Sociology of Fam Ch. 8 Review

Figure 8.8 shows the marital status of unmarried cohabitors by age. According to the figure, cohabitors ages 50-69 are more likely than younger cohabitors to be never married divorced/separated widowed engaged

divorced/separated FEEDBACK: Most young cohabitors have never been married, but after age 50 the majority are separated or divorced, while cohabitors over 70 years old are likely to be widowed from a prior marriage.

Figure 8.5 shows racial-ethnic patterns of marriage for 2015. This figure suggests that in regard to intermarriage, the group that has the highest intermarriage rate is __________, while the group that has the lowest intermarriage rate is __________. Whites/ Blacks Hispanics/ American Indians Blacks/ Whites American Indians/ Whites

American Indians/ Whites FEEDBACK: Whites are the most likely to marry someone from their own group, nearly 90 percent of White men and women marry other Whites. At the other extreme, only one-third of American Indians marry other American Indians.

One major illustration of the modern changes seen in marriage patterns is that __________ has now become an expected stage in relationships for the majority of couples. endogamy cohabitation religious intermarriage annulment

cohabitation FEEDBACK: In recent decades, cohabitation, defined as living together as a sexual or romantic couple without being married, has rapidly become an expected stage in relationships for the majority of couples. By changing the pathway to marriage, cohabitation has fundamentally changed the experience of marriage.

Researchers have found that within the last few decades, people with less education are increasingly delaying their first marriage due to __________. higher fertility rates increased economic insecurity social stigmas about marriage lowered incentives for marriage

increased economic insecurity FEEDBACK: Economic insecurity has become much more prominent for less-educated young adults, especially men. A good job generally requires a college degree, and therefore low wages and job insecurity are major factors impacting young adults with less education, which influences their decision to delay marriage.

One reason the U.S. Supreme Court cited in favor of gay and lesbians' right to marry in the Obergefell v. Hodges case was the right to marry is specifically cited in the Constitution. a political majority of people supported marriage equality. marriage does not exist solely to support procreation and child-rearing in stable families. The Court recognized the importance of the traditional definition of family in society.

marriage does not exist solely to support procreation and child-rearing in stable families. FEEDBACK: Many man-woman couples cannot (or choose not to) have children, so procreation is not a defining element of legal marriage. The Court had established in previous cases that the right to marriage is a fundamental right, even though it is not specifically listed in the Constitution. The Obergefell case represents the deepening social recognition of family diversity.

According to the textbook, the marriage of Barack and Michelle Obama, two Harvard-educated lawyers, illustrates the role __________ plays in choosing a marriage partner. the politics of marriage the government socialization exogamy

socialization FEEDBACK: Socialization is the process of internalizing elements of the social structure into our own personality. This suggests that our choice of a marriage partner follows a similar course, whereby people bring their life experiences into their decision of which partner to choose. In the example of Barack and Michelle Obama, their similar education levels and common experiences likely made them susceptible to each other's charms through the socialization process.

The decline of religious endogamy has mostly been the result of changes in the marrying behavior of conservative religious groups. the number of religions available for spouses to belong to. the marrying behavior of liberal and moderate Protestants. demographics such as decreased rates of immigration.

the marrying behavior of liberal and moderate Protestants. FEEDBACK: Religious endogamy refers to people marrying inside their religious group. The decline of religious endogamy has mostly been the result of changes in the behavior of liberal and moderate Protestants (such as Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Methodists), who are now more frequently intermarrying among themselves as well as with non-Protestants. More conservative religious groups (such as Catholics, Mormons, Baptists, and Pentecostals) have not changed their marrying behaviors as much.

In June 2015 the Supreme Court's ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marry. Since that time, the Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies have written new rules that include same-sex married couples. This is an example of: symbolic status. economic pressures. cultural flexibility. legal status.

legal status. FEEDBACK: An important feature of marriage is its legal status, which brings tangible benefits and protections to those who receive it. Because of this status, as well as its symbolic status, there is often a high value placed on marriage.

The paradox regarding economics and marriage is illustrated by the fact that -young couples with higher education are less likely to marry, despite the economic benefits that marriage would provide for them. -although weddings cost much more than they used to, low-income couples are more likely to marry than those who can more easily afford a wedding. -while there has been a decline in the economic need for marriage, those with higher incomes are now more likely to marry than those with lower incomes. -people with a higher income have fewer choices available to them in the marriage market even though they can offer more economic security to a potential mate.

while there has been a decline in the economic need for marriage, those with higher incomes are now more likely to marry than those with lower incomes. FEEDBACK: Although there has been a declining economic need for marriage, people with higher incomes are now more likely to marry than those with lower incomes. This is in part due to the fact that although people with higher incomes have less economic need to marry, they are also more sought after in the marriage market, thus providing them with more opportunities to find someone to marry.

Which of the following is a reason for lower rates of marriage among African Americans? Latina and Asian women have squeezed Black women out of the marriage market. Black women have a lower desire to marry than women in other racial groups. Social pressures have led to a reduced desire for all racial groups to marry. Black men have high rates of unemployment.

Black men have high rates of unemployment. FEEDBACK: Economic and demographic factors have played a large role in the declining marriage rates of African Americans. Specifically, Black men have been hit hard by lack of employment opportunities due to the shrinking manufacturing industry and movement of jobs out of the large inner cities. This often leads to delays in marriage and a lack of Black men in the marriage market.

How does the textbook suggest we can reconcile the paradox that while we still value the ideal of marriage as a lifelong commitment, contemporary culture is defined by individualism? -Since cohabitation has become increasingly more common, it has in some ways reconciled the lack of individualism in the institution of marriage. -Marriage can be understood as the culmination of a social expectation to strive for individual success at love. -The decline in marriage and increase in divorce have led to new ideals regarding the institution of marriage, thus aligning it more closely with individualism. -The culture of individualism has changed our expectations of how long a marriage should last, so it is no longer expected to be a lifelong commitment.

Marriage can be understood as the culmination of a social expectation to strive for individual success at love. FEEDBACK: We can think of marriage as the result of personal choices that are made because of social expectations that we should find love and be successful in love. In this way, the lifelong commitment of marriage can still be seen as the result of actions and choices made by two individuals.

What is an example of one of the potential drawbacks to marriage? Married people can be lonelier than single people. Married people are often less financially stable than single people. Marriage is more expensive than being single, especially for men who pay expenses for wives and children. Marriage is incompatible with the individualistic values of American society.

Married people can be lonelier than single people. FEEDBACK: In her book All the Single Ladies, Rebecca Traister showed married people tend to turn in toward each other, potentially making their worlds smaller and lonelier. On average, married people are happier than those who are not married. Marriage has transformed in such a way that even religious people are now more likely to pursue the individualistic goals of self-fulfillment.

What is one result of economic instability among young adults without college degrees? Young adults without college degrees are marrying earlier than they were in the past. These young adults tend to delay marriage, perhaps in favor of less committed cohabitation relationships. There are more promising marriage prospects for economically insecure men than for economically insecure women. Lower income women increasingly marry higher income men with college degrees.

These young adults tend to delay marriage, perhaps in favor of less committed cohabitation relationships. FEEDBACK: Young people without college degrees are less likely to be married than those who graduated from college. Having a college degree provides a person with more choice in the marriage market and increases the likelihood that he or she will marry. Couples increasingly pair up according to education level and earning potential, increasing the income gap between rich and poor families.

Compared to the majority of younger cohabitating couples, what is different about the majority of cohabitating couples over the age of 50? They are are more likely to marry and less likely to feel that cohabitation is a long-term substitute for marriage. They are divorced or separated and view cohabitation is a long-term substitute for marriage. Since they have been married before, they feel more pressure to enter into another marriage. They are more likely to pool their finances.

They are divorced or separated and view cohabitation is a long-term substitute for marriage. FEEDBACK: Almost two-thirds of cohabitators age 50-69 are divorced or separated. Cohabitation after marriage often provides an arrangement for couples that can substitute for marriage since remarriage can seem fraught with risk, especially in regard to finances or if the couple has children from a prior relationship. Also, since couples are generally at an older life stage after marriage, there is more acceptance to cohabitate without marrying.

The two assumptions required for Gary Becker's marriage market concept are that marriages must be __________ and there must be __________ for spouses. Endogamous/ diversity Voluntary/ competition Monogamous/ variety Affordable/ choices

Voluntary/ competition FEEDBACK: Gary Becker's concept of using a market to understand marriage choices defines marriage as a market similar to one for goods and services such as cars. In order for marriage to work like a market, it must be something that parties can voluntarily enter into, and there must also be competition for spouses so that people can shop for the best one.

Figure 8.11 shows the changing attitudes in regard to same-sex marriage over the last 15 years. The trend suggests that a growing majority will probably support same-sex marriage in the future. more people oppose gay marriage now compared to just a few years ago. public opinion has not changed in a meaningful way during the last decade. the gap between these two opposing attitudes will begin to shrink in the future.

a growing majority will probably support same-sex marriage in the future. FEEDBACK: Figure 8.11 shows that attitudes on same-sex marriage have changed from a majority against allowing it, from 2001 to 2009, to a current majority in favor of it, since 2009. By 2015, 55 percent favored permitting gay and lesbian marriage, 16 points higher than the 39 percent who remain opposed. The trajectory of this change suggests that in the future, an even larger majority will favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

According to your textbook, the rise in cohabitation is uniquely American, as other countries aren't experiencing similar trends. a clear sign of the eventual erosion of long-term, committed relationships in the U.S. expected to replace marriage altogether in the U.S., similar to Scandinavian countries. a trend worldwide, including Scandinavian countries and Latin America.

a trend worldwide, including Scandinavian countries and Latin America. FEEDBACK: Cohabitation has become much more acceptable around the globe, such as in Scandinavian countries and Latin America. The author suggests two possible futures: 1) gradual erosion of long-term, committed relationships or 2) cohabitation will increasingly replace marriage, representing a new system of commitment. What will eventually happen depends on social and economic forces we cannot foresee.

Which of the following is an example of endogamy? a man who marries someone who makes less money than he does a woman who remarries after a divorce a man who marries someone of the same sex where this is legally recognized a woman who marries someone in her racial group

a woman who marries someone in her racial group FEEDBACK: Endogamy refers to marriage and reproduction within a distinct group. If someone marries someone within their racial group, this is an example of endogamy.

For the average college-educated young adult woman in the modern era, which life sequence is most likely to occur? complete education, get married, embark on a career, become a mother complete education, embark on a career, cohabit, get married, become a mother get married, complete education, embark on a career, become a mother cohabit, become a mother, get married, complete education

complete education, embark on a career, cohabit, get married, become a mother FEEDBACK: As the rates of young adults who delay marriage increase, it has consequently become more common for them to have earned a degree and then started a career prior to marrying. Many couples also cohabit before they marry, delaying marriage further. Marriage is therefore occurring later in the sequence of these women's lives, and they have more adult experiences prior to marriage as a result.

Asian-American women are twice as likely to marry non-Asians as are Asian men. This creates an intermarriage imbalance, which results in Asian-American men being less likely to get married at a young age. This is an example of __________ impacting marriage choices. demography culture social pressure economics

demography FEEDBACK: This is an example of demographic pressure reducing marriage rates because an imbalance has been created, specifically a lack of available Asian-American women, which leads to a change in marriage rates for Asian men.

A woman choosing to delay marriage longer than her mother did because she is able to support herself financially is an example of how __________ can contribute to declining marriage rates. demographics economics a marriage squeeze endogamy

economics FEEDBACK: Increased economic independence for women has led to some women delaying marriage by removing economic insecurity as an incentive to marry. Women's independence also reduces the incentives for men to marry since it means that a woman may not devote herself exclusively to caring for the family.

Research shows that married people are generally happier than unmarried people. One likely reason for this is that happier people may be more attractive marriage partners. single people are lonely. being divorced is highly stigmatized in American culture. cohabitation is less fulfilling than marriage.

happier people may be more attractive marriage partners. FEEDBACK: There are good reasons to expect that aside from marriage causing happiness, happiness influences people to get together and stay together. A happy single person may be a more attractive marriage partner and will therefore be more likely to get married. This is another example of the selection effect.

The term wedding industrial complex refers to the transformation of weddings from religous events to secular ones. increasingly complex nature of marriage law. high cost and large number of components of a modern-day wedding. fact that weddings have become smaller and more commercialized

high cost and large number of components of a modern-day wedding. FEEDBACK: Chrys Ingraham coined the term wedding industrial complex to refer to the increased cost and large number of aspects of a modern-day wedding. Although many people are critical of this industry, some feel that couples should have a large number of choices for how to present themselves to their families on their wedding day.

Which of the following would be an example of a demographic change that is thought to be related to the decline in the marriage rate? society as a whole becoming more individualistic women becoming more financially independent from men high rates of incarceration among Black men passage of marriage laws that permit same-sex marriage

high rates of incarceration among Black men FEEDBACK: A demographic change is one that occurs among different groups of people in a population over time. This is not the same as economic change or cultural change. One type of demographic change that leads to a decline in marriage rates is a "marriage squeeze," which is an imbalance in available marriage partners. In the last few decades a shortage of marriage partners for women has occurred. This is due in part to high rates of incarceration among urban Black men in their young adult years. Economic and social trends have therefore created demographic pressure that reduces the number of Black women who marry, especially among the poor.

Social and cultural changes have brought about more __________, which some argue has weakened marriage ties, however, researchers suggest that the relationships that do survive are emotionally stronger. individualism religious endogamy familial pressure to marry marriage markets

individualism FEEDBACK: Major social change within society has included the growth of individualism, with goals of individual fulfillment and self-expression. Some suggest that this has weakened the ties of marriage, however, other researchers believe that the relationships that do survive are emotionally stronger.

One problem with using Becker's market principles to understand marriage choices is that it is unreasonable to assume that the marriage market is entered into voluntarily. there are too many people seeking marriage partners for the market to function efficiently. the tendency toward endogamy makes the marriage market problematic. people often make bad decisions when they are in love, so we cannot assume that these decisions are rational.

people often make bad decisions when they are in love, so we cannot assume that these decisions are rational. FEEDBACK: Some sociologists have described several problems with Becker's use of market principles to understand marriage choices. One such criticism is that market principles assume each actor that participates in the market makes decisions using rationality. Given the nature of love and romance and the reality that people often make bad decisions, a completely rational marriage market seems unlikely.

Figure 8.6 shows that, in recent years people with less education are more likely to live together than people with more education. people with more education are more likely to live together than people with less education. the increase in cohabitation rates has been slower for women with less education. the education gap in cohabitation has become non-existent.

people with less education are more likely to live together than people with more education. FEEDBACK: Figure 8.6 shows the development of a gap in cohabitation rates for women according to education level. Women of all education levels have increased percentages for cohabitation, but the increase is the fastest and levels are highest for women with less education. This pattern also suggests that cohabitation rates have become part of the social class divide.

Tori and Jamil are a married couple who receive aid from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. In the late 1990s, their social worker encouraged them to sign up for "marriage and relationship training" classes funded by the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. Both the TANF program and the classes are examples of the politics of marriage. decline of marriage. benefits of marriage. persistence of marriage.

politics of marriage. FEEDBACK: The politics of marriage refers to political movements on behalf of marriage in society. The marriage promotion political movement encourages marriage among poor people, using the reasoning that children benefit from having married parents. Both the TANF program and the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative are programs that were developed as part of the marriage promotion movement during the 1990s.