Marriage and Family Final Study Guide

Divorce is LEAST common among people with which of the following levels of education?

college or advanced degrees

When discussing trends in divorce, sociologists focus primarily on heterosexual, formally married individuals because:

there is limited systematic research on other forms of family

Separation is a legal process that involves:

married spouses separating into different households

The legal term that indicates a marriage is no longer binding is:

divorce

Which of the following groups did NOT permit divorce?

Christians

The legal term that indicates a marriage was NEVER legally binding is:

annulment

Legal annulment is ________ in the United States.

very rare

Controversies over who controls marriage —the state or church—have arisen based on all of the following topics EXCEPT

marriage after death of a spouse

Which of the following measures tells how many divorces there are in the United States, relative to the total size of the population?

crude divorce rate

A better "divorce rate" measure that compares how many divorces occurred in a given year relative to the number of married people in that year is:

divorce rate.

The most commonly used divorce rate statistic, which compares the number of divorces to the number of new marriages in a given year, is ________.

divorce-marriage ratio

According to the text, people who marry today have a ________ percent chance of getting divorced.

41-50

Prior to the 1970s and "no fault" divorce laws, the divorce rate was:

increasing.

After "no fault" divorce laws, there was a spike in divorces, and then the rate ________.

increased sharply

Since the 1980s, divorce rates have ________.

decreased slightly

The change in divorce laws, which allowed either spouse to file for divorce, effectively increased the power of:

women.

This generation has the highest divorce rate on record:

Baby Boomers

Approximately ________ percent of Baby Boomers had divorced by the age of 40.

33

Christina’s parents divorced when she was 12. According to statistics, how does this affect the likelihood that she will divorce?

She is more likely than average to divorce.

Which of the following couples is most likely to experience divorce?

Bill and Sandra, who are Black

Couples who cohabit are characterized by:

more moves and relocations.

Engaged couples who live together prior to marriage are ________ likely to divorce, compared to nonengaged couples who cohabit

less

Those who marry at 20 are ________ times more likely to divorce than those who wait until 25.

two

On average, postponing marriage means couples are:

more financially secure.

Which of the following characteristics DECREASES a couple’s chance of divorce?

spending time alone together

Which of the following characteristics does NOT increase a couple’s chance of divorce?

having young children

With regard to initiating divorce proceedings:

women are more likely to file.

The independence effect has been noted to:

decrease divorce as income increases.

The income effect has been noted to:

decrease divorce as income increases.

When one partner loses a job, the marriage:

is often weakened, regardless of who lost their job.

One British study suggests that divorce outcomes for adults:

show lower levels of stress after the divorce is final.

After a divorce, women’s income, on average:

decreases

After a divorce, men’s income, on average:

increases

Compared to men, after divorce, a woman and her children are ________ as likely to live in poverty.

twice

The increased likelihood of women and children to live in poverty is known as:

the feminization of poverty.

Which of these is NOT a potential factor affecting children’s reaction to divorce, as discussed in the text?

the legal proceedings

Father involvement generally:

improves children’s happiness and well-being

A family in which at least one member is not related to everyone else is defined as:

a blended family.

________ of Americans are likely to remarry.

two-thirds

________ women are most likely to remarry after divorce.

Hispanic

________ women are LEAST likely to remarry after divorce

Black

One out of ________ children live in a blended family.

six

The three institutional arenas in which we feed and care for children include

the family, the market, and the state.

In recent decades, the most important sociological change to families has been

the movement of women’s work from their families to the paid labor market.

The sociological perspective on work and family is different from common notions in that it

pays attention to both the content and social context of work

Care work is defined as

work that is performed face-to-face for the purpose of enhancing the capabilities of another person.

The quintessential care work, which is usually hands-on, intimate work to provide children with the material, intellectual, and emotional support they need, is

chid care

The work to maintain a household’s function is

housework

When Shawna picks up her kids from soccer practice, sociologists would say she is engaging in what?

care work

Care work and housework are increasingly performed as what?

market work

The term "system of care" is used to describe what?

how a society accomplishes the necessary care work and housework

One decision that modern families must face is how to divide the housework and care work within the family. This is often a contentious issue for couples, showing that

it is not really "families" that make decisions, but individuals within them.

Which of the following examples illustrates how the state redistributes much of the product of our labor?

income taxes used to pay for Social Security plans

In the last half-century or so, the main story in the realm of work and family has been

the growth of market work in the system of care.

The most rapid period of change in the gender composition of the workforce occurred in the three decades after 1960 as the proportion of women in the labor force

increased from about one-third to three-quarters

In what order did women historically enter the workplace?

first single women, then married women without children, and eventually most married women with young children

In historical terms, women’s employment patterns have evolved extremely quickly—so quickly that

the expectations people have for work and family are unclear.

In the 25- to 54-year-old age range, employment for men has remained at or above

90 percent

Kyle and Lorena are married with two children. What is one reason that sociologists might not expect Kyle to stay home with their children?

Kyle, like most other men his age, is employed.

Women’s employment rapidly became acceptable within the cultural mainstream, in part because of the kinds of paid work women did. Sociologists call this

occupational gender segregation

The gender division of labor means that

women do the lion’s share of housework and care work, and they are concentrated in certain paid occupational areas

In the late 1970s, only one-third of Americans thought that mothers’ employment was not harmful for their preschool-aged children; 30 years later, that proportion rose to two-thirds, illustrating

that popular attitudes toward the appropriate divisions between men and women have gradually shifted.

The phenomenon in which women have seemingly endless housework and child care on top of hours of paid work is referred to by sociologist Arlie Hochschild as

second shift

One of the advantages of time-use studies, in which researchers investigate how people fill their days with activities, is that they

take account of care work that often seems invisible.

According to data collected from the American Time Use Survey in 2010, men and women spend an average of how much time working per day?

6 hours and 40 minutes for men; 6 hours and 51 minutes for women

The greater number of hours of paid work for men are, on average, balanced out by

the greater hours of unpaid work for women.

Mr. Johnson works a paid job and Mrs. Johnson primarily performs unpaid labor, such as taking care of the home and the children. What is one consequence of this situation?

Mrs. Johnson’s work is not recognized because it has no direct dollar value.

The 1970s Wages for Housework campaign attempted to

demand housewives be paid wages for their labor.

Time-use data show that married women have cut their housework time roughly in half over the last half-century, while men have

doubled theirs

One reason that gender difference in housework has eroded over the last half-century is because

the total amount of time spent on housework has declined

What trend in child care does the American Time Use Survey find in the last half-century?

Men and women have both increased their time with children.

There are three main factors within couples’ relationships that seem to account for the fact that women perform so much more unpaid work in the home

time, resources, and gender

In most couples, the partner with greater obligations away from home tends to do less housework and child care because that person

has less time available

Although some people enjoy housework and child care, most prefer to avoid at least the more onerous aspects of those responsibilities. Therefore, when couples negotiate over who does what work, the partner who has a higher-paying job

has more decision-making power.

Wives significantly outearn their husbands in how many marriages?

1 in 5

Socialization means that the lessons learned in childhood are applied to the situations in which people find themselves as adults. This means that boys who grow up with an employed mother

do more housework when they grow up.

Which group has been identified by sociologists as having more traditional gendered divisions of labor?

christian

When asked why 25-year-old Joy does more housework than her 28-year-old husband Jim, Joy said that Jim works longer hours and she therefore doesn’t mind doing some extra work around the house. Joy’s explanation is an example of what phenomenon?

Spouses commonly rationalize unequal divisions of labor.

Although much of the gendered division of labor takes place within the home, there are also a number of institutional settings surrounding families that are crucial as well, including

a pattern of gender socialization—primarily through families, schools, and the media.

What percentage of American parents report that they would like to have more time with their families?

90 percent

When the time demands, strains, or obligations of work or family roles make it difficult for people to fulfill their obligations in either role, they experience

work-family conflict

In the last half-century, the growth of women’s employment contributed to conflicts between family and paid work obligations for various reasons, including the fact that

the system did not work for single parents, who could not combine the paid and unpaid work of two spouses.

Women lead what percentage of poor, single-parent households?

67

When the welfare system was reformed in 1996, policy makers abandoned the assumption that

men, not the state, should care for single women

In 2012, what percentage of single mothers were employed?

62

The "motherhood penalty" is

he loss of earnings women experience after they have children.

American workers have long aspired to balance which three things?

work, rest, and leisure

Which of the following is one of the work-based reforms that could help reduce work-family conflict?

Work hours could be reduced.

As sociologist Judith Lorber puts it, "Workplace pressures are thought to be unchangeable, so the burden of innovation falls on the _____________."

family

The Family and Medical Leave Act made workers entitled to unpaid leave if they become too sick to perform on the job or if they need to care for family members in the event of birth, adoption, or illness. However, only which group of workers is covered by this policy?

government workers

In the United States, care work is much more _____________ than it is in many other countries, which tend to have more _____________ solutions.

market-based; state-based

Which country offers the most total annual unpaid parental leave for two-parent families?

France

What percentage of women with a high school education quit their jobs when they have their first child compared with those who have a college degree?

1 in 2; 1 in 8

Which factor tends to play a large role in the options available for balancing work and family?

one’s level of education

What has been one of the consequences of wealthier families reducing their work-family conflict by employing service workers?

exacerbating work-family conflict for low-wage workers

What concept does sociologist Judith Lorber propose as a way to gradually erase gender differences in the responsibilities of men and women?

degendering families

Families that practice what Francine Deutsch calls "equally shared parenting" have succeeded best by

focusing on the early childbearing years, when the division of labor tends to be the most strongly marked by gender.

What is one of the consequences of current trends in time use among men and women?

Because men get out of the house more, they are more likely to have a fulfilling social life.

The most common reason for families to adopt an at-home father arrangement is because

the father has lost his job or is unable to work.

When Pravit decided to stay at home to take care of his children while his wife Sumaya worked full time, it might have been likely for the couple to

become even more committed to traditional gender roles.

One solution to work-family conflict that people choose reluctantly is

reducing the role of family in their lives.

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, a large and growing majority of mothers would prefer not to work a full-time job. What percentage of those mothers without jobs think that no job is the ideal work situation?

48%

While parents with professional careers often have to work extra-long workweeks, working-class parents often

string together a series of overlapping part-time or temporary jobs.

The theory that the state can jump-start change in both the workplace and the family arises from the belief that government can create incentives for reform that are more universal, and more equalizing, than either _____________ or _____________ can achieve on their own.

families; the market

Employers are reluctant to embrace a reduction in work hours by shortening the workweek, increasing the number of part-time workers, or offering more time off from work because

they have to train and provide benefits for more workers

People who support state-provided early child care argue that

the cost of child care and the time required to manage it are major impediments to parents’ careers

A sociological study of family violence should include a consideration of all of the following EXCEPT

individual traits of abusers

Feminists are concerned about power differentials built into the family system, including

…

The state is becoming increasingly involved in the role of the family, as illustrated by all of the following EXCEPT

decreasing family reliance on religious authorities.

Jack and Jill live together and have a romantic relationship. Occasionally they get into screaming matches that escalate into pushing. This is considered

intimate partner violence

According to the text, family violence is usually characterized by

intimacy where the individuals interact in private.

If George’s parents fail to take him to school on a consistent basis, they

may be guilty of neglect.

Parents who cannot afford to provide adequate food and shelter for their children

may be guilty of neglect

More cases of child abuse are perpetrated by _____________ than any other group

mothers

Contrary to stereotypes, children are least likely to be abused _____________.

by friend or neighbor

Of the reported child abuse cases, approximately _____________ percent happen at the hands of the child’s parents.

80

Risk factors for children being abused include all of the following EXCEPT

single parents

The physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of a parent or older family member is defined as

child abuse

Elder abuse is reported by approximately _____________ percent of the population over 60.

20

The most common form of elder abuse is

emotional

Most of the elderly who report abuse are abused by

other family members

The current term used by the federal government for violence between partners who are in, or were in, a romantic relationship is

intimate parter violence

According to national surveys, _____________ of men and _____________
of women report being victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking in their lifetime.

29, 36

In one year, women are _____________ times as likely as men to be victims of intimate partner violence.

Five

Most people who do not report intimate partner violence to the police fail to do so because

they are afraid of the consequences

Erica is experiencing psychological abuse and fears her husband’s violent outbursts are becoming more dangerous. Erica is most likely experiencing

intimate terrorism

Dante and Nina have a tumultuous relationship, and occasionally there is some pushing or shoving between them during arguments. These interactions are best described as

common couple violence

Lorena shot her husband after years of physical abuse at his hands. Her behavior is best classified as

violent resistance

Sue and Larry are both hotheads and often physically battle for control in their relationship. They are likely engaged in

mutual violent control

_____________ percent of female homicide victims were murdered by an intimate partner.

42

_____________ percent of male homicide victims were murdered by an intimate partner.

5

The most likely victim of family violence is a woman of _____________ race/ethnicity.

American Idian

The LEAST likely victim of family violence is a woman of _____________ race/ethnicity.

Asian

Jan was fondled by a stranger on her way to the bathroom when she was out with her friends. This meets the legal definition of

sexual assult

Kay’s boyfriend had sex with her after she drank too much and passed out. This meets the legal definition of

rape

John and Martha are in love and have a sexual relationship. Martha is also John’s aunt. In most states, this meets the legal definition of:

incest

For most of American history, rape could not legally occur in a marriage because wives did not have the right to say no to sex. This law began to change starting in

1970

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey, _____________ percent of women and _____________ percent of men have been raped during their life time.

18, 1

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey, _____________ percent of women are raped or experience an attempted rape while in college.

20-25

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey, more women have been raped than

are on the pill

Statistics on violence in same-sex partnerships are limited but indicate that

lesbian and straight women are equally likely to be victims.

The homicide rate among children has decreased by _____________ percent.

25

The decrease in family violence has been attributed to

an increase in working women.

The effects of child abuse are often first noted

in their behavior

Women who suffered sexual abuse in their past were most likely to

cohabit but not marry

In countries were men have greater educational and occupational advantages

violence against women is more common

Rape occurs primarily

mong acquaintances, with mild or threatened violence

In the Catholic church child abuse scandal, _____________ percent of the victims were boys.

80