Question 1

In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in all states. This ruling marks a milestone in this debate over marriage. It also challenges the ideal of what David Popenoe and others have argued as to what defines a "family," namely:

Accepted Answer

David Popenoe has argued that a "family" consists of two parents, a father and a mother. The legalization of same-sex marriage challenges this view as it recognizes that families can consist of two parents of the same gender.

Question 2

A student in a sociology class plans a study on how divorce affects families of procreation. Which grouping does she recruit as participants in her study?

Accepted Answer

The research question specifically mentions "parents" and "children," indicating that the focus is on nuclear families. Choice A includes siblings, which could be extended family members and does not focus solely on nuclear families. Choice B includes grandparents, which again expands beyond the focus on nuclear families. Choice D includes previous partners, which is not necessarily relevant to the question of how divorce affects families of procreation (i.e., those families resulting from the union of the couple who divorced).

Question 3

In some societies, women are allowed to have more than one male spouse at the same time. The most specific term for this arrangement is:

Accepted Answer

Polyandry is a marriage pattern in which a woman has more than one husband at the same time. Polygamy is a broader term that refers to the practice of having more than one spouse, regardless of gender. Polygyny, on the other hand, is a specific type of polygamy in which a man has more than one wife at the same time. Therefore, the most specific term for the arrangement described in the question is polyandry.

Question 4

David Popenoe argues that mothers and fathers influence children differently. In his view, a family consisting of two fathers and a daughter would be limited because:

Accepted Answer

Popenoe argues that mothers provide a unique type of nurture and connection that fathers cannot provide, and that this is especially important for daughters. Therefore, a family consisting of two fathers would be limited in their ability to provide this type of support to the daughter.

Question 5

The term for a group of people directly linked by kin connections, the adult members of which assume responsibility for caring for children, is:

Accepted Answer

The term for a group of people directly linked by kin connections, the adult members of which assume responsibility for caring for children, is a family. This is the most accurate description of a group that assumes responsibility for caring for children. Choice A, affective primary group, does not necessarily imply a kin connection or responsibility for children. Choice C, monogamy, refers to a type of marriage relationship, not a group of people caring for children. Choice D, community, is too broad of a term and does not necessarily imply a kin connection or responsibility for children.

Question 6

A married couple is expected to live in or very near the home of the bride's parents. This is what type of arrangement?

Accepted Answer

Matrilocal refers to a custom where a couple resides with or near the bride's family or community.

Question 7

Connections between individuals who are blood relatives that are established through either marriage or the lines of descent are known as:

Accepted Answer

Kinship refers to the connections between individuals who share blood relations or are connected through marriage or descent. Family, extended family, and nuclear family are also part of kinship, but not the exact definition.

Question 8

Your best friend lives with her mother and father, her two sisters, and her grandmother and aunt, all in the same household. A sociologist would refer to this as a(n) ________ family.

Accepted Answer

An extended family is a family unit that includes relatives beyond just the parents and their children, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In this scenario, the friend's family includes her mother, father, sisters, grandmother, and aunt, making it an extended family. A nuclear family consists of just the parents and their children, while matrilocal and polygamous families refer to different living arrangements and relationship structures.

Question 9

A sociologist supports a community group in developing a program that will enhance personality stabilization. Which program fits this description?

Accepted Answer

Taking a walk in a park with a spouse is a healthy and relaxing activity that can contribute to personality stabilization. It promotes physical exercise and social bonding, which can improve mental health and overall well-being. The other options may provide support or prevention, but they do not directly address personality stabilization.

Question 10

Judith Stacey argues that the model perpetuated by Popenoe and others is a "dated and oppressive institution." In her view, this broken, outdated model of the so-called modern family is usually defined as:

Accepted Answer

Judith Stacey criticizes the traditional family model, which is characterized by a father who acts as the breadwinner and a mother who is primarily responsible for child-rearing. She views this model as outdated and oppressive.

Question 11

Many societies sanction the male having more than one wife at the same time. The most specific term for this arrangement is:

Accepted Answer

Polygyny is the term used to describe the practice of having multiple wives at the same time. Monogamy refers to the practice of having only one spouse at a time. Polyandry refers to the practice of having multiple husbands at the same time, which is less common than polygyny. Polygamy is a more general term that can refer to either polygyny or polyandry.

Question 12

A socially acknowledged and approved sexual union between two, and only two, adult individuals is called:

Accepted Answer

Marriage refers to a socially recognized and approved sexual union between two individuals. It is a legal and cultural institution that has been recognized across different societies and cultures throughout history. In most cultures, marriage is expected to be monogamous, which means that the union is exclusive and restricted to just two individuals. Therefore, options A, B, and D are not comprehensive enough to describe the concept of marriage.

Question 13

What type of family consists of two adults living together in a household with their own or adopted children?

Accepted Answer

A nuclear family consists of two adults living together in a household with their own or adopted children. This type of family is considered to be the traditional norm in many Western societies.

Question 14

We are all born into our family of orientation or origin, and our family of procreation is that which we enter into to raise a future generation of children. What is one additional distinction between our family of orientation and family of procreation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of We are all born into our family...

Question 15

Omar and Michael live in a large house with their adopted daughter Lilly, Omar's son Amid, and Michael's aging aunt Cecilia. Sociologist Judith Stacey might describe this family as:

Accepted Answer

This family can be considered postmodern because it does not fit the traditional nuclear family structure and includes non-traditional family members.

Question 16

The text offers a few examples of the changing nature of the American family in the twenty-first century. In this perspective, what does the family that reflects these changes look like?

Accepted Answer

The option D refers to a family that reflects the changing nature of the American family, as it represents a non-traditional family structure that includes cohabitation and step-parenting. Both of these are becoming more common in the 21st century as society is moving towards more diverse and complex family structures. The option A is less likely to reflect the changing nature of the American family since it represents a single-person household, while option B is more representative of a friendship than a family. The option C may reflect the reality of migrant workers, but it does not represent a traditional concept of a family.

Question 17

Most Western societies use both law and cultural norms to promote monogamy. Accordingly, in societies with these laws and norms, we can expect to see:

Accepted Answer

While most Western societies promote monogamy through both law and cultural norms, it is not uncommon to find some societies where men are allowed to have multiple wives. However, it is rare for a woman to have multiple husbands in such societies. Therefore, option B is the most accurate. Options A, C, and D are not necessarily true in societies that promote monogamy.

Question 18

Which of the following actions is an application of David Popenoe's recommendation as to how marriage could be reestablished as a strong social institution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following actions is an...

Question 19

The family plays an important role in adults' lives by giving them emotional support. Sociologist Talcott Parsons called this:

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons called the emotional support provided by the family "personality stabilization." This refers to how families help stabilize individuals' emotions and well-being, allowing them to function successfully in society. Primary socialization refers to the initial process of learning social norms and values as a child, while secondary socialization refers to continued learning throughout adulthood. Functional stabilization is not a term used by Parsons in relation to the family's role in adult life.

Question 20

Lisa says, "My family of orientation had, well, some problems!" She is referring to:

Accepted Answer

"Family of orientation" refers to the family in which a person is raised, so the correct answer is B, which refers to Lisa's parents and brothers who constituted the household in which she was raised.

Quiz 15: Families and Intimate Relationships