INSTRUCTOR SOLUTIONS MANUAL
** All Chapters included
** Learning Objectives
** Discussion Questions
,Table of Contents are given below
1. The Changing Family
2. Studying the Family
3. Racial and Ethnic Family Diversity: Past and Present
4. The Economy and Family Life
5. Socialization and Gender
6. Love and Loving Relationships
7. Sexuality and Sexual Expression throughout Life
8. Choosing Others: Dating and Mate Selection
9. Singlehood and Cohabitation
10. Marriage and Communication in Intimate Relationships
11. Parenting: More Choices and Constraints
12. Family Problems: Violence, Alcohol Abuse and Depression
13. Separation, Divorce, Remarriage and Stepfamilies
14. Families in Later Life
,1 The Changing Family
Chapter Overview
Though families across the globe differ widely, there are also a few similarities. This chapter focuses on the
similarities, dissimilarities, and myths about families worldwide. It also discusses how families are changing, the
constraints they face, and the importance of multicultural, cross-cultural, and global perspectives in understanding
these changes.
Learning Objectives
After reading and studying this chapter, students will be able to:
1.1 Explain how traditional and contemporary definitions of family differ.
1.2 Describe three ways that families are similar worldwide.
1.3 Describe five ways that families differ worldwide.
1.4 Distinguish between functional and dysfunctional myths about families.
1.5 Compare the three perspectives on why families are changing.
1.6 Explain how U.S. families have been changing in terms of demographic
characteristics and racial-ethnic diversity.
1.7 Explain how macro-level constraints affect families’ micro-level choices.
1.8 Explain why multicultural, cross-cultural, and global perspectives are important in understanding families.
Detailed Chapter Outline
I. What Is a Family? [LS1] [STA2] [LTA1] [LTA2]
Learning Objective
1.1 Explain how traditional and contemporary definitions of family differ.
The meaning of family differs from one group of people to another and may change over time. The definitions also
have important political and economic consequences, often determining family members’ rights and obligations.
Under Social Security laws, for example, only a worker’s spouse, dependent parents, and children can claim
benefits. Many employers’ health care benefits cover a spouse and legal children but not adult partners, either
heterosexual or LGBTQIA+, who are unmarried but are in long-term committed relationships, or children born
outside of marriage.
A. Some Traditional Definitions of the Family
Traditionally, family has been defined as a unit made up of two or more people who are related by blood,
marriage, or adoption; live together; form an economic unit; and bear and raise children. The U.S. Census
Bureau defines the family as two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption.
Many social scientists have challenged such traditional definitions because they exclude several diverse groups
that also consider themselves families.
B. Some Current Definitions of the Family
For our purposes, a family is an intimate group of two or more people who:
1
, • Live together in a committed relationship
• Care for one another and any children
• Share activities and close emotional ties
Some people may disagree with this definition because it doesn’t explicitly include marriage, procreation, or
child-rearing. Definitions have become complicated and controversial. A definition of the family could also
include fictive kin, nonrelatives who are accepted as part of the family because they have strong bonds with
biological family members and provide important services and care. These emotional ties may be stronger and
more lasting than those established by blood or marriage.
II. How Are Families Similar Worldwide? [DQ1] [STA1]
Learning Objective
1.2 Describe three ways that families are similar worldwide.
The family institution exists in some form in all societies. A social institution (or, simply, institution) is an organized
and established social system that meets one or more of a society’s basic needs. Worldwide, families are similar in
fulfilling some functions, like encouraging marriage and trying to ensure that children select the “right” mate.
A. Family Functions
Families vary considerably in the United States and globally but must accomplish at least five important
functions to ensure a society’s survival.
Sexual Activity
Every society has norms, or culturally defined rules for behavior, regarding who may engage in sexual
relations, with whom, and under what circumstances. The United States has laws against sexual activity with
minors, but some other societies around the world permit marriage with girls as young as 8 years old.
Throughout history, one of the oldest rules regulating sexual behavior is the incest taboo—cultural norms
and laws that forbid sexual intercourse between close blood relatives, such as brother and sister, father and
daughter, uncle and niece, or grandparent and grandchild. Sexual relations between close relatives can
increase the incidence of inherited genetic diseases and abnormalities by about 3 percent. Incest taboos are
based primarily on social constructs, however, that probably arose to preserve the family in several ways:
• They minimized jealousy and destructive sexual competition that might have undermined a family’s
survival and smooth functioning.
• Because incest taboos ensured that mating would take place outside the family, a wider circle of
people could band together in cooperative efforts (such as hunting), in the face of danger, or in war.
• By controlling the mother’s sexuality, incest taboos prevented doubts about the legitimacy of her
offspring and the children’s property rights, titles, or inheritance.
Most social scientists believe that incest taboos are universal, but there have been exceptions. The rulers of
the Incan empire, Hawaii, ancient Persia, and the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt practiced incest, which was
forbidden to commoners. Some anthropologists speculate that wealthy Egyptian families practiced sibling
marriage to prevent losing or fragmenting their land. If a sister married her brother, the property would
remain in the family in the event of divorce or death.
Procreation and Socialization
Procreation is an essential family function because it replenishes a country’s population. Some married
couples choose to remain child-free, while others go to great lengths to conceive children through
reproductive technologies.
2
** All Chapters included
** Learning Objectives
** Discussion Questions
,Table of Contents are given below
1. The Changing Family
2. Studying the Family
3. Racial and Ethnic Family Diversity: Past and Present
4. The Economy and Family Life
5. Socialization and Gender
6. Love and Loving Relationships
7. Sexuality and Sexual Expression throughout Life
8. Choosing Others: Dating and Mate Selection
9. Singlehood and Cohabitation
10. Marriage and Communication in Intimate Relationships
11. Parenting: More Choices and Constraints
12. Family Problems: Violence, Alcohol Abuse and Depression
13. Separation, Divorce, Remarriage and Stepfamilies
14. Families in Later Life
,1 The Changing Family
Chapter Overview
Though families across the globe differ widely, there are also a few similarities. This chapter focuses on the
similarities, dissimilarities, and myths about families worldwide. It also discusses how families are changing, the
constraints they face, and the importance of multicultural, cross-cultural, and global perspectives in understanding
these changes.
Learning Objectives
After reading and studying this chapter, students will be able to:
1.1 Explain how traditional and contemporary definitions of family differ.
1.2 Describe three ways that families are similar worldwide.
1.3 Describe five ways that families differ worldwide.
1.4 Distinguish between functional and dysfunctional myths about families.
1.5 Compare the three perspectives on why families are changing.
1.6 Explain how U.S. families have been changing in terms of demographic
characteristics and racial-ethnic diversity.
1.7 Explain how macro-level constraints affect families’ micro-level choices.
1.8 Explain why multicultural, cross-cultural, and global perspectives are important in understanding families.
Detailed Chapter Outline
I. What Is a Family? [LS1] [STA2] [LTA1] [LTA2]
Learning Objective
1.1 Explain how traditional and contemporary definitions of family differ.
The meaning of family differs from one group of people to another and may change over time. The definitions also
have important political and economic consequences, often determining family members’ rights and obligations.
Under Social Security laws, for example, only a worker’s spouse, dependent parents, and children can claim
benefits. Many employers’ health care benefits cover a spouse and legal children but not adult partners, either
heterosexual or LGBTQIA+, who are unmarried but are in long-term committed relationships, or children born
outside of marriage.
A. Some Traditional Definitions of the Family
Traditionally, family has been defined as a unit made up of two or more people who are related by blood,
marriage, or adoption; live together; form an economic unit; and bear and raise children. The U.S. Census
Bureau defines the family as two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption.
Many social scientists have challenged such traditional definitions because they exclude several diverse groups
that also consider themselves families.
B. Some Current Definitions of the Family
For our purposes, a family is an intimate group of two or more people who:
1
, • Live together in a committed relationship
• Care for one another and any children
• Share activities and close emotional ties
Some people may disagree with this definition because it doesn’t explicitly include marriage, procreation, or
child-rearing. Definitions have become complicated and controversial. A definition of the family could also
include fictive kin, nonrelatives who are accepted as part of the family because they have strong bonds with
biological family members and provide important services and care. These emotional ties may be stronger and
more lasting than those established by blood or marriage.
II. How Are Families Similar Worldwide? [DQ1] [STA1]
Learning Objective
1.2 Describe three ways that families are similar worldwide.
The family institution exists in some form in all societies. A social institution (or, simply, institution) is an organized
and established social system that meets one or more of a society’s basic needs. Worldwide, families are similar in
fulfilling some functions, like encouraging marriage and trying to ensure that children select the “right” mate.
A. Family Functions
Families vary considerably in the United States and globally but must accomplish at least five important
functions to ensure a society’s survival.
Sexual Activity
Every society has norms, or culturally defined rules for behavior, regarding who may engage in sexual
relations, with whom, and under what circumstances. The United States has laws against sexual activity with
minors, but some other societies around the world permit marriage with girls as young as 8 years old.
Throughout history, one of the oldest rules regulating sexual behavior is the incest taboo—cultural norms
and laws that forbid sexual intercourse between close blood relatives, such as brother and sister, father and
daughter, uncle and niece, or grandparent and grandchild. Sexual relations between close relatives can
increase the incidence of inherited genetic diseases and abnormalities by about 3 percent. Incest taboos are
based primarily on social constructs, however, that probably arose to preserve the family in several ways:
• They minimized jealousy and destructive sexual competition that might have undermined a family’s
survival and smooth functioning.
• Because incest taboos ensured that mating would take place outside the family, a wider circle of
people could band together in cooperative efforts (such as hunting), in the face of danger, or in war.
• By controlling the mother’s sexuality, incest taboos prevented doubts about the legitimacy of her
offspring and the children’s property rights, titles, or inheritance.
Most social scientists believe that incest taboos are universal, but there have been exceptions. The rulers of
the Incan empire, Hawaii, ancient Persia, and the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt practiced incest, which was
forbidden to commoners. Some anthropologists speculate that wealthy Egyptian families practiced sibling
marriage to prevent losing or fragmenting their land. If a sister married her brother, the property would
remain in the family in the event of divorce or death.
Procreation and Socialization
Procreation is an essential family function because it replenishes a country’s population. Some married
couples choose to remain child-free, while others go to great lengths to conceive children through
reproductive technologies.
2
