SOC 350 Exam 1 Key Concepts - Chapter 1
Describe three significant contributions of feminist theory to sociologists understanding of contemporary families
a. Gender inequality is central to family life b. Family structure is socially constructed - the product of human choices rather than the inevitable outcome of natural or biological processes c. Race, ethnicity and social class all affect family life and gender dynamics in unique ways - gender theory perspectives are not all the same d. Seeks to understand and reduce inequality between men and women e. Male dominance in families is a part of the wider system of male dominance in society (Ferree 1990). f. Male dominance is not natural, biological, or inevitable. g. Male dominance occurs at a cost to women. h. Gender inequality is central to family life. i. The family arena is where gender roles are learned and formed. j. Gender roles are created unequal. k. Male gender roles occupy dominant positions.
When it comes to understanding families, how are structural functionalists and conflict theoretical perspectives different? Based on what you read in the chapter, contrast how the two theories might explain the breadwinner-homemaker family.
a. Conflict perspective believes opposition and conflict define a given society and are necessary for social evolution while the structural functionalists perspective believe consensus and harmony form the basis of society b. SF would agree with the bread winner homemaker family dynamic conflict theorists would argue that the husband and wife should be competing for roles c. The dominant family structure in American family life in the 1950s SFs interpreted this as essential way family should be - role husband as breadwinner and wife as homemaker d. Men and women performed complementary roles that were separate but equally necessary e. SF used the nuclear breadwinner-homemaker family as both a model and an ideal f. Conflict provided criticisms of structural functionalism and pointed out its biases g. Karl Marx and belief that the dynamic of inequality and conflict propel history h. Conflict theorists contend that when women stay home and take care of the home and children (e.g., clean, prepare meals, shop, do care work), men are able to focus on work. Men can then earn more money and employers benefit because their employees are able to focus on work.
According to modernity theorists, what distinguishes first modernity from second modernity? What are the implications for relationships
a. First modernity - up until the 1960s or so, there was gradual change in family behavior b. More divorce, a gradually increasing age at first marriage, fewer children in families, fewer people living in extended families, and more choice in spouse selection c. First modernity: up until the 1960s d. Gradual, incremental changes in family behavior e. Society still maintained the concept of the "normal" family as a social standard. f. Family diversity existed but was not as acceptable as it is now. g. Second modernity - diversity and individuality are the new norm, and its up to each person to pick a family type and identify with it h. Second modernity: since the 1970s i. The focus is on the person as an individual, not as a member of a family or kinship group. j. Diversity and individuality are the new "norm." k. Acting as an individual (in the family) not only is supported but required by other institutions (e.g., state, market). l. As a result, changes in these institutions occurred.
Define personal families, legal families and the family as an institutional arena. Give examples of each, and explain how they're different from each other
a. Personal family - the people to whom we feel related to and who we expect to define us as members of their family as well i. examples - parents, siblings, step-sibling, friends ii. personal family is based on a personal understanding of the concept of related. iii. Allows for the inclusion of stepchildren, stepparents, informal and formal adoptions, and so on. iv. Families do not necessarily have to be biological. v. The label family usually includes expectations of care or commitment. vi. The family forms the basis for formal and informal social obligations. vii. Family relations contain both formal and informal authority. b. Legal family - a group of individuals related by birth, marriage or adoption i. Examples - immediate and extended family ii. Carries with it many rights and responsibilities overseen by the government iii. Implications for the distribution of resources iv. State-imposed legal definition (state refers to government at all levels) v. This definition seems straightforward, but its meaning may be contested. vi. In fact, all the words in the definition can be contested. vii. Most contested word is marriage viii. Same-sex marriage is an especially controversial contemporary topic. c. Family as an institutional areas - a social space in which relations between people in common positions are governed by accepted rules of interaction i. Examples - mother, father, child, brother, sister ii. Sociological definition focuses on the family as "the place where family matters take place." iii. This is the institutional arena: not a physical space with physical boundaries but rather a social place where interactions occur. iv. Rules may be different from one place to another and may be informal. v. Rules in this arena evolve over time. vi. In this arena, people occupy certain positions (e.g., father, child, sister). vii. There are formal and (mostly) informal rules of interaction. viii. Family rules include obligations and privileges (e.g., parents are expected to provide for children, children are expected to obey parents). ix. The family arena is where people practice intimacy, childbearing and socialization, and caring work. x. Not everyone fits into family roles exactly as they may be defined. xi. Conformity and nonconformity reinforce the rules of this arena
How has the Census's definition of family changed over time
a. Census = a nationwide census to count the population has been conducted every 10 years since 1790 b. Today the definition is a family who lives together in one house c. The definition of family used to be a householder, wife and children d. Census only recorded the name of the head of household until 1940 e. Other people were counted under this person f. Slaves were included as family members but were only counted as three-fifths of a person. g. In 1840, individuals started to be recorded separately (not including slaves) but still were listed under a family "head." h. The term household was changed in 1840 to accommodate the growing urban areas where many families started living in the same building. i. A household was defined as a group of people who shared meals and a common eating area. j. The Census Bureau uses the legal definition of family but also includes the stipulation that the family must live within one household only. k. census definition is very specific, and each person can only be counted in one place.
What are some of the strategies sociologists use to avoid bias in their research?
a. Most sociologist prefer publicly funded studies, which make their data freely available and which in principle are repeatable by other researchers b. Before results are published, a system of peer review is employed in which other scholars review the work anonymously, checking for any sources of error, including bias, logical flaws or simple mistakes in the analysis c. Gathering data can be done anywhere and from any source, but there are challenges to each method. d. One of the biggest obstacles in social science is the possibility of bias. e. There are many sources of bias. f. Cannot be eliminated completely g. Transparency in the research process, peer review, and published results help mitigate bias.
Why is exchange theory part of the consensus tradition of perspectives? Give na example of how an exchange theorist might explain housework
a. People enter into relationships because they have something to gain from them b. Husbands benefit from this because the wives are expected to do the housework and if they do, then the husband is more inclined to feel like he needs to work to make the money c. Offers a more positive interpretation about the unequal partnerships between men and women d. Individuals are seen as rational. e. Men and women consider the costs and benefits of their actions and are rational and deliberate. f. Individuals have personal strengths and weaknesses. g. Individuals cannot provide for all of their own needs on their own, so they must exchange with others. h. As long as the exchange relationship is rewarding to both parties, both sides will continue the relationship. i. Either party may leave or disengage if the rewards of the exchange are not satisfactory and the cost of leaving is not high. j. Aligns with the consensus tradition because it assumes that the social "contract" is mutual and agreed upon k. In the family, the husband and wife perform separate and different roles, and this "exchange" benefits the marriage and the family. l. In this perspective, the division of housework is a major subject. m. This perspective is criticized because it presumes that resources between men and women are equal.
What are the advantages of surveys, in depth interviews and time use studies? Why would sociologist pick one method over another to study families?
a. Surveys - i. Sample survey - research method which identical questions are asked of many different people and their answers are gathered into one large data file ii. Most common iii. Interrelated sequences of events iv. Representative pool of information about lives and opinions v. Random selection is preferred for effective results vi. Effect when we use to predict individual behavior vii. Longitudinal surveys - research method which same people are interviewed repeatedly over time viii. Allows researchers to track people's answers over time ix. Can be useful for studying social change x. Reach a large number of people - researchers can then generalize xi. Quick and economical and can provide a vast amount of data b. In depth i. Can get to a deeper understanding in some cases ii. Fewer respondents but longer interviews iii. Direct observation can study interpersonal dynamics and subtleties of daily life c. Time use studies - surveys that collect data on how people spend their time during a sample period, such as a single day or week i. Most family life is informal, without formal record of daily activities ii. Time use studies produce more detailed account of what goes on in family life iii. Researchers can collect detailed data on how family member spend their time iv. Use of surveys about time us v. Time diary studies vi. Valuable in the study of work and families
