Deck 1: Defining Family Variation

Question 1

A "conjugal unit" and a "nuclear family" are different in that:

A) A nuclear family can contain a conjugal unit.
B) A conjugal unit consists just of the husband-wife pair, while a nuclear family can include children.
C) A conjugal unit can include aunts and uncles, but a nuclear family cannot.
D) Both (a) and (b) above.
E) None of the above.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Jack Spratt, an only child, grew up in Boston but his parents now live in New York. Jill Johnson grew up in San Francisco, where her parents and brother still live. Jack and Jill met at a well in Aspen, fell in love, and got married. Jack and Jill Spratt then moved to Fort Worth, where they still live with their children. Where is Jack's "family of procreation"?

A) Boston
B) New York
C) San Francisco
D) Aspen
E) Fort Worth

Answer 2

E

Question 3

How has household composition changed in the United States since 1970?

A) The percent of married couples with children has declined significantly.
B) The percent of married couples without children has declined significantly.
C) The percent of men living alone has gone down significantly.
D) All of the above.
E) Only (a) and (b) above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the United States, the law requires that we drive on the right side of the road. Violators can be punished. This is an example of

A) An informal norm.
B) A formal norm.
C) A value.
D) An institution.
E) Unnecessary government interference.

Question 5

Many people believe that their lives are not complete unless they have children. This belief could be the influence of

A) Pronuptualism.
B) Forced fertility.
C) Pronatalism.
D) American family decline.
E) Antinuptualism.

Question 6

________ govern the interaction of two or more _______.

A) Scripts, roles.
B) Norms, values.
C) Roles, scripts.
D) Households, families.
E) Legislators, interns.

Question 7

John sent Judy a Valentine's Day poem that said, "You love me, I love you, Won't you be my POSSLQ?" Judy responded with the poem, "I love it when by you I'm kissed, but I'm a real pronuptualist." What happened here?

A) John wanted Judy to have sex, but she said they would have to move in together first.
B) John wanted Judy to join the Navy; she declined.
C) John wanted to cohabit with Judy, but she said they would have to get married first.
D) Judy agreed to marry John, but only if he agreed to have children.
E) John wanted to get back together; Judy thought it was a bad idea.

Question 8

After divorcing Jack, Jill moved in with Janeen. They couldn't legally get married because they were lesbians, but they felt married in all but name. Which of the following definitions would be most likely to define this as a family?

A) A macrofunctional definition.
B) A microfunctional definition.
C) A structural definition.
D) The U. S. Census definition.
E) All the above would define this as a family.

Question 9

What is the U. S. Census definition of family?

A) A unit of intimate, transacting, and interdependent persons who share some values, goals, resources, and responsibility for decisions, as well as a commitment to one another over time.
B) The intimate group in which reproduction, socialization of the young, economic cooperation, and social status placement occurs.
C) Particular societal arrangement whereby persons related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption live together, form an economic unit, and raise children.
D) Two or more individuals who share a housing unit and are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
E) One or more men living with one or more women in a socially-sanctioned and more or less enduring sex relationship, with socially recognized rights and obligations, together with their offspring.

Question 10

The most likely reason the Census Bureau uses the definition it does is probably that

A) The Census Bureau is homophobic.
B) The Census Bureau is run by political liberals.
C) The Census Bureau is controlled by traditional family values.
D) The Census Bureau has to count the actual numbers of families.
E) The Census Bureau consulted with several family sociologists before developing its definition.

Question 11

Which of the following would NOT be considered a "rite of passage" in the United States today?

A) A wedding.
B) Graduation.
C) A funeral.
D) The first time a person has sexual intercourse.
E) ALL the above would be rites of passage.

Question 12

Lavone Harris, the unrelated retired lady next door, often watched Lucretia while her parents were at work. Lavone would take Lucretia to the store with her, and spend a lot of time with her. Early on, Lucretia started calling her "Grandma Harris." This is an example of

A) An extended kin group.
B) Fictive kinship.
C) Common-law kinship.
D) An honorary title.
E) Macrofunctional kinship.

Question 13

It is true about common-law marriage that

A) It is recognized, in some form, in all 50 states.
B) Some states specify "intent to live as married" rather than specifying a certain number of years of cohabitation.
C) Couples with established common-law marriages must get a divorce before either can legally remarry.
D) All the above are true.
E) Only (b) and (c) above.

Question 14

Vermont's "civil unions" for same-sex partners

A) Are exactly like marriages in every way except in name.
B) Entitle registered couples the same rights as married couples in such matters as health benefits and inheritance rights.
C) Are not portable-they aren't recognized in other states the way marriages are.
D) Only (a) and (b) above.
E) Only (b) and (c) above.

Question 15

Among the 18^th century Nayar,

A) Men owned and controlled the property.
B) Women could have only one husband.
C) Biological fathers had the primary responsibility for raising their children.
D) Men made their living as mercenary soldiers.
E) All the above are true.

Question 16

Early Kibbutzim were characterized by

A) Shared communal responsibilities for child rearing.
B) A sense of rugged individualism.
C) The idea that some people were naturally superior and should be more highly rewarded.
D) Locating in large cities.
E) None of the above

Question 17

Cases such as the Nayar and the Israeli Kibbutz are important because

A) They illustrate the fact that families are basically the same everywhere.
B) They illustrate that family structures can best be understood when seen in context with economic, religious and other institutions.
C) They demonstrate the functional superiority of 21^st century American family systems.
D) They have remained the same, even though the times have changed.
E) Both provide excellent models for 21^st century American family structure.

Question 18

In Max Weber's view, "ideal types" are useful because

A) They provide individual goals for daily living.
B) They provide social goals to strive for.
C) They can be used for comparisons of similar phenomena, such as family systems.
D) They explain the concept of god.
E) They make textbook pages easier to read.

Question 19

"The division of a continuum into two mutually exclusive parts" is a definition of

A) ideal type
B) theoretical perspective
C) dichotomy
D) strict division of labor
E) overly gendered system

Question 20

According to the "Continuum of Human Groups," _______________ is a characteristic of ideal-typical family groups, while _______________ is a characteristic of non-family groups.

A) Impersonal relationships/ Intimate personal relationships.
B) Members share similar social status/ Individuals' social status varies.
C) Age homogeneity/ Includes more than one generation.
D) Individuals have separate basic assets/ sharing basic assets is a norm.
E) All the above are correct.

Question 21

The "Gender Authority Continuum" can be used to make the point that

A) All societies have been patriarchal.
B) Numerous "ideal-typical" matriarchal families have been found.
C) Societies have various degrees to which they are patriarchal or matriarchal.
D) All of the above.
E) Only (b) and (c) above.

Question 22

If we say that a society is matrilineal, we know for certain that

A) Descent and inheritance are traced through female lines.
B) Women have the power in families and in society.
C) Upon marriage, women will move to their husband's family home.
D) All of the above.
E) Only (a) and (b) above

Question 23

Which of the following terms is MOST clearly true as a descriptor of the United States today?

A) Patrilineal
B) Egalitarian
C) Patrilocal
D) Matrifocal
E) Neolocal

Question 24

About androgyny, John Money's typology of sex/gender roles would suggest that

A) Androgyny is possible and desirable because sex/gender roles are all socially constructed.
B) Androgyny is possible but not desirable because sex-arbitrary gender roles would have to change.
C) Androgyny is not possible because of the existence of sex-irreducible gender roles.
D) Androgyny can be achieved only where total differentiation exists.
E) Sex-influenced roles are already essentially androgynous.

Question 25

In the United States today, young women pierce their bodies for purposes of adornment more than do young men. This is an example of

A) Sex-arbitrary gender roles.
B) Sex-influenced gender roles.
C) Sex-irreducible gender roles.
D) Androgyny.

Question 26

Those on the pessimistic side of the family decline debate are most likely to employ which type of definition of the family?

A) A macrofunctional definition.
B) A microfunctional definition.
C) A structural definition.
D) The U. S. Census definition.
E) A gender-deterministic definition.

Question 27

"Glad it changed" optimists on the family decline debate are likely to cite which of the following in defense of their position?

A) The high divorce rate.
B) High rates of out-of-wedlock births.
C) Increased individual freedom, especially for women.
D) Both (a) and (b) above.
E) None of the above.

Question 28

Why does it matter what type of definition of family is used? Give examples of specific definitions and their uses.

Question 29

Draw a kinship diagram of an extended family, then identify the various other types of families that are included.

Question 30

Compare and contrast microfunctional definition, macrofunctional definitions, and structural definitions of family.

Question 31

Compare the Nayar, Kibbutz, and contemporary American family types.

Question 32

Explain how gender authority, descent and inheritance, and residence patterns are related to each other. Use specific terms in you answer.

Question 33

Draw and explain the "Gender Role Continuum." Indicate the point on the continuum that best summarizes the current United States, and justify your answer.

Question 34

Explain John Money's sex/gender typology. Give examples of each type. What is the significance of this typology for the study of gender?

Question 35

Explain the family decline debate. What is the history of each side? Who are the major proponents of each position? With which position do you most agree? Why?