Question 1

Studies show that current ______ rates have dropped.

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that marriage rates have been declining in many parts of the world, reflecting changes in societal norms, economic factors, and personal choices.

Question 2

How has the increased acceptance of cohabiting couples changed societal views on family?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has the increased acceptance of cohabiting...

Question 3

How did Talcott Parsons explain the roles of men and women in a family?

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons, a key figure in structural functionalism, argued that men and women have distinct roles within the family that are complementary. He believed these roles were based on biological differences, with men typically taking on the instrumental roles (breadwinner, providing for the family) and women taking on expressive roles (caregiver, emotional support). This perspective is known as the "sex role theory" in sociology.

Question 4

According to the ______ perspective, families serve as a socialization agent and provide social stability and social harmony.

Accepted Answer

The structural functionalism perspective views the family as serving critical roles in society, including socialization of children and providing social stability and harmony. This perspective emphasizes how different parts of society work together to maintain social order.

Question 5

What did structural functionalist Talcott Parsons argue regarding different roles in the family?

Accepted Answer

Parsons argued that in the family, women are naturally suited for an "expressive" role (focused on nurturing and caring for the emotional needs of the family) while men are suited for an "instrumental" role (focused on providing for the family economically and making decisions), reflecting a traditional view on gender roles.

Question 6

What do conflict theorists emphasize in family research?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists emphasize social inequalities in family research, focusing on how power dynamics and economic disparities impact family structures and relationships.

Question 7

How would a conflict theorist explain coverture?

Accepted Answer

Coverture was a legal doctrine whereby, upon marriage, a woman's legal rights and obligations were subsumed by those of her husband, in accordance with the then societal norm of male dominance. Conflict theorists would view this as a mechanism to maintain male power and control over women, thus ensuring the perpetuation of a patriarchal society.

Question 8

A researcher who employs a feminist perspective when doing research on families would likely view families as ______.

Accepted Answer

A researcher adopting a feminist perspective is likely to focus on how families can perpetuate gender roles and inequalities, as feminism often examines the structures that contribute to gender disparities.

Question 9

A mother teaches her daughter how to cook. The father teaches his son how to play baseball. How would a sociologist explain this based on the feminist perspective?

Accepted Answer

From a feminist perspective, the scenario illustrates gender roles being reinforced through socialization, where the daughter is taught a traditionally feminine skill (cooking) and the son a traditionally masculine skill (baseball), perpetuating gender inequality.

Question 10

Conflict theorists look at multiple forms of inequality, such as class, sexuality, and race, when conducting research on family. Which approach are they using when they look at these different forms at the same time?

Accepted Answer

The intersectionality approach focuses on how different forms of inequality, such as class, sexuality, and race, intersect and affect individuals' experiences, including within the context of family. This approach recognizes the complexity of overlapping social identities and inequalities.

Question 11

Sociologists who posit that families make decisions by weighing the costs and benefits of various actions within the family are using the lens of ______,

Accepted Answer

Social exchange theory posits that individuals make decisions based on the costs and benefits of various actions within a relationship.

Question 12

The expectation that we give and take in equal ways with others refers to ______.

Accepted Answer

The norm of reciprocity refers to the expectation that people will respond to each other in kind—returning benefits for benefits, and responding with either indifference or hostility to harms. It's a social norm suggesting that if someone does something for you, you then feel obligated to return the favor.

Question 13

A wife works two jobs, while her husband watches the children and cooks the meals. How would a sociologist explain this based on the norm of reciprocity?

Accepted Answer

The norm of reciprocity refers to the expectation that people will respond to each other in kind, creating a balance of give and take in social relationships. In this scenario, the wife's financial contributions are balanced by the husband's contributions to childcare and household chores, illustrating a reciprocal relationship.

Question 14

When a mother devotes a lot of quality time and effort to take care of her children, she is engaging in ______.

Accepted Answer

Intensive mothering refers to a parenting style where the mother invests a significant amount of time, energy, and resources into caring for her children, often prioritizing their needs and development above all else. This concept emphasizes a high level of involvement and dedication to the child's upbringing.

Question 15

Mothers at a school event disapprove of a working mother because she does not volunteer at the school or attend activities during the school day. The other mothers see her as a bad mother. How would a sociologist explain this?

Accepted Answer

The concept of intensive mothering is a sociological theory that suggests mothers are expected to devote a significant amount of time, energy, and resources to their children. The disapproval of the working mother by other mothers for not volunteering or attending school activities during the day can be explained by this standard, as it implies she is not fulfilling the culturally expected level of dedication and involvement in her child's life.

Question 16

Middle-class parents believe it is important to reason and negotiate with their children and provide them with opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities. Their approach to interaction with their children can be described as ______.

Accepted Answer

Concerted cultivation is a term used to describe a style of parenting common among middle-class families where parents actively foster and assess their children's talents, opinions, and skills through organized activities and reasoned dialogue.

Question 17

Which social class is most likely to use an authoritarian parenting style?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that authoritarian parenting styles are more common among the working class. This is often attributed to the high levels of stress and economic pressures faced by working-class families, which can lead to stricter and more controlling parenting practices.

Question 18

Individuals who are taking care of their own children as well as their parents are known as the ______ generation.

Accepted Answer

The term "sandwich generation" refers to individuals who are in a position where they are caring for their aging parents while also supporting their own children, effectively being "sandwiched" between the two responsibilities.

Question 19

How does a member of the sandwich generation differ from a traditional nuclear family?

Accepted Answer

The sandwich generation refers to individuals who are in a position where they have to care for their aging parents while supporting their own children, distinguishing them from the traditional nuclear family setup which typically consists of two parents and their children without the added responsibility of caring for elderly parents.

Question 20

Karla and her husband were looking forward to being empty nesters when their youngest child went to college. But a week later, her mother fell and broke her hip, so Karla brought her to live with them. Now Karla is caring for her mother as well as her college-aged children. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of "the sandwich generation," which refers to individuals who are caring for their aging parents while still supporting their own children.

Quiz 11: Understanding Institutions: Family