Problems of the family

1. Problems of the family

2. Family in cross-cultural perspective • Murdock study of several hundred societies, 1949: • 80 % polygamy • most polygyny; polyandry rare • most are patriarchal • nuclear family as isolated unit fairly new

3. Family in historical perspective

4. What is “traditional” family? • Coontz: “the way we never were” • Sentimental • Almost sacred • Breadwinner/housewife • ‘natural order’ • Davis: in cross-cultural & historical comparison, this type an ‘abberration’ • Only upper and middle classes

5. Problems of “traditional”family • “Unnatural” sexuality • Prostitution • Abandonment

6. Fifties families • The myth: leave it to Beaver, father knows best • The reality: • 25% poverty rate • ’50s family most heavily subsidized in U.S. history • Hidden problems • Stage set for ’60s divorces?

7. Problems of the late-modern family • The need for dual incomes • The double shift for women • Low levels of social integration (Heiner: 72) • Stress and divorce

8. Problems of the late-modern family: children • Child care: Western Europe • Paid maternity leave (even paternity leave) • State-subsidized and regulated day-care • Real anti-poverty programs

9. Problems of the late-modern family: children in poverty “…a set of social arrangements that allows children to be the most poverty-stricken group in America.” (late Sen. Paul Wellstone)

10. Children in poverty • Popular construction of poverty: it’s their own fault • But how can this be with children?

11. Children in poverty

12. Children in poverty:data • Highest rate of any age group • 23% in 1996 • 16.3% 2001 • 1996: average poor family with children income $8,632 • Characteristics: • 3/5 “white” • 1/3 with married parents • 2/3 with parent who works

13. Children in poverty: effects • Poverty increases chances of • Marital instability • Alcoholism • Child abuse • Lower IQ and educational attainment are effects, not simply causes of poverty

14. Children in poverty: policies • U.S.: ideology blames the victim (based on stereotypes) • Resulting policies have least affect on highest poverty rates among wealthiest countries (Luxembourg Income Study) • U.S. “most capitalist” society; connection? • Individualism • Free market

15. Children having children • Isn’t that obviously a problem? • Note Heiner shows how the problem has been constructed: oversimplified

16. Domestic violence • Significant numbers: • 2% of families (Straus & Gelles, 1986) • Child abuse and neglect reporting system (states); among victims: • 54% neglected • 23% physically abused • 12% sexually abused • (U.S. HHS, 2000) • Highest rates among low income, single parent households

17. Domestic Violence: studies • Some show women commit as many “violent acts” as men • But the most harmful abuse overwhelmingly committed by men

18. Domestic violence: Baker • Shelter assumption: get out! • Baker: returning often a rational option for the victim • Explain!