Problems of the family

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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
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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

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Problems of traditionalfamily

• Unnatural sexuality
• Prostitution
• Abandonment

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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?

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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

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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

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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)

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Children in poverty

• Popular construction of poverty its their own
  fault
• But how can this be with children?

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Children in poverty
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Children in povertydata

• 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

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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

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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

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Children having children

• Isnt that obviously a problem?
• Note Heiner shows how the problem has been
  constructed oversimplified

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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

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Domestic Violence studies

• Some show women commit as many violent acts as
  men
• But the most harmful abuse overwhelmingly
  committed by men

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Domestic violence Baker

• Shelter assumption get out!
• Baker returning often a rational option for the
  victim
• Explain!