Question 1

According to the structural-functionalist perspective, traditional gender roles contribute to family functioning.

Accepted Answer

The structural-functionalist perspective argues that traditional gender roles contribute to family functioning by assigning specific tasks and responsibilities to each gender, which promotes stability, order, and coherence within the family unit. For example, men are typically responsible for providing financial support and protection, while women are responsible for nurturing, caregiving, and emotional labor. These gendered roles also help to socialize children into culturally-appropriate gender roles and expectations, which reinforces societal norms and values.

Question 2

Covenant marriage is available in all fifty states.

Accepted Answer

Covenant marriage is currently only available in three states - Louisiana, Arizona, and Arkansas.

Question 3

Today, husbands whose wives are employed outside the home do about an equal share of the unpaid domestic labor.

Accepted Answer

While there has been progress in narrowing the gap, research shows that husbands still do not do an equal share of unpaid domestic labor. On average, women still do more household chores and caregiving even if they work outside the home.

Question 4

Intimate terrorism refers to attempts to control all aspects of someone's life.

Accepted Answer

Intimate terrorism is a form of domestic violence that involves a pattern of coercive control and physical violence, aimed at creating fear and subordination in the victim. It typically involves attempts to dominate and control all aspects of the victim's life, including their social interactions, finances, and daily activities.

Question 5

The conflict perspective emphasizes that interaction with family members has a powerful effect on an individual's self-concept.

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective focuses on the ways in which power and coercion influence social order, particularly emphasizing inequality, power differences, and social change, rather than the effects of family interaction on an individual's self-concept, which is more aligned with symbolic interactionism.

Question 6

_______________ are private homes of individuals who volunteer to provide temporary housing to abused people.​

Accepted Answer

Safe houses are private homes where individuals volunteer to provide temporary housing to abused people, offering them a secure and confidential place to stay.

Question 7

In the United States, it is legal in all 50 states for a parent to spank, hit, belt, paddle, whip, or otherwise inflict punitive pain on a child, so long as the corporal punishment does not meet the individual state's definition of child abuse.

Accepted Answer

Corporal punishment by parents is legal in all 50 states as long as it does not cross the line into child abuse, which is defined differently by each state.

Question 8

Symbolic interactionist explanations of family problems focus on patriarchy as the primary cause.

Accepted Answer

While symbolic interactionism does acknowledge the role of power dynamics in family relationships, it does not solely attribute problems to patriarchy. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the meanings and interpretations that individuals give to their experiences and actions within the family, and how these meanings can lead to conflicts or misunderstandings.

Question 9

The number of hours per week that men spend on housework and childcare has not increased since the 1960's.

Accepted Answer

There has been an increase in the number of hours per week that men spend on housework and childcare since the 1960's, although it still falls short of the amount of time women spend on these tasks. According to a 2019 report by the Council on Contemporary Families, men in dual-income households with children now spend, on average, about 6.5 hours per week on housework and 4.5 hours per week on childcare, up from about 4 hours per week and 2.5 hours per week, respectively, in the 1960's.

Question 10

Sociologists define a family as two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption who reside together.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sociologists define a family as two or...

Question 11

Men who will abuse a pet will usually not abuse their spouse or children.

Accepted Answer

This statement is actually false. The abuse of animals is often a precursor to domestic violence and can be a warning sign that a person is capable of inflicting harm on others. Research has shown that a significant percentage of domestic violence cases involve the abuse of pets, and perpetrators of domestic violence may use the family pet as a means of control and coercion over their victims.

Question 12

In recent decades, young adults living in parts of the world that have traditionally practiced arranged marriage are increasingly selecting their own marriage partners.

Accepted Answer

Cultural shifts and globalization have led to more young adults in traditionally arranged marriage societies choosing their own partners.

Question 13

Sociologists recognize many different family forms.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists recognize many different family forms, including nuclear families, extended families, stepfamilies, single-parent families, and same-sex parent families, among others.

Question 14

Today, marital rape is a crime in all 50 states.

Accepted Answer

Marital rape is recognized as a crime in all 50 states in the United States. However, laws and definitions surrounding marital rape may vary by state.

Question 15

Most men in batterer intervention programs are referred by courts.

Accepted Answer

Most men in batterer intervention programs are court-mandated as part of their sentencing or probation requirements following domestic violence charges.

Question 16

Reducing poverty and unemployment can reduce abuse.

Accepted Answer

Poverty and unemployment can cause stress and frustration which can increase the likelihood of abusive behaviors. By reducing poverty and unemployment, people can feel more stable and less stressed, which can decrease the occurrence of abuse.

Question 17

Mutual violent control is a common pattern of intimate partner violence.

Accepted Answer

Mutual violent control, where both partners are controlling and violent, is considered a less common pattern of intimate partner violence compared to other forms such as intimate terrorism (where one partner is violent and controlling) or situational couple violence (where violence arises from specific conflicts and does not involve control).

Question 18

Feminist theories of the family grew out of the functionalist perspective.

Accepted Answer

Feminist theories of the family emerged as a critical response to the functionalist perspective, which was criticized for perpetuating gender inequalities within the family and assuming that the traditional nuclear family was the ideal model for all families. Feminist theories aim to challenge and change these assumptions and to promote gender equality within the family and in wider society.

Question 19

Functionalists believe that breakdowns in the family will affect other parts of social life.

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that the family performs important functions for society, such as socializing children, regulating sexual activity, and providing emotional support. Therefore, breakdowns in the family can lead to negative consequences for other parts of social life, such as increased crime rates or a decline in social cohesion.

Question 20

Americans overwhelmingly support the use of corporal punishment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Americans overwhelmingly support the use of corporal...

Quiz 5: Family Problems