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Meaning of Marriage & Family

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OBJECTIVE:

Come up with a personal definition or statement on what family means to you.

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WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

  • Bond between a man & woman.
    • All 50 states but Hawaii do not allow gay/lesbian marriage.
    • 1996 Defense Marriage Act gave states the right to decide.

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WHAT IS MARRIAGE? (continued)

  • Book’s definition: Legal union between a man & woman, united sexually, cooperate economically, and may have children.

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  • Benefits: Live longer, healthier, fewer accidents.

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CULTURE DEFINES WHAT A MARRIAGE IS OR NOT

  • Monogamy - one man, one woman. All 1st world countries are monogamous.
  • Polygamy - more than one wife or husband. Example: Islam & Fundamental Mormons
  • Bigamy – Marrying another person while still married to someone else. It is against the law.
  • Serial Monogamy or Modified Polygamy – Succession of marriages over time. Typical of US marriages.

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HOW DOES MEDIA PORTRAY CONFLICT & PROBLEMS �IN FAMILIES?

  • Love will conquer all.
  • 30 minutes can resolve any problem.
  • Usually solved with manipulation or humor.
  • Divorce is rare & a trend towards non traditional families.
  • Total omission of household chores which is a huge source of conflict.
  • Life is much less complicated than in reality.
    • Rarely see divorce, unemployment, chronic illness, death, poverty, caring for elderly.

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HOW DOES MEDIA PORTRAY MEN & WOMEN?

  • Middle class women like the Cosbys.

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  • Working class men like Homer Simpson.

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WHAT IS FAMILY?

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DEFINITIONS OF FAMILY

  • Nuclear family: Mom, Dad, Kids

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  • Traditional family: Father bread winner, Mom is homemaker (Only 8-11% of all families)

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ARTICLES ON FAMILY SITUATIONS:�

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Family Types

  • Living alone
  • Cohabitation
  • Couple with no children (DINK)
  • Divorced adults
  • Single parent families
  • Step families
  • Adoptive/Foster family/legal guardians
  • Grandparents living with families or raising grandchildren
  • "Boomerang" families - children move back in

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DEFINITION OF FAMILY

Book’s definition:

Two or more adults related by blood, marriage, or affiliation who cooperate economically, share a common dwelling place and may rear children.

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Functions of Families

  • Family ties like intimacy.

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  • Economic cooperation - families are consuming and producing units.

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  • Reproduction and socialization.

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  • Only a family can produce a socialized adult.

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WHAT SHOULD A CHILD LEARN IN A FAMILY?

  • Values, moral
  • Culture and traditions
  • Self concept
  • How to solve problems/conflict resolution
  • Commitment to family is first
  • Each member must contribute
  • Change is possible
  • How to make a decision
  • Communication

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CHARACTERISTICS OF STRONG FAMILIES

  • Appreciation – notice the less obvious things, express appreciation often.

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  • Kindness –tends to be catching.

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  • Communication – listen so others will talk, talk so others will listen.

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  • Time Together – plan it, don’t wait to find it, need quantity to have quality.

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