Question 1

Which of the following is true of nuclear families?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear families include both family members related by blood or adoption, as well as a mother and father in the household.

Question 2

Nuclear families do not include ______.

Accepted Answer

Nuclear families do not include extended family members or single parents.

Question 3

One problem with the concept of the nuclear family is that ______.

Accepted Answer

The concept of the nuclear family can be problematic as it assumes heteronormativity, perpetuates stigma for couples who are unable to have children, and by default, anyone who does not meet the criteria is labeled as dysfunctional.

Question 4

Which race of women does the marriage squeeze affect the most?

Accepted Answer

The marriage squeeze disproportionately affects African American women. This is because they face a shortage of available African American men due to higher rates of incarceration, unemployment, and mortality among African American men compared to other racial groups. This leads to a more competitive marriage market and fewer opportunities for African American women to find a partner.

Question 5

This concept describes a change in marriage patterns leading to fewer marriages and few suitable partners for black women.

Accepted Answer

The concept that describes fewer suitable partners for black women due to changes in marriage patterns is called marriage squeeze. This occurs because of a shortage of eligible partners in a specific racial or economic group, resulting in fewer marriages. The marriage squeeze theory was first introduced by sociologist Ralph G. Carter in the 1960s to explain the demographic imbalance between black men and black women leading to black women being less likely to marry.

Question 6

Which of the following reasons is given in the chapter to explain marriage squeeze?

Accepted Answer

The chapter states that the marriage squeeze is caused by "both the over-incarceration of African American men and the correlation of race and poverty."

Question 7

Which president started marriage promotion programs?

Accepted Answer

George W. Bush is credited with starting marriage promotion programs as part of his welfare reform efforts in 2002. These programs were intended to encourage marriage as a way to reduce poverty and dependence on government assistance.

Question 8

These programs teach relationship and communication skills and assume that marriage is a solution to poverty for single mothers.

Accepted Answer

Marriage promotion programs specifically focus on teaching relationship and communication skills and propose marriage as a solution to poverty for single mothers. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (A) and SNAP programs (C) provide financial assistance to low-income individuals and families, but do not necessarily promote marriage. Gestational surrogacy programs (D) involve using a surrogate mother to carry a pregnancy for someone else and are not related to poverty or communication skills.

Question 9

In relation to marriage promotion programs, a symbolic interactionist might explain that ______.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionists would argue that marriage promotion programs focus too much on the benefits of marriage and ignore the potential risks and drawbacks for some individuals, such as single mothers who may not see economic improvements from marriage or women who may face increased risk of intimate partner violence. They would also argue that these programs tend to oversimplify complex social issues related to poverty and inequality.

Question 10

On average, white women in colonial America gave birth to ______ children.

Accepted Answer

On average, white women in colonial America gave birth to 5-8 children. This high number of children was due to the lack of birth control and the importance of having large families for economic and social reasons.

Question 11

Which of the following was true about households in colonial America?

Accepted Answer

In colonial America, the concept of family extended beyond blood ties to include all members living under the authority of a male household leader, reflecting a broader definition of family.

Question 12

White women in colonial America ______.

Accepted Answer

White women in colonial America had no legal right to property, when married could not sign contracts, and when married could not file lawsuits.

Question 13

Which segment of women led the "cult of domesticity"?

Accepted Answer

The "cult of domesticity" was a social norm in the 19th century that idealized women as homemakers, nurturing mothers, and moral guardians of the family. This ideology was most prevalent among privileged white women who had the means to focus on domestic duties and were able to delegate other responsibilities to servants or slaves. Working-class women, both white and minority, often had to work outside of the home to help support their families and were unable to adhere to such strict gender roles. Minority women, both privileged and working-class, faced additional barriers and discrimination that made it difficult to participate fully in this idealized image of womanhood.

Question 14

In the 1840s this immigrant group was referred to as the "blacks of Europe," and they encountered blatant discrimination by employers.

Accepted Answer

The Irish were often referred to as the "blacks of Europe" due to their perceived lower social status and discrimination they faced. They encountered discrimination by employers who believed they were unskilled and viewed them as a threat to job opportunities for native-born Americans.

Question 15

In 1875 the U.S. government issued this landmark attempt to limit the immigration of "undesirables."

Accepted Answer

The Page Law of 1875 was the first federal law to restrict immigration based on race and nationality, primarily targeting Chinese women who were deemed to be prostitutes or likely to engage in prostitution in the United States. It prohibited the entry of immigrants considered "undesirable," including those convicted of crimes and those likely to become public charges. The Dawes Act of 1887 was a law that sought to assimilate Native Americans into American culture by breaking up their reservations and distributing land to individual tribal members. The Chinese Immigration Act of 1882 was the first law to restrict immigration based on a specific nationality. The Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 was an informal agreement between the United States and Japan that restricted Japanese immigration to the United States.

Question 16

The Page Law of 1875 conceptualized this group of immigrants as "undesirable."

Accepted Answer

The Page Law of 1875 was aimed at restricting the immigration of Chinese women to the United States by classifying them as "undesirable," under the presumption that many were entering to work as prostitutes. This law was part of the broader efforts to limit Chinese immigration and the perceived social problems associated with it.

Question 17

In the late 19thcentury,the immigration of Chinese prostitutes to the United States was viewed negatively because they were ______.

Accepted Answer

Chinese prostitutes were viewed negatively for all the reasons listed in options A, B, and C. They were believed to corrupt Chinese and white men, spread disease, and threaten the integrity of the white family.

Question 18

This 1907-1908 legislation was reached whereby Japan agreed to stop allowing Japanese men to migrate to the United States and the United States agreed to admit the existing men's family members.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the Gentlemen's Agreement between Japan and the United States. It was a informal agreement that ended up limiting Japanese immigration to the US while allowing for family reunification.

Question 19

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, how many Japanese Americans were forced to live in internment camps?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans were forced to live in internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of contemporary families in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Contemporary families in the United States are indeed increasingly diverse, with a rise in alternative family structures such as single-parent households, blended families, and same-sex parents. Additionally, the percentage of married people has decreased over the past 50 years, with more individuals choosing to cohabitate or remain single. Therefore, all of these statements are true. However, the statement that contemporary families make up less than 20% of families is incorrect and not supported by any data.

Quiz 3: The Social Construction and Regulation of Families