Question 1

Until recently,South Korea had laws in place banning marriage between people who belonged to the same clan.This means that they practiced

Accepted Answer

Exogamy refers to the practice of marrying outside one's social group or clan, which aligns with the South Korean law that banned marriage between people of the same clan.

Question 2

Today,who do average Americans have in mind when they think of their families?

Accepted Answer

When people think of their families, they are most likely to think of their immediate family members such as parents, siblings, and children. Therefore, the best choice is B) a brother or sister.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The phrase "not really kin" implies that the person has not acted in a way that fulfills the expected roles or responsibilities of a family member, despite being biologically related.

Question 4

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 is often seen as a defining characteristic of a family. This is because children are typically associated with traditional family structures and parenting roles. Other factors such as group size, ages of group members, and socioeconomic class may also play a role, but the presence of children is the most commonly cited characteristic of a family.

Question 5

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 parents living with their minor children, but it also encompasses other types of family structures such as siblings living together or grandparents raising their grandchildren. The key factor that defines a family according to the Census Bureau is the presence of a shared household among blood, marriage or adoption-related individuals.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Revolution led to urbanization and smaller living spaces, which contributed to the shift from extended family structures to nuclear family units, where the focus was on the immediate family living together.

Question 7

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, which involves marrying someone from a different social, cultural, or racial group. This practice can help to promote diversity and reduce social, cultural, and racial barriers in society.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Family friends who are referred to as "Aunt" or "Uncle" are referred to as fictive kin since they aren't biologically related but are considered part of the family.

Question 9

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 can refer to factors such as religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

According to conflict theory, the nuclear family facilitates exploitation by creating a sexual division of labor within the home. This means that women are typically responsible for unpaid domestic work, such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare, while men are responsible for paid labor outside of the home. This unpaid domestic work is essential for the reproduction of the labor force, which benefits capitalists who rely on a surplus of labor for profits. Therefore, the nuclear family is seen as a tool for exploitation of women and the working class.

Question 11

Functionalists view the family as responsible for the reproduction of society in what way?

Accepted Answer

Functionalists view the family as responsible for the reproduction of society through the production and socialization of children. The family is considered to be the primary social institution that ensures the survival of society by producing and raising new generations.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionism focuses on the meanings and symbols that people attach to their actions and interactions. Gift giving within an extended family is a symbolic act that can create and reinforce social bonds between individuals, and a symbolic interactionist would be interested in studying the way these bonds are formed and their significance within the family unit. Options A, B, and D are more focused on structural or functional aspects of the family rather than symbolic interactions.

Question 13

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 a structural functionalist perspective on the family. Structural functionalists view the family as a social institution that serves important functions for society, such as raising children and providing emotional support. The rise of one-child families may be seen as a threat to these functions, potentially leading to a decline in the well-being of children and the stability of the family unit.

Question 14

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

If the economy changes so that people are less likely to move away from their hometowns, they may be more likely to live near their extended family and rely on them for support. This could make the extended family more relevant again. While changes in travel and transportation services could make it easier to see extended family members, it may not necessarily make them more relevant. Changes in divorce laws or religion may have some impact on family dynamics, but they are less likely to directly affect the relevance of the extended family as a whole.

Question 15

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 unequal distribution of power and resources in society, particularly in relation to social classes. The division of labor in the household between men and women is often based on gender roles and expectations, which can lead to power imbalances and inequalities. Conflict theory would therefore prioritize considering the broader social effects of this division of labor and analyzing how it reinforces and perpetuates gender inequalities.

Question 16

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 of the textbook reject definitions of family that rely on specific types of people or ties because they want the definition to be broad enough to include a variety of living arrangements. They argue that families are constantly changing, and limiting the definition to certain types of people or ties would exclude many individuals who have important family relationships. Therefore, they advocate for a more inclusive definition that recognizes the diversity of family structures.

Question 17

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 more mobile than the extended family, making it easier for individuals to move to where jobs are located in an industrial economy. In contrast, extended families tend to be more rooted in a particular geographic area, which can make it more difficult for individuals to access new employment opportunities.

Question 18

In the United States today,very few people marry outside of their own socioeconomic classes,suggesting that there is a high degree of

Accepted Answer

Endogamy is the social practice of marrying within a specific social group or caste. The fact that very few people in the United States today marry outside of their own socioeconomic classes suggests that there is a high degree of endogamy in American society.

Question 19

What form does the family take in contemporary society according to symbolic interactionists Jay Gubrium and Jim Holstein?

Accepted Answer

According to symbolic interactionists Jay Gubrium and Jim Holstein, "the family" is not a fixed, universal concept or institution, but rather a flexible, adaptable set of practices and meanings that are constantly negotiated and reconstructed in everyday interactions. Therefore, there is no single, normative form that the family takes in contemporary society.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A heterosexual couple living together and raising children is commonly referred to as a nuclear family. This type of family structure is traditionally seen as a social norm and is considered conventional compared to nontraditional families, which may include single-parent households or blended families. Extended families typically include relatives beyond the immediate family living in the same household, while broken families refer to families where the parents are no longer in a relationship or are divorced.

Quiz 12: Life at Home: Families and Relationships