SOCY 2132 CH 8 QUIZ

The term wedding industrial complex refers to the A. transformation of weddings from small gatherings to large ones. B. increasingly complex nature of marriage law. C. high cost and large number of components of a modern-day wedding. D. fact that weddings have decreased due to the decline of industry-based jobs.

C. 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.

Figure 8.12 shows the changing attitudes in regard to same-sex marriage over the last 12 years.The trend suggests that A. a growing majority will probably support same-sex marriage in the future. B. more people oppose gay marriage now compared to just a few years ago. C. public opinion has not changed in a meaningful way during the last decade. D. the gap between these two opposing attitudes will begin to shrink in the future.

A. a growing majority will probably support same-sex marriage in the future. FEEDBACK: Figure 8.12 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. The trajectory of this change suggests that in the future, an even larger majority will favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

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. A. demography B. culture C. social pressure D. economics

A. 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.

Research shows that in regard to happiness, married people are generally happier than unmarried people. One likely reason for this is that A. happier people may be more attractive marriage partners. B. people in unhappy marriages are more dishonest. C. being single is highly stigmatized in American culture. D. cohabitation is less fulfilling than marriage.

A. 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. One reason for this as explained by researchers is that a happy single person will be a more attractive marriage partner and will therefore be more likely to get married. This is another example of the selection effect.

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. A. individualism B. religious endogamy C. familial pressure to marry D. marriage markets

A. 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.

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 A. politics of marriage. B. decline of marriage. C. benefits of marriage. D. defense of marriage.

A. 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.

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? A. Since cohabitation has become increasingly more common, it has in some ways reconciled the lack of individualism in the institution of marriage. B. Marriage can be understood as the result of a social expectation that we as individuals must make choices and find success in love. C. 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. D. 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.

B. Marriage can be understood as the result of a social expectation that we as individuals must make choices and find success in love. FEEDBACK: We can think of marriage as the result of individual 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.

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. A. endogamy B. cohabitation C. religious intermarriage D. annulment

B. 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.

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. A. demographics B. economics C. a marriage squeeze D. endogamy

B. 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.

Researchers have found that within the last few decades, those with less education are increasingly delaying their first marriage due to __________. A. higher fertility rates B. increased economic insecurity C. lack of less-educated marriage partners D. lowered incentives for marriage

B. 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.

Juanita and La'Mon, who are both divorced, are a cohabitating couple with two teenage children, one from each of their respective previous marriages. If someone were to ask them why they choose to cohabitate rather than marry, they would most likely say A. they are looking to explore compatibility before deciding to remarry. B. they see cohabitation as a long-term and less risky substitute for marriage. C. there is often social pressure to not commit to another marriage after divorce. D. laws can make it difficult to remarry, especially after a divorce.

B. they see cohabitation as a long-term and less risky substitute for marriage. FEEDBACK: 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. 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. A. endogamous; diversity B. voluntary; competition C. monogamous; variety D. affordable; choices

B. 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.

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? A. society as a whole becoming more individualistic B. women becoming more financially independent from men C. high rates of incarceration among Black men D. passage of marriage laws that ban same-sex marriage

C. 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 (women becoming more financially independent) or cultural change (society becoming more individualistic). 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, largely driven by the "war on drugs." Economic and social trends have therefore created demographic pressure that reduces the number of Black women who can marry, especially among the poor.

A spike in birth rates in the United States during the post-World War II baby boom era caused an imbalance in available marriage partners for women 25 years later, thus lowering their marriage rates and delaying their marriages. This can be understood as an example of a A. marriage market collapse. B. cultural transformation. C. marriage squeeze. D. marriage boundary.

C. marriage squeeze. FEEDBACK: A marriage squeeze occurs when there is an imbalance in marriage partners that results in lowered rates of marriage and delays in marriage. In this example, the squeeze was caused by a demographic change (a spike in births) that upset the balance of women marrying older men, as there were not enough older men to meet the demand of the larger number of women in the baby boom generation when they were ready to marry.

A survey used to study the benefits of marriage is given to members of a community. The results show that married respondents tend to have higher levels of income and higher levels of education compared to unmarried respondents. The findings of this survey likely demonstrate a __________ because the cause (marriage) has been determined by the outcome. A. paradox B. marriage squeeze C. selection effect D. marriage market

C. selection effect FEEDBACK: When a study examines the impact of one condition on another (such as marriage affecting income), a selection effect can occur if what is considered the cause may actually be determined by what is thought to be the outcome. In this case, one's outcome of higher income may in fact have influenced the respondents' decision to get married in the first place. A longitudinal study is thus needed to establish the timing of these events to more accurately indicate which one may have caused the other.

According to the textbook, the marriage of Barack and Michelle Obama, two Harvard-educated lawyers, illustrates the role __________ plays in choosing a marriage partner. A. the politics of marriage B. social exchange C. socialization D. imitation

C. 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 A. the marrying behavior of conservative religious groups. B. the number of religions available for spouses to belong to. C. the marrying behavior of liberal and moderate Protestants. D. demographics such as decreased rates of immigration.

C. 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.

The paradox regarding economics and marriage is illustrated by the fact that A. young couples with higher education are less likely to marry, despite the economic benefits that marriage would provide for them. B. 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. C. 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. D. 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.

C. 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.

Figure 8.6 shows racial-ethnic patterns of marriage from 2009 to 2011. 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 __________. A. Whites; Blacks B. Hispanics; American Indians C. Blacks; Whites D. American Indians; Whites

D. American Indians; Whites FEEDBACK: Figure 8.6 shows that Whites are the least likely to marry someone from outside their own group, with a 92 percent white to white marriage rate, while American Indians are the most likely to marry someone from outside their own group with over 50% of American Indians getting married to white individuals.

Which of the following is a reason for lower rates of marriage among African Americans? A. Latina and Asian women have squeezed Black women out of the marriage market. B. Black women have a lower desire to marry than women in other racial groups. C. Social pressures have led to a reduced desire for all racial groups to marry. D. Black men have problems becoming employed due to a shrinking manufacturing industry.

D. Black men have problems becoming employed due to a shrinking manufacturing industry. 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.

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

D. 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.

ince the Supreme Court's Windsor decision, which invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act and allowed the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages, the Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies have written new rules that include same-sex married couples. These new tangible benefits are an example of the __________ of marriage. A. symbolic status B. economic pressures C. cultural flexibility D. legal status

D. 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, and groups such as same-sex couples who are not allowed to marry must seek legal and political avenues to achieve these marriage rights.

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

D. 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.