Question 1

How does Coltrane believe increasing economic parity and more equal gender relations will affect the American family? Do you agree or disagree with his assessment? Why?

Accepted Answer

Varies. May include the following:
-Coltrane: increasing economic parity and more equal gender relations will allow women to buy out of some domestic obligations and/or recruit their partners to do more. Middle and upper class women will rely more on working class women and will thus reduce their own hours of family labor while also perpetuating race, class, and gender hierarchies.

Question 2

Describe the two general patterns of fathers' family involvement that cross-cultural scholars have identified. What type of societies are associated with each type of fathering? Why do anthropologist believe this is the case?

Accepted Answer

Varies. May include the following:
-intimate: men eat, sleep, talk with children and mothers, attend births, and actively participate. Peaceful societies, more equal, intimate romantic relationships, more equal gender in deities. These allow boys to develop an intimate knowledge of masculinity and to value femininity.
-aloof: men eat and sleep apart from women, spend leisure time with other men, stay away from births and seldom help with child care. Religions with stern male gods, women excluded from community decision making, public displays of male power, and marriages in which men demand deference. This leaves boys without a clear sense of masculinity and a desire to oppose femininity.

Question 3

What were the roles of fathers in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Accepted Answer

In the 17th and 18th centuries, fathers played an active role in teaching their children important skills and were considered moral guides who collectively raised children by duty and obligation. While mothers were primarily responsible for childcare and nurturing, fathers were expected to take an active role in their children's upbringing and were often responsible for disciplining children and preparing them for adulthood. Fathers were also typically the primary breadwinners, but their responsibilities extended beyond providing food and housing.

Question 4

What change took place following the Industrial Revolution?

Accepted Answer

Following the Industrial Revolution, fathers began to shift from being patriarchal moralists to distant breadwinners and occasional playmates to their children. As fathers began working outside of the home in factories and businesses, they became more removed from the day-to-day care of their families. This led to a new model of fatherhood known as "companionate fathering," which emphasized the importance of emotional connection and quality time spent with children rather than strict discipline and rules.

Question 5

According to Coltrane, which of the following statements best represents contemporary married fathers?

Accepted Answer

According to Coltrane's research, contemporary married fathers report valuing their families over their jobs but spend more time in paid work and less time in family work than married mothers. Therefore, choice B is the best representation of contemporary married fathers according to Coltrane.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT part of Coltrane's definition of "fatherhood?"

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT part...

Question 7

Cross-culturally, societies with ______ tend to be more peaceful, egalitarian, and gender-equal, whereas societies with ______ tend to exclude women from community decision making and religious systems, have marriages in which husbands demand deference from their wives, and have public displays of competitive masculinity.

Accepted Answer

Societies with involved, intimate models of fatherhood tend to be more peaceful, egalitarian, and gender-equal, reflecting the positive impact of active paternal engagement on social structures, including gender relations and community decision-making. Conversely, societies characterized by uninvolved, aloof models of fatherhood often exhibit more hierarchical and gender-unequal structures, where women's participation in decision-making is limited, and there is a greater emphasis on competitive masculinity.

Question 8

The great majority of children from single-family homes turn out to ______.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that children from single-parent families can be just as successful and well-adjusted as those from two-parent homes. Single-parent households may face certain challenges, but with proper support, parental love, and resources, children can thrive and become happy, healthy, and productive adults. While there may be some individual cases of underperformance or struggles, it is not the norm for the great majority of children from single-parent homes.

Question 9

Research shows that fathers' involvement can have positive influences on children's futures and that ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research shows that fathers' involvement can have...

Question 10

Fathers' participation in child rearing has ______ throughout culture and history.

Accepted Answer

Fathers' involvement in child rearing has varied significantly throughout culture and history, ranging from very little involvement to participation in all aspects of care. While contemporary Western societies have seen an increase in fathers' participation, this is not necessarily the case in all cultures or throughout history. Therefore, option A and D are incorrect. Option B provides a specific percentage, which does not accurately reflect the variability of fathers' involvement across time and culture.

Quiz 23: Fathering: Paradoxes, Contradictions, and Dilemmas