Chapter 7Chapter 7Chapter 7Chapter 7

-Bridget O’Brien-Bridget O’Brien-Bridget O’Brien-Bridget O’Brien

““Family is an influential source about Family is an influential source about Gender”Gender”

““Family is an influential source about Family is an influential source about Gender”Gender”

We differ in terms of race, age, ability, and family We differ in terms of race, age, ability, and family

structure. Some of us grew up in big families and some structure. Some of us grew up in big families and some

grew up in small. Some were raised by one, two or grew up in small. Some were raised by one, two or

three parents. Every Family is different and gender three parents. Every Family is different and gender

plays a huge role in each. plays a huge role in each.

Gender RolesGender RolesGender RolesGender Roles

““refers to feminine and masculine social expectations in a refers to feminine and masculine social expectations in a

family based on a person’s sex.”family based on a person’s sex.”

Many children find gender roles through their family. Gender Many children find gender roles through their family. Gender

roles are defined by the socio-cultural norms of any society.roles are defined by the socio-cultural norms of any society.

““Gender role socialization: largely takes place in the family, Gender role socialization: largely takes place in the family,

particularly via parental modeling and parent-child interaction particularly via parental modeling and parent-child interaction

(Turner & West, 2006).”(Turner & West, 2006).”

Children begin to gain gender identity between the Children begin to gain gender identity between the ages of 2 and 3. After time children begin to pick ages of 2 and 3. After time children begin to pick

specific qualities once they have been socialized to specific qualities once they have been socialized to want them.want them.

Family as a Social InstitutionFamily as a Social InstitutionFamily as a Social InstitutionFamily as a Social Institution

Three important points:Three important points:

To provide for the rearing of childrenTo provide for the rearing of children

To provide a sense of identity or belonging among its membersTo provide a sense of identity or belonging among its members

To transmit culture between generationTo transmit culture between generation

Nuclear FamilyNuclear FamilyNuclear FamilyNuclear Family

Western Societies; tend to see a family as consisting of a Western Societies; tend to see a family as consisting of a

mother, father and children who live under one roof.- Nuclear mother, father and children who live under one roof.- Nuclear

familyfamily

Before societies began to modernize, families consisted of Before societies began to modernize, families consisted of

several generations of extended family living in the same several generations of extended family living in the same

area/village.area/village.

Most families are not NuclearMost families are not NuclearMost families are not NuclearMost families are not Nuclear

U.S SURVEYS SHOW-

38% of marriages end in divorce

about 75% of divorced persons remarry with a 60% chance of divorce

50% of marriages occurring this year are expected to end in divorce

close to 30% of homes are headed by a single adult

In most two-parent homes, both parents work outside the home

As modernization occurs, young people tend to move away from the villages in which they were raised in search of jobs, leaving the older generations behind. They move to cities and meet people they probably never would have met had they stayed home.

People in modernized, urbanized societies meet spouses on their own, rather than being introduced by family members, and marry and settle down in locations that are often far from their original communities.

Family in MediaFamily in MediaFamily in MediaFamily in Media

During the early 60’s certain media outlets helped portray the During the early 60’s certain media outlets helped portray the

norm of a nuclear media.norm of a nuclear media.

Now during the Modern day media outlets we have shows that Now during the Modern day media outlets we have shows that

promote the complete opposite of the nuclear family. promote the complete opposite of the nuclear family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5uuMr1YEyE

Interlocking Institutions Interlocking Institutions Interlocking Institutions Interlocking Institutions

““The way a family tends to work or The way a family tends to work or

function is related to the social systems of function is related to the social systems of

the outside world.”the outside world.”

MythMyth: Nuclear Family is self sufficient.: Nuclear Family is self sufficient.

RealityReality: work, religion, social services, : work, religion, social services,

media, law, schools and extended family media, law, schools and extended family

influence it.influence it.

Interlocking Interlocking Intuitions Intuitions

Interlocking Interlocking Intuitions Intuitions

Politics WorkCompulsory

Heterosexuality

Politics and law usually refer to the nuclear family as the norm in society.

They use the slogan of family values.

“Family values: are political and social beliefs that hold the nuclear family to be the essential unit of society.”

The most distinguished showing of gender role is the division of household labor between the gendered sex.

A survey shows that wives in heterosexual relationships spend between 5 and 13.5

hrs. more a week doing housework than their

husbands.

The idea that there is only one way to love and one way

to form a a family. The common norm that is among

us in our society.

Politics Work

Family Constructs (and Constrains) GenderFamily Constructs (and Constrains) Gender

Continued ..Continued ..Continued ..Continued ..

Communication in the family constructs Communication in the family constructs

gender.gender.

The book states that relationships in the The book states that relationships in the

family are influenced by past family family are influenced by past family

experiences and larger social forces.experiences and larger social forces.

Parent Child CommunicationParent Child CommunicationParent Child CommunicationParent Child Communication

““One Primary function of the family is to teach and maintain cultural norms, including One Primary function of the family is to teach and maintain cultural norms, including

gender norms and roles.”gender norms and roles.”

Social Learning Social Learning ModelModel

Social Learning Social Learning ModelModel

“People, especially children, learn from the environment and seek acceptance from society by learning through influential models.”

When you become a parent from day one you have a physical and emotional bond with your child that no one else understands. While growing up the child unconsciously learns through gender roles by observing how their parents act on a daily basis.

Gender/ Sex Interactions: Parents InfluenceGender/ Sex Interactions: Parents InfluenceGender/ Sex Interactions: Parents InfluenceGender/ Sex Interactions: Parents Influence

Parents interact and raise their children differently depending Parents interact and raise their children differently depending

on the gender/ sex of the child. For example, daughters are on the gender/ sex of the child. For example, daughters are

rewarded for being respectful whereas sons are rewarded for rewarded for being respectful whereas sons are rewarded for

physical accomplishments.physical accomplishments.

Gender Identities are formed by children by observing and Gender Identities are formed by children by observing and

interacting with their parents. Children do play an active role in interacting with their parents. Children do play an active role in

selecting their gender, which stated in a previous slide starts selecting their gender, which stated in a previous slide starts

around the ages of 2 and 3.around the ages of 2 and 3.

Adult Friends & LoversAdult Friends & LoversAdult Friends & LoversAdult Friends & Lovers

From a young age children are taught about the importance of heterosexual From a young age children are taught about the importance of heterosexual

marriage. These ideologies mainly come from the idea of the nuclear family.marriage. These ideologies mainly come from the idea of the nuclear family.

Children grow up playing marriage and people around the world are socialized to Children grow up playing marriage and people around the world are socialized to

want marriage.want marriage.

Friendships: Same sex friendships is more socially accepted than cross sex friendship Friendships: Same sex friendships is more socially accepted than cross sex friendship

because of the threat of dating and marriage.because of the threat of dating and marriage.

Dating RelationshipsDating RelationshipsDating RelationshipsDating Relationships

-Heterosexual dating relationships are -Heterosexual dating relationships are frequently and most studied non frequently and most studied non

marital relationship.marital relationship.

-There are expectations which is the -There are expectations which is the main reason that the intimacy of main reason that the intimacy of

relationships fail.relationships fail.

-Media plays a huge role on a -Media plays a huge role on a romantic couple: playing the roles romantic couple: playing the roles

ofof a strong man and beautiful women.a strong man and beautiful women.

-Women are expected to take a -Women are expected to take a good amount on time to get ready good amount on time to get ready and make themselves be attracted and make themselves be attracted

to men.to men.

-Studies show women look more at -Studies show women look more at a mans personality for a a mans personality for a

relationship whereas men focus on relationship whereas men focus on the physical attraction of their the physical attraction of their

spouse.spouse.

Marital Marital CommunicationCommunication

Marital Marital CommunicationCommunication

Marital communicationMarital communication is the most studied interpersonal relationship is the most studied interpersonal relationship

Demand/ withdrawalDemand/ withdrawal Pattern: partner who most wants change demands and the Pattern: partner who most wants change demands and the

one who resists change withdraws which then does not resolve the conflict.one who resists change withdraws which then does not resolve the conflict.

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence: Unfortunately domestic violence in the family happens more : Unfortunately domestic violence in the family happens more

than we know/believe. Men being known as the physical opponent in our social than we know/believe. Men being known as the physical opponent in our social

norms is mostly know to be the perpetrator, while women and children are the norms is mostly know to be the perpetrator, while women and children are the

victims.victims.

Domestic Violence Facts: Every day in the US, 4 children die as a result of child

abuse and neglect. Every day, 4 women are murdered by their husbands or

boyfriends. Women are 10 times more likely than men to be a victim of

domestic violence. Yearly, over 4 million children are abused or neglected by

family members. 1 in 4 women report they have been raped or physically

assaulted by an intimate partner.

Emancipatory Families Emancipatory Families

This is where family members feel loved, accepted and are able This is where family members feel loved, accepted and are able

to grow to their fullest potential while feeling safe and having a to grow to their fullest potential while feeling safe and having a

positive atmosphere. positive atmosphere.

While reading this chapter the common theme is the expectations While reading this chapter the common theme is the expectations

through a nuclear family. We learn that how we act and parent our through a nuclear family. We learn that how we act and parent our

children come from a lot of interlocking institutions discussed in children come from a lot of interlocking institutions discussed in

this chapter. A lot of these institutions come from social systems this chapter. A lot of these institutions come from social systems

such as media and what our society sees as the social norms. such as media and what our society sees as the social norms.

Everyday we all learn through social learning and modeling Everyday we all learn through social learning and modeling

whether it be directly from our parents or watching a television whether it be directly from our parents or watching a television

show. Generation after generation our parents teach us at a young show. Generation after generation our parents teach us at a young

age what is expected in the family life we grow up in. I believe age what is expected in the family life we grow up in. I believe

after reading this chapter it is important to question on how we after reading this chapter it is important to question on how we

expect our child to grow up because our society needs to adapt to expect our child to grow up because our society needs to adapt to

a more diverse environment. Overall, family is extremely a more diverse environment. Overall, family is extremely

important because many children find their gender role through it.important because many children find their gender role through it.