FCS 205 TEST 2

having at least one wage earner but still below poverty level incomes.

working poor

The United States is the only developed nation without universal health insurance, paid leave at childbirth, or a family allowance grant according to Social Security Online 2010.

True

While the overall divorce rate in the United States has decreased since 1990, it has doubled for those over age 50 and is known as "gray divorce."

True

opportunities one has for education and work, whether one can afford to marry, the schools their children attend, and family's health care.

life chances

any physically or culturally distinctive group that has the most economic and political power, the greatest privileges, and the highest social status.

majority group

a group of people who may be treated differently from the dominant group because of their physical or cultural characteristics.

minority group

What is the extent of poverty in the U.S.? What are the outcomes of living in poverty?

Overall, rate is now 13.2%. The child poverty rate is 19%, higher than in any other developed country. Nearly one in five children in the U.S. lives in poverty. Those in poverty don't have the money to get education to get better jobs - vicious cycle.

What is family science?

The body of knowledge about marriage and family gained through research and use of the scientific method. The exploration of intimate relationships within the context of marriage and family.

formed through interracial marriage or a non-marital partnership and by the adoption of children across racial lines.

multi-ethnic

Facts about American Families Today

1. Marriage is important to Americans. 2. Fewer people are currently married. 3. People are postponing marriage. 4. Cohabitation is an emergent family form as well as a transitional lifestyle choice. An increase in cohabitation experience exists for every age group. The average duration of cohabiting unions: 18 months. 5. Fertility has declined. 6. Parenthood is often postponed. 7. The nonmarital birth rate has risen over the past sixty years. 8. Same-sex couples—some of them legally married—are increasingly visible. 9. The divorce rate is high. 10. The remarriage rate has declined in recent decades, but remains significant. 11. There are more families with members over age 65 today than in the past. 12. The American birthrate is at a record low.

What are the four themes regarding marriages and families?

1. Personal decisions must be made throughout the life course. 2. People are influenced by the society around them. 3. We live in a changing society, characterized by increased ethnic, economic, and family diversity; by increased tension between familistic and individualistic values; by decreased marital and family permanence; and by increased political and policy attention to the needs of children. 4. Personal decision making feeds into society and changes it.

Facts about Families: Focus on Children

1. There are now fewer children (and more elderly). 2. At any given time, a majority of children live in two parent households. 3. Over the last five years, the proportion of children living in single-parent families has stabilized. 4. Even in two-parent households, there is considerable variation in children's living arrangements. 5. Children are more likely to live with a grandparent today than in the recent past. 6. Individuals experience a variety of living arrangements throughout childhood. 7. Although more parents are employed, children are more likely than the general population or the elderly to be living in poverty.

Much that is written about "the family" or "the American family" is grounded in common patterns among: a)middle class whites. b)African Americans. c)upper class Asian Americans d)Native Americans.

A

Placing family well-being over individual interests and preferences is referred to in the text as a)familism. b)modified individualism. c)kinship focusing. d)primokinship.

A

Theoretical perspectives or theories can increase our ________families and family life. a.Understanding of b.Ability to control c.Ability to scientifically categorize once and for all d.Ability to label

A

Which of the following is an important part of the family development theoretical perspective? a)family life cycle b)removing blinders by means of scientific research c)the family as an economic unit d)kin-work and kin-time

A

_______________ are now the largest minority group in the United States. a)Latinos b)African Americans c)Asian Americans d)American Indians

A

What is science?

A body of established knowledge in a field; established through the research process, "scientific method"—a logical system that bases knowledge on systematic observation and on empirical evidence.

Historical events and conditions affect a.Only certain ethnic minorities b.Options, decisions, and the everyday lives of families c.People overseas d.Our genetic make-up

B

The textbook identifies which of the following as one of the most dramatic developments of the twentieth century? a.The rising divorce rate b.The increased longevity of our population c.The increase in the marriage rate d.The increase in childlessness

B

To help accomplish ethical standards, most researchers now must have their research plans reviewed by a.The international business machine (IBM) b.An institutional review board (IRB) c.The internal revenue service (IRS) d.The public broadcasting system (PBS)

B

Which of the following is NOT listed by your text as a major family function? a. Raising children responsibly b. Meeting sexual desires c. Providing members with economic and other practical support d. Offering emotional security

B

Economic uncertainty caused by ________________is a current societal trend impacting families. a. global warming b. assisted reproductive technologies c. the recession that began in 2008 d. increased immigration during the last decade

C

The archival family function refers to: a)cataloging family heritage. b)family lineage. c)maintaining the family as a unique experiential reality or group. d)family tradition.

C

Which perspective presumes that certain human behaviors are both "natural" and difficult to change? a)feminist b)exchange c)biosocial d)Interactionist

C

According to the text, the best way to make decisions about our personal lives is to make them a)by default. b)according to the principles of familism. c)according to the principles of individualism. d)knowledgeably.

D

Which of the following is consistent with the main concerns of the family ecology theoretical perspective? a)the family as a child-rearing institution b)the conflict feminist perspective c)laboratory observations and longitudinal designs d)development of family policy

D

__________ percent of American adults surveyed in 2008 indicated a religious identification. a)Fifty-five b)Sixty-three c)Seventy-six d)Eighty-three

D

Results from family research may be: (list and define three types)

Descriptive: presenting how many problems exist or what the problems are or what programs/policies/agencies exist. Explanatory: demonstrating or seeking to explain why the problems or changes exist or if there might be a cause and effect relationship. Evaluative: recommending what programs or policies are effective in helping prevent or solve problems or strengthen marriage and family

Describe the post-traditional family.

Does not adhere to one specific structural model. It is fluid, not static. Inclusive, not exclusive. Diverse, not monolithic. The social unit known as family is experiencing a transformation from a genetically connected group to a unit voluntarily bound by values, common goals, and commitments.

Cohabitation (living together) promotes a happy and lasting marriage.

False

Generally, children are better off in stepfamilies than in single-parent families.

False

On average, first marriages that end in divorce last about 10 years.

False

Teenage out-of-wedlock births have increased dramatically over the past 20 years.

False

The more educated a woman is, the less likely she is to marry.

False

Give some basic characteristics of African-American family groups.

High divorce rates. Yet, African Americans do value marriage. Black women are more than twice as likely as whites to suffer the death of an infant. Have strong kinship ties. Nurturing and supportive of children; child focused whether biological or community. More egalitarian gender roles. Continue to experience poverty and racism.

What are the scientific norms?

Honesty, Published by principal investigator(s), Refereed publications, Use of "blind" method by referees, Research becomes cumulative, Objectivity: let facts (results) speak for themselves not colored by personal biases

Define family function. Give examples from contemporary life.

Include the purpose(s) for which a family exists—what it does. Raising children responsibly Providing economic and other practical support Offering emotional security

What is research?

Means to study thoroughly using the process of scientific inquiry to explain phenomena, draw conclusions, or test hypotheses.

List three societal trends that are currently impacting families.

New communication and reproductive technologies Changes in America's race/ethnic composition Economic uncertainty

What are the blinders of personal experience with regard to science? How does scientific investigation remove personal blinders?

Personal experiences and assumptions regarding family may limit the ability to study and understand fairly the experience of family. The central aim of scientific investigation is to find out what is actually going on, as opposed to what we assume is happening.

What is familism? What is the tension between familism and individualistic values?

Placing family wellbeing over individual interests and preferences. Individualistic values encourage people to think in terms of personal happiness and goals and the development of a distinct individual identity.

What is ethics? The ethics of research?

Refers to the principles or standards of people's conduct, or the principals of right and good. Refers to the rules and standards that govern researchers' conduct as they examine human behaviors, feelings, and attitudes.

Define family structure. Give examples from contemporary life.

The form that a family takes—what it actually is. Extended, Nuclear, Single parent, Stepfamilies, Gay and lesbian, Communal, Cohabiting, Polyamorous, Grandparents as parents, Adoptive, Fictive kin

How do historical events affect families?

They affect options, decisions, and everyday lives of families. Changes in society over time have meant changes in how family is defined, experienced, and understood.

Married couples have healthier babies than unmarried couples.

True

families that develop a blend of native beliefs and necessary adaptations.

bicultural

An immigrant family in which some members are citizens or legal residents of the country they migrate to, while others are undocumented—that is, they are not legal residents.

binational families

What does the term postmodern family mean?

came into use in order to acknowledge the fact that families today exhibit a multiplicity of forms and that new or altered family forms continue to emerge and develop.

Not only lower income sectors, but also the middle class have failed to gain ground.

economic inequality

cultural distinctions often based in language, religion, food ways, and history.

ethnicity

What is the difference between experiential reality and agreement reality?

experiential - beliefs we have about the family (may not be accurate) agreement - what members of a society agree is true (may misrepresent actual experience of families)

One's experience and perception of the social world.

habitus

From a global perspective, "why poverty?"

ongoing wars, corrupt government

a social construction reflecting how Americans think about different social groups.

race

Why is legalized gambling a growing concern for U.S marriages and families?

the people gambling are the ones who can least afford it. Those most likely to be gamblers: senior citizens, minorities, and the working class. Result: less tax revenue and more addicted gamblers. Wherever casinos open, studies show increases in crime, bankruptcy, suicide, and divorce.

A family of immigrants or immigrant stock that maintains close ties with the sending country. Identity and behavior connect the immigrant family to the new country and the old, and their social networks cross national boundaries.

transnational families