely to work a full day outside the home for pay and perform a second shift of unpaid labor at home? A. women B. men C. newlyweds D. the elderly Answer: A 36. "Man-cession" refers to a(n) __________. A. demographic shift resulting in women having fewer opportunities to find romantic partners B. economic shift resulting in more men than women losing their jobs C. economic shift resulting in reductions in men's contributions to care work in the home D. cultural shift resulting in more men than women choosing not to marry Answer: B 37. Which of the following statements about parenthood does research confirm is false? A. Parents spend less time with their children than they did decades ago. B. The 2010 labor participation rate of women with children under 6 in their households was above 60 percent. C. Employed mothers are more likely than fathers to perform the lion's share of domestic duties. D. Mothers, whether employed or not, feel conflict about not being able to live up to the expectations of being mothers. Answer: A 38. In 1960, by the age of 30, __________ percent of men had completed all of life's major transitions, including finishing school and getting married. A. 30 B. 45 C. 65 D. 85 Answer: C 39. In 2000, by the age of 30, __________ percent of men had completed all of life's major transitions, including finishing school and getting married. A. 31 B. 45 C. 65 D. 85 Answer: A 40. In 2000, what percentage of children lived in a two-parent household with a working father and a nonworking mother? A. 10 B. 21 C. 35 D. 47 Answer: B 41. The research on divorce indicates that _________. A. some children benefit from divorce B. a mother's standard of living increases following a divorce C. divorced women who don't remarry within a year of their divorces never remarry D. children never benefit from divorce Answer: A 42. What is meant by the "sleeper effect" in understanding the consequences of divorce? A. Children of divorce may not feel its harmful consequences until years after the divorce. B. Children of divorce have trouble sleeping for years after the divorce. C. Adults experience a resurgence of love for their divorced spouses for years after their divorces. D. Adults require sleeping medications for years after their divorces because of persistent depression. Answer: A 43. In 2002, 90 percent of Americans agreed that __________ is quite important or extremely important as a marker that defines adulthood. A. leaving home B. getting married C. having a baby D. completing formal schooling Answer: D 44. The extended time it now takes to complete the transition from adolescence to adulthood is called __________ by some sociologists and __________ by others. A. second adolescence; delayed adulthood B. delayed adulthood; the age of independence C. the age of independence; second adolescence D. second adolescence; the age of dependence Answer: B 45. In terms of the benefits and drawbacks that sociologists have associated with the expanding period of early adulthood, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. Men and women eventually want satisfying, committed relationships. B. Women, but not men, fear finding the right partner. C. Women and men emphasize work as central source of personal identity. D. Men and women want flexible, generally equal partnerships. Answer: B 46. Single-parent families are most common among _________. A. African Americans B. Hispanics C. Asian Americans D. non-Hispanic whites Answer: A 47. Marriage rates have declined most steeply among __________. A. white men B. white women C. the less educated D. the college educated Answer: C 48. Which group is most likely never to marry? A. college graduates B. high-school graduates with some college C. high-school graduates D. people without high-school diplomas Answer: B 49. Researcher Sharon Hays (1996) found that standards of intense mothering exist among __________. A. the upper classes B. the middle classes C. first-time parents D. all social classes Answer: D 50. Which social class, according to researcher Annette Lareau, is most likely to engage in "concerted cultivation"? A. the middle class B. the working class C. the working poor D. the underclass Answer: A 51. Researcher Annette Lareau defines "concerted cultivation" as form of intensive parenting that includes all of the following EXCEPT __________. A. scheduled activities B. acquisition of language skills C. deference to authority figures D. a sense of entitlement Answer: C 52. Which social class is most likely to engage in "natural growth," according to researcher Annette Lareau? A. the middle class B. the working class C. the working poor D. the underclass Answer: B 53. In contrast to "concerted cultivation," researcher Annette Lareau defines "natural growth" as a form of parenting that includes all of the following EXCEPT __________. A. unstructured play and leisure activity B. informal conversation C. deference to authority figures D. acquisition of language skills Answer: D 54. When class is defined according to occupation, people are classified as middle class or upper middle class if at least one family member is __________. A. in a blue-collar position B. in a managerial position C. in a pink-collar position D. engaged in service work Answer: B 55. Poor people marry less often than other income groups because __________. A. their pool of eligible mates is significantly smaller than those of other social classes B. the cultural code of the poor frowns upon divorce C. they have fewer resources and opportunities than other classes D. marriage is not valued by the poor Answer: C 56. Which of the following parts of the world has egalitarian parental supports, providing paid parental leaves, universal day care, and free education regardless of who you are? A. Scandinavia B. North America C. Latin America D. the Middle East Answer: A 57. __________ supports maternal care but not women's employment or other egalitarian family forms. A. France B. Finland C. Iceland D. Italy Answer: D 58. In response to the lack of support for women in the public sphere, women in Italy have __________. A. immigrated, in large numbers, to other European countries B. resisted marriage and motherhood C. opened privately financed écoles maternelles D. achieved parity with men in electoral politics Answer: B 59. Sweden's "use it or lose it" paid parental leave policy encourages greater participation of fathers in caring for newborn children by __________. A. disallowing fathers to transfer their paid leave days to their female partners B. giving fathers more days of paid leave than mothers C. disallowing paid leave for parents of adopted children D. rewarding fathers with cash incentives to leave employment altogether Answer: A 60. In 2008, __________ announced a 10-year goal of providing working parents with day care for children ages 1 to 5 to aid women who were worried about leaving their careers to start families. A. the United States B. Japan C. Sweden D. France Answer: B 61. In terms of family issues, U.S. social policy stresses __________. A. egalitarian approaches B. familial approaches C. individualistic approaches D. a holistic approach Answer: C 62. "Child minders," who work in state-funded daycare centres, are found in __________. A. France B. Italy C. Japan D. Switzerland Answer: A 63. Sociologist Joan Williams argues that workplace antidiscrimination policies need to address family responsibilities for what reason? A. to end penalties that those who care for others face B. to protect the rights of the childless C. to institute the 35-hour workweek D. to reaffirm family values Answer: A 64. Of the following family forms, which is considered the most traditional? A. breadwinner-homemaker families B. single-parent families, headed by women C. dual-earner families D. single-parent families, headed by men Answer: A 65. The Sociology Project considers all of the following perspectives on family change EXCEPT __________. A. gender restructuring B. economic restructuring C. family decline D. collectivist participation Answer: D Scenario Multiple Choice 1. Jason is a full-time college student. Both of his parents work full time at present. It was not always this way. Growing up, his mother was a stay-at-home parent while his father worked. When Jason's father lost his job, his mother began a career in sales to support the family. This scenario best illustrates the point that __________. A. families with working mothers seldom start out that way B. families consist of a set of dynamic processes that develop over time C. families can look very different depending on one's point of view D. families, over time, gravitate toward becoming two-earner families Answer: B 2. After marrying, Kim moved in with her husband's family. She and her husband both work but she is expected to obey the authority of her in-laws. Kim's scenario is indicative of __________ societies. A. patrilocal B. matrilocal C. polygamous D. polyamorous Answer: A 3. Sarah and her family have just moved to a new city hours away from their old home. She has made new friends who have been very supportive and helpful. Her new friend Anna is often called "Aunt Anna" by Sarah's children. In Sarah's scenario, Anna is an example of __________. A. fictive kin B. substitute kin C. bonded kin D. extended kin Answer: A 4. Oscar recently lost his job and is having difficulty obtaining a new one. His wife, Lillian, on the other hand, recently finished her nursing degree after staying at home with the couple's twin daughters and has had numerous job offers. Oscar and Lillian's scenario best aligns with the __________ of family change. A. family decline perspective B. economic restructuring perspective C. gender restructuring perspective D. family ties perspective Answer: B 5. Sonia is concerned that the American family is in disarray. She is concerned that people are marrying less, cohabitating more, and forgoing committed relationships in Favor of serial ones. Sonia's concerns best align with those of the __________ of family change. A. family decline perspective B. economic restructuring perspective C. gender restructuring perspective D. family ties perspective Answer: A 6. Since Linda's mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she has had to take a leave from her job to care for her. Linda's days consist of cooking and cleaning for her mother, giving her mother her medication, and driving her to doctor's appointments. What kind of work is Linda now engaged in? A. double-shift work B. personal-service work C. care work D. extended case work Answer: C 7. Maria and Manno both work full time. Maria gets off work at 4:00, picks up her kids from her sister's house, and returns home to start the laundry. She makes dinner for her family and checks her children's homework. Maria's scenario is an example of the housework and care work that sociologists call __________. A. the second shift B. the female burden C. job extension D. instrumentation Answer: A 8. Dana was a stay-at-home mother until her recent divorce. She went back into the paid workforce to provide for her child. She loves her job but is concerned that she is not at home to spend more time with her child. Should Dana be worried about this? A. Yes, because children fare better emotionally with a stay-at-home mother. B. Yes, because children fare better academically with a stay-at-home mother. C. No, if a mother is happy with her job, she will provide better care for her children. D. No, parents are increasingly relying on schools to care for the emotional and academic needs of their children. Answer: C 9. Lacey is a part-time college student and a part-time pharmacy technician. She is not in any hurry to graduate from college because she thinks it will be difficult to find full-time employment. She wants to travel and enjoy being young. Sociologists would likely refer to Lacey's stage of development as __________. A. an age of anxiety B. delayed adulthood C. adult adolescence D. pre-preadult hood Answer: B 10. Kristen is an unmarried low-income mother, whereas Janelle is a middle-class single mother by choice. What does the sociological research indicate regarding mothers from these different backgrounds? A. Low-income single women are more likely to regret becoming mothers than middle- class women. B. Middle-income single women are more likely to regret becoming mothers than low-income women, even if their pregnancies were by choice. C. Single mothers value motherhood and do not want to miss out on the experience just because suitable partners are lacking. D. Single mothers are more likely to regret their decisions to become parents than their married counterparts. Answer: C Short Answer 1. What impact does the family have on our lives? Answer: The family provides the first and most immediate context for our physical, emotional, and social development. The family influences our life choices throughout our lives, from infancy forward. Families influence us in ways so deep that it is difficult to exaggerate their importance. Yet their power to shape our destiny depends on their links to other institutions. Families are shaped by the societies they inhabit, but they also have the power to transform those societies. 2. Discuss, using examples of each type, the difference between the family of orientation and the family of procreation. Answer: The family of orientation consists of the people linked to us by birth—our parents, siblings, and extended kin. Our family of procreation consists of consists of the relatives that we gain through marriage and childbearing— our spouses, partners, and children. 3. Why do many disagree with the U.S. Census Bureau's definition of which households constitute families? Answer: The U.S. Census Bureau's definition explicitly includes married couples (with and without children) and single parents living with their children in the category of family while excluding childless couples who are not married but living together, whether straight or gay. Some find the Census Bureau definition too strict and feel that it should use more subjective measures. For example, minority subcultures and residents of poor neighbourhoods are more likely to create wide networks of caretaking and financial support that resemble the kinds of bonds we associate with kinship. 4. What do sociologists mean by fictive kin and what is an example of this? Answer: Fictive kin are people whom we rely on and who provide support for us as though they were family members. For example, a family friend whom a child might refer to as "aunt" or "uncle," even though they are unrelated, may be considered fictive kin. 5. What are the concerns that proponents of the family decline perspective see in terms of family change? Answer: Proponents of the family decline perspective see lower marriage rates and rising rates of cohabitation, divorce, and premarital sex as evidence of a decline in adult commitment. They are concerned that single-parent families endanger children and that gay marriage devalues heterosexual relationships. 6. Explain what is meant by the economic restructuring perspective of family change. Answer: Proponents of the economic restructuring perspective see family change as stemming from basic social and economic forces, not a decline in family values. For example, changes in men's job opportunities, such as the decline of both unionized blue-collar work and secure white-collar career paths, have left fewer men with the ability to earn enough money to support a family on their own, necessitating changes in the traditional breadwinner-homemaker family form. 7. How do most Americans feel about the institution of marriage? Answer: Many Americans eventually marry (around 90 percent) and those who divorce are likely to remarry. Americans continue to value marriage and describe marriage as an important life goal. 8. Explain what is meant by care work and how it is viewed by most. Answer: All types of caring for other people, including childcare, elder care, or taking care of a disabled or sick adult or child, is care work. Care work, whether paid or unpaid, is as essential to a household's survival as is bringing in an income. However, even though we often pay others outside the household to perform care work, we tend to ignore its economic value, especially when it is performed by a family member without a wage or salary attached. 9. What are the consequences of the second shift? Answer: The second shift, when women work at a paying job and then come home and carry out household duties, fuels marital tensions and contributes to inequality at home and discrimination in the workplace, against those (mostly women) who have family responsibilities. 10. What is the impact of divorce on children? Answer: The effects of divorce on children vary greatly. Some children benefit from divorce since they no longer have to deal with conflict associated with the marriage. Some believe there is a "sleeper effect" to divorce—that children may not be affected by divorce until years later. Some children of divorce may choose not to marry having watched their parents fight as children. All in all, the effects of divorce (both negative and positive) vary with and depend on the circumstances that surround the divorce before and after it takes place. 11. What are the benefits and consequences of the life stage between adolescence and adulthood that sociologists refer to as "delayed adulthood"? Answer: Benefit: This stage is beneficial because it allows people the opportunity to develop a more independent self, one that is less constrained by the prejudices of earlier eras and more in tune with the realities of contemporary life. Consequences: This stage is detrimental since people may use it as the opportunity to engage in self-destructive behavior, such as excessive drinking and partying. 12. What is meant by "concerted cultivation" and who is likely to engage in this type of parenting practice? Answer: Concerted cultivation is a childrearing practice common to middle-income households. It involves a high degree of scheduled activities, a stress on the acquisition of language skills, and a sense of entitlement when interacting with social institutions, such as schools. 13. What is meant by "natural growth" and who is likely to engage in this type of parenting practice? Answer: Natural growth is a childrearing practice common to the working class. It involves unstructured play and leisure activities, a more informal approach in conversations, and deference to authority figures such as teachers and doctors. 14. How does the United States compare with other countries in terms of social policies that support family forms? Answer: The United States lags behind many other countries in terms of social policy. France confers the same rights on partners in civil unions as on married couples. In Sweden, Iceland, and Norway, there are generous leave policies that support fathers in addition to mothers. 15. What approach does the United States adopt in terms of social policy and what impact does this have on families? Answer: The United States adopts the principle of individual opportunity in the policy-making arena. This approach stresses policies aimed at providing chances to succeed or fail in the labor market, not universal supports for every family. Essay Questions 1. What does the author mean when she describes families as "films, not snapshots"? Answer: Families are not "types" but are rather a set of dynamic processes and unfolding pathways that develop in unexpected ways over time. Second, families can look very different depending on one's point of view. Survey and census questions may reveal a snapshot of how a family looks at one or even several points in time, but an in-depth interview that charts the ups and downs of family life is more likely to reveal how family life is an unfolding pathway where crucial events often trigger unexpected transitions and unforeseen outcomes. Third, families come in all shapes and sizes, and it is misleading to assume that one type is better than another. Finally, the tumultuous changes of the last several decades require us to think in new ways about family life in the developed world. 2. Why is it misleading to label the homemaker-breadwinner family type that rose to prominence in the United States in the 1950s "traditional" or "ideal," and how have families changed since then? Answer: While a majority of American households took this form for much of the 1950s, many did not. Working-class and minority communities, in particular, were more likely to find the middle-class ideal of the traditional family either out of reach or unappealing. Equally important, many husbands and wives who lived in these "traditional" households found them unnecessarily stifling. Since that time, we have seen the rise of a diverse array of family forms, including dual-earner, single-parent, same-sex, and single-adult homes, which now vie with breadwinner-homemaker households for social and cultural support. 3. Explain what William J. Goode meant when he referred to the family as "the familistic package" by incorporating a discussion of kin. Answer: Sociologists such as Goode view the family as a social institution with multiple dimensions. "The familistic package" of social relationships can consist of a network of kin, a group of people who share a residence, or even the cultural meanings and perceptions that people use to decide which groupings they consider family and which they do not. 4. What are the criticisms of the family decline perspective? Answer: The proponents of this perspective view lower marriage rates and the rising rates of cohabitation, divorce, and premarital sex as a decline in adult commitment. They are concerned that increasing numbers of single-parent families endanger children and that gay marriage devalues heterosexual relationships. This perspective ignores the many uplifting values that diverse family forms embody, such as equality and the freedom to choose whom we love and how to structure our own families. 5. How could a couple minimize the consequences of the second shift? Answer: The second shift, when women work at a paying job and then come home and carry out the household duties, fuels marital tensions and contributes to inequality at home and discrimination in the workplace, against those (mostly women) who have family responsibilities. One way to minimize the negative consequences of the second shift is to work to build egalitarian relationships and to endorse public policies that provide support for all kinds of families. 6. How would you maximize the benefits of the life stage between adolescence and adulthood that sociologists refer to as "delayed adulthood"? Answer: Students' answers will vary, but could touch upon using "delayed adulthood" as an opportunity to maximize skills that could make them more marketable. This might involve gaining additional computer skills, getting an internship, or joining a language immersion program to learn a second language. Delayed adulthood could also be fun as well, with time to expand circles of friends and social opportunities. Traveling to broaden outlooks and experience would also be an opportunity gained from delaying full-time employment and the taking on of adult responsibilities. To maximize the benefits of the "delayed adulthood" life stage, consider the following approaches: 1. Invest in Personal Development: Use the extra time to explore interests, develop skills, and pursue education or training that aligns with long-term goals. 2. Build Financial Independence: Focus on saving, budgeting, and investing wisely to secure financial stability and prepare for future responsibilities. 3. Cultivate Meaningful Relationships: Invest in nurturing relationships with family, friends, mentors, and potential life partners, emphasizing quality connections. 4. Explore Diverse Experiences: Take advantage of flexibility to travel, volunteer, or engage in new experiences that broaden perspectives and enrich personal growth. 5. Set Clear Life Goals: Define and work towards achievable short-term and long-term goals, whether career-related, personal, or relational, to foster a sense of purpose and direction. Embracing this stage as an opportunity for self-discovery, skill-building, and relationship cultivation can pave the way for a fulfilling transition into adulthood. 7. Describe "concerted cultivation" and give some examples of this parenting style. Answer: "Concerted cultivation" is a childrearing practice common to middle-income households. It involves scheduled activities, a stress on the acquisition of language skills, and a sense of entitlement. A child whose parents emphasize this practice may have their children involved in a number of extracurricular activities, such as sports, music lessons, scouting, and clubs. Parents might also be focused on their child's language acquisition, often correcting children when they use slang terms or informal English. Parents may also encourage their child to question their teachers and even challenge them. 8. Provide specific examples of behavior that may indicate that a child's parents may have engaged in parenting that focuses on "natural growth." Answer: "Natural growth" is a childrearing practice common to the working class. It involves unstructured play and leisure, a more informal approach in conversations, and deference to authority. A child whose parents emphasize this type of parenting may freely play after school with neighbourhood kids or with video games at home. He is not likely to have extra lessons or many planned activities. He might not be corrected for using slang or nonstandard English. He will be taught to respect authority and may not question his teachers or other figures of authority. 9. How does the United States compare with other countries in terms of social policies that support families and how could our government modify its policies in order to benefit diverse family forms? Answer: The United States lags behind many other developed countries in terms of social policy. France confers the same rights on partners in civil unions as on married couples. In Sweden, Iceland, and Norway, there are generous leave policies that support fathers in addition to mothers. The United States adheres to principles of individual opportunity in the policy-making arena. This approach stresses policies aimed at providing chances to succeed or fail in the labor market, not universal supports for every family. Policies that reflect egalitarian or familistic principles would be an improvement over existing support programs. The United States needs family policies that reaffirm classic American values, such as equal opportunity, tolerance of diversity, and individual responsibility, put in the context of collective support for the diverse needs of new family arrangements. 10. How do young adults in America feel about the political rhetoric involving families? Answer: Young adults are tired of the finger-pointing and blaming that goes on in the political arena. They want to see more inclusive policies that focus on the needs of diverse families. New generations recognize that the family is continually changing and that the families that they have created for themselves are not the same as the families in which they grew up. They want social policies to reflect these changes. Test Bank for The Sociology Project : Introducing the Sociological Imagination Jeff Manza, Richard Arum, Lynne Haney 9780205949601, 9780205093823, 9780133792249
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