"It is easier to rule a kingdom than it is to regulate a family."

- Chinese Folklore

Let’s get warmed up:According to David Popenoe, a Rutgers sociology professor… "As society shifts from marriage to

cohabitation — which is what's happening — you have an increase in family instability."

“The United States has the weakest families in the Western world because we have the highest divorce rate and the highest rate of solo parenting," Popenoe says.

Do you agree or disagree with Popenoe? Why or Why not?

Analyzing Simon Birch… Functionalism(Durkheim)-Person as an organism of

social institutions-changes in one institution impact the other

Symbolic Interactionism (Mead)-early in life cultural behavior is taught through primary group relationships

Conflict Theory(Marx)-Social institutions break down as a result of one group of people taking control over another (usually in terms of economics)

Which of the above theories is most applicable here for Simon and Joe?

How did other institutions compensate for the weaknesses in family for Joe and Simon?

What conclusions can you draw from these clips about the family in terms of roles, norms, and expectations? How has the family changed over time? Father Knows Best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3

9VJwYBX0Q&feature=related Ozzie and Harriet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=sCBBvBMPcTs

All in the Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igq

krfNPbw4 Family Ties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh

acXz-WoOk

The Fresh Prince: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB

oOTZbl02M Everybody Loves Raymond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP

mZ5TFKlwU Desperate Housewives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL

XDZ15uNt8

Functions of the Family… 1. Regulate behavior 2. Socialization 3. Care and Emotional Support

(socioemotional maintenance) 4. Maintain economic system 5. Social status of members

Nuclear Family Monogamy Polygamy

Polygyny Polyandry

Extended Family Single-Parent

Romantic love is a new concept. The Rules…

Exogamy Endogamy Homogamy Hetrogamy

Patterns of Residence

Patrilocality Matrilocality Bilocality Most societies practice neolocality

Authority Patterns patriarchal family matriarchal family egalitarian family

The vast majority of societies around the world are patriarchal

The U.S. is moving toward more egalitarian authority patterns

The American Family• 95% of all adults marry at least

once during their lifetimes

• The U.S. has one of the highest marriages rates of any industrialized nation

• Marriage rates are declining slightly among younger Americans

1. Delayed Marriage2. Delayed

Childbearing3. Dual –Income

Marriages4. One-Parent Families5. Remarriages

The Cycle of Family Life 1. Prechildren 2. Parenthood 3. Empty nest

Statistics from US HHS on the Fam:

-United States Department of HHS

According to USA today… The U.S. divorce rate is 17.7 per

1,000 married women, down from 22.6 in 1980.

The marriage rate is also on a steady decline: a 50% drop since 1970 from 76.5 per 1,000 unmarried women to 39.9

-Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and The Federal

Administration for Children and Families.The CDC publication: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

Closing Thoughts…

One of the characteristics of families is that families spend time together. As people grow busier and busier, spending time becomes more difficult. How should families make time for one another?

What are some of the traditional roles of the bride and the groom when preparing for a wedding? Should these traditions change?