Question 1

What feature of the nuclear family,as opposed to the extended family,makes it uniquely qualified to serve the needs of an industrial economy?

Accepted Answer

The nuclear family is smaller and therefore, more mobile than an extended family. In an industrial economy, job opportunities are less stable and people need to be able to move to take advantage of them. The nuclear family is better suited to this lifestyle as it can move without leaving behind a large support network.

Question 2

In what would a symbolic interactionist studying the family be most interested?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionists focus on how individuals create and maintain meaning through social interaction. They would be interested in how gift giving within an extended family creates and reinforces symbolic meanings and social ties between individuals.

Question 3

How did the Industrial Revolution change the common meaning of family?

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Revolution led to urbanization and the rise of the nuclear family, where families became smaller and more focused on the immediate household rather than extended relatives.

Question 4

In Japan,some are worried about the effect that the rise in one-child families is having on the foundation of Japanese society.On what sort of theoretical perspective on the family is this concern based?

Accepted Answer

The concern about the effect of one-child families on the foundation of Japanese society reflects the structural functionalist perspective on the family, which emphasizes the family's role in maintaining social stability and cohesion. This perspective views the family as a social institution with important functions, such as caring for children, providing emotional support, and transmitting cultural values to the next generation. The rise of one-child families, which reduces the number of children per family and potentially weakens the intergenerational links, could lead to a disruption of these functions and undermine the family's role in society.

Question 5

Today when the average American thinks of his or her family,who is he or she most likely to have in mind?

Accepted Answer

According to current cultural norms and family structures, siblings (particularly brothers) are often considered to be a core part of one's immediate family. Uncles, aunts, and cousins are generally seen as part of one's extended family.

Question 6

What do sociologists call the tendency to marry someone of a similar background?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call the tendency to marry someone of a similar background "endogamy," which refers to marriage within one's own social group or category. This can include marrying someone of the same race, religion, nationality, or social class.

Question 7

How does the U.S.Census Bureau define "family"?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Census Bureau defines "family" as two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption who share a household. This includes both nuclear and extended families, as well as non-relatives living together as a household.

Question 8

Why do the authors of your textbook reject definitions of family that depend on particular types of people (like parents)and specific types of ties (like marriage)?

Accepted Answer

The authors reject definitions of family that depend on particular types of people and specific types of ties because they want the definition to be broad enough to encompass a variety of living arrangements. They believe that family is a social institution that takes various forms, and that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of family. By allowing for a wide range of family types in their definition, they hope to reflect the diversity of family structures that exist in modern society.

Question 9

According to conflict theory,how does the nuclear family facilitate exploitation?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory suggests that the nuclear family facilitates exploitation through a sexual division of labor within the home. This division of labor assigns certain tasks to men and others to women, with men typically holding higher-paying jobs outside of the home while women perform unpaid domestic labor within the home. This allows those who hold economic and social power to benefit from the uncompensated labor of those who do not, creating a system of exploitation that reinforces social inequality.

Question 10

In what way is the family responsible for the reproduction of society?

Accepted Answer

The family is responsible for producing and socializing children, which are essential for the continuation and growth of society. Families also teach cultural norms, values, and beliefs, which shape the behavior of individuals and society as a whole.

Question 11

family friends who are referred to as "Aunt" or "Uncle" are examples of:

Accepted Answer

Fictive kin are individuals who are considered as family members even though they are not related by blood or marriage. Family friends who are addressed as "Aunt" or "Uncle" fall under this category, as they are not biologically related but are treated as family members.

Question 12

A heterosexual couple living in the same household and raising children is defined as a(n)________ family.

Accepted Answer

A nuclear family typically consists of a heterosexual couple living together and raising children. This is considered the traditional family model in many cultures. Nontraditional families may include single-parent households, same-sex couples with children, or blended families with children from previous relationships. An extended family includes relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. A broken family typically refers to a family that has experienced a divorce or separation.

Question 13

How would a sociologist define "family"?

Accepted Answer

A sociologist would define "family" as an interdependent social group bound by legal, biological, or emotional ties. This definition takes into account the various ways in which families can be formed, including through adoption or legal recognition of same-sex couples, and recognizes that family relationships are not solely based on blood ties. Additionally, the emphasis on interdependence highlights the importance of relationships and mutual care within families.

Question 14

Which theoretical perspective would lead you to consider the broader social effects of the division of labor between men and women in the household?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory focuses on the power struggles between different groups in society, and how these struggles can contribute to social inequality. The division of labor between men and women in the household is a prime example of this power struggle, with women often bearing more of the domestic responsibilities and having less power and authority in the home. Therefore, a conflict theorist would be likely to consider the broader social effects of this division of labor and how it contributes to gender inequality in society.

Question 15

Given the history of the family,what sort of changes do you think would be most likely to make the extended family more relevant again?

Accepted Answer

The extended family became less relevant as people moved away from their hometowns in search of jobs and economic opportunities. Changes in the economy that create more jobs and opportunities in people's hometowns would make it more likely for them to stay close to their extended family and maintain stronger connections with them.

Question 16

Which of the following seems to make people in general more likely to define a group as a family?

Accepted Answer

The presence of children tends to make people in general more likely to define a group as a family. Children are often seen as a defining characteristic of a family, and their presence can influence how people perceive a group.

Question 17

When an individual describes someone who is related to him or her biologically as "not really kin," what is he or she saying?

Accepted Answer

The phrase "not really kin" suggests that the individual feels the relative has not acted in a way that fulfills the expected roles or responsibilities of family, despite the biological connection.

Question 18

According to the symbolic interactionists Jay Gubrium and Jim Holstein,what form does the family take in contemporary society?

Accepted Answer

According to Gubrium and Holstein's symbolic interactionist perspective, the concept of "the family" is not fixed and universal, but rather a socially constructed and flexible concept that varies across cultures and historical periods. Family is defined by individual and collective experiences, practices, and meanings that people create and negotiate in their everyday lives. Therefore, the family takes a fluid, adaptable form in contemporary society.

Question 19

Who is more likely to define unrelated roommates as a family?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who is more likely to define unrelated...

Question 20

What do sociologists call the tendency to marry someone from a different background?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call the tendency to marry someone from a different background "exogamy". This is because "ex-" means "outside of" and "-gamy" refers to marriage. So exogamy is the practice of marrying someone outside of one's own social or cultural group.

Quiz 12: Life at Home: Families and Relationships