Sociology 352

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Sociology 352

• The Family
• April 6, 2009
• Prof. J. Brines

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5-Minute Paper

• Name one family behavior that has continued its
  pace of change over the past twenty years. Name
  another for which the pace of change has slowed.
• In general, has family change accelerated or
  slowed down over the past twenty years, according
  to Casper and Bianchi?

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Interracial Dating and Marriage
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Greater longevity

• extends the adult life course
• coupled with economic pressures, promotes delay
  of marriage
• Young adulthood (20s) today is demographically
  dense
• Dating, cohabiting, impermanent partnerships
  comprise a longer phase in early adult life.

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In the past(19th Century)

• Courtship a publicly visible process of mate
  selection, organized around rules and rituals.
  Practiced during the 1800s.
• Parents dont pick ones mate, but exert
  influence by closely watching over the process.

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Two phases of courtship

• 1st phase out-of-home activities shared with
  others in a group (hayrides, sleighrides, church
  socials, dances and balls).
• 2nd phase indoor, house visits. The parlor and
  porch as courtship sites.

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The end of courtship and the rise of dating
1900-1960

• ongoing urbanization of the U.S., separating
  young adults from parents

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Working class

• employment of young single women in cities (esp.
  immigrant, working class) led to pocket money
  for weekend recreation.
• 1900-1920 New sites for weekend amusement movie
  theatre amusement parks.

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Luna Park, Seattle, 1910
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Middle class 1920-1960

• After WWI the automobile allowed the young to
  escape from adult surveillance. Allowed for
  increased privacy.
• Motoring, a new form of recreation, which led
  to Parking
• Some dating practices still socially monitored,
  but now by members of peer group.
• Middletown, by the Lynds petting parties

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Post WWII

• Rising college enrollments college officials
  initially substitute for parents in supervisory
  role
• In loco parentis
• Dating becomes less organized around the home
  (i.e., by parents) increasingly organized around
  schools (high school, college).
• To sum up Dating becomes more informal the less
  it becomes tied to marriage and the regulation of
  premarital sexuality.

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Interracial Dating How prevalent?

• Over 50 percent of Americans say they have dated
  someone of a different race or ethnic group.
• However, whites "interdate" less than people of
  color.

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Interracial Dating Who does it?
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Schools structure opportunities?

• 17 percent of white teens who went to an
  integrated school and had interracial
  relationships had dated an African-American.
• Yet 33 percent had gone out with a Hispanic, and
  15 percent had a date with an Asian.
• About 38 percent of African-American youths had
  gone out with a Hispanic, and 10 percent with an
  Asian.

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The continuing salience of parents?

• introducing BF/GF to parents
• Same race Different race
• White, non-hisp 71 57
• African american 63 52

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Interracial Marriage
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Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving
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