Sociology of Families

Preface Acknowledgments PART I: EXAMINING FAMILY ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES Issue 1: What is a Family? Images of Family The "Official" U.S. Definition of Family Blood Families and Chosen Families The Controversy over Gay Families The Symbolism of Family Something to Think About Issue 2: Is the Institution of Family Breaking Down - and Society with It? The Family Decline Perspective The Family Transformation Perspective Something to Think About Issue 3: How Private Should Family Life be? The Ideal of Family Privacy Parents and Children Variations in Family Privacy Something to Think About Issue 4: How Should Individual Rights and Family Obligations be Balanced? Rights and Responsibilities Culture and Family Obligation Gender and Family Obligation Costs, Benefits, and Family Decisions Family Obligation and Social Policy A Balance of Individualism and Family Obligation Something to Think About Issue 5: Does Religion Help or Hurt Families? Spirituality in Contemporary Life Religion in America How Religion Strengthens Families How Religion Creates Stress Something to Think About PART II: THINKING SOCIOLOGICALLY ABOUT FAMILIES Chapter 1. The Sociological Study of Family Life Windows of Family: The Elusive Family Everyday Research Theory and Research The Modes of Research The Trustworthiness of Family Research Family Privacy and Research Ethics Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 2. Gender and Families Windows on Family: What Are Girls and Boys Made Of? Sex and Gender Learning Gender Doing Gender Gender and Power Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 3. Race, Ethnicity, and Families Windows on Family: Multiracial Families Racial and Ethnic Identity African-American Families Asian-American Families Hispanic Families The Diversity Question Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 4. Wealth, Poverty, and Families Windows on Family: Lifestyles of the Rich and the Poor Class Stratification Poverty and Family Life Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn PART III: INVESTIGATING FAMILIES OVER THE LIFE COURSE Chapter 5: Love, Sexuality, and Attraction Windows on Family: Incurably Romantic The Cultural Context of Intimacy Romantic Love Sexuality Dating and Courtships Social Theories of Intimate Relationships Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 6. Couple and MarriageChanging American Families Windows on Family: What It Means to be a Couple Couples' Lives Marriages Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 7. Work Life and Family Life Windows on Family: When Home Is Work and Work Is Home Two Worlds: Work and Family Dual-Earner Families The Balance Between Work and Family The Domestic Divisin of Labor Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 8. Parenthood and Parenting Windows on Family: Patriarchs, Fathers, and Dads Pronatalism The Process of Becoming Parents Gender and Parenthood Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 9. Childhood and Child Rearing Windows on Family: Growing up in Two Worlds The Historical Construction of Childhood Children's Power in Families Adolescence The Social Complexities of Child Rearing The Issue of Child Care Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 10. Imtimate Violence Windows on Family: A Violent Society Begets Violent Homes The Roots of Intimate Violence in the United States Violence in Dating Relationships Violence Between Spouses and Partners Child Abuse Elder Abuse Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 11. Divorce and Remarriage Windows on Family: Blending Families Divorce in Cultural Context Divorce American Style Uncoupling Divorce and Children Remarriage and Stepfamilies Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 12. Family Transitions in Adulthood Windows on Family: Cycles of Change Family Transitions and the Life Course The Influence of Birth Cohorts The Transitions of Adulthood Old Age Death and Families Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn Chapter 13. Families in a Changing Society Windows on Family: Family Change Social Changes Recemt and Future Family Trends Family Policy A Final Word Conclusion Chapter Highlights Your Turn References Credits Glossary/Index