SociologyLesson 2 of 3 in the course Relationships, Marriage, and Family

Family Forms, Relationships, and Sociological Perspectives

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Families take many forms, even when people share a single ideal of what a family should look like. This lesson examines common family structures and how children may experience care in different households.

A nuclear family traditionally refers to married parents and their children living together. Although this arrangement is often treated as the standard, it does not describe every family. The source material reports that in 2010, 66 percent of children under 17 lived with two married parents, down from 77 percent in 1980. It also reports that some children live with two cohabiting parents who are not married.

All flashcards

What is a nuclear family?
A family traditionally composed of married parents and their children living together.
What makes a family blended?
A family that includes a stepparent and/or stepsiblings.
What is foster care?
Care in which adults approved by an agency look after children under its guidance and supervision.
What is parentification?
When a child takes on substantial responsibilities more commonly associated with a parent.
What does cohabitation mean?
Living together in a sexual relationship without being married.

Quiz questions

  1. Which set lists the four family functions identified by George Murdock?Answer: Sexual, reproductive, educational, and economic
  2. What does conflict theory emphasize when studying families?Answer: Power, authority, resources, and inequality
  3. How does symbolic interactionism examine family roles?Answer: It studies how meanings are shaped through social interaction.
  4. What did the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges establish?Answer: A nationwide right to same-sex marriage
  5. What conclusion did an analysis of 81 parenting studies support?Answer: The evidence did not show that opposite-sex parenting is inherently better.

Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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