Answer to Question #205203 in Sociology for Sadys Castillo

Question

Theoretical Views on Family Arrangements

Choose one of the theories of family presented in the book chapter (Functionalism, Conflict, Interactionism, Feminism) and write a full paragraph explaining it. What does it encompass, what does it try to explain, how does the theory explain changes in family arrangements, etc.

According to the textbook, how have families changed over time? Please make sure to include marriage trends, including age, marriage prevalence or frequency, number of children, types of families, divorce, and effects from structural conditions (economy, capitalism, industrialization, etc.)

 

Why has cohabitation become so common in the United States and worldwide

Does cohabitation lead to divorce Why or why not?

 

What are two factors that have contributed to the rise in the number of people classified as single

 

Answer 1

Conflict perspective

The functionalist viewpoint sees society as a collection of interconnected pieces. The conflict viewpoint, on the other hand, sees society as a competition between various groups and interests for power and resources. The conflict perspective examines which groups have power and profit from a certain social structure in order to explain many elements of our social reality. Feminist theory, for example, claims that we live in a patriarchal society, which is characterized by a hierarchical organizational structure dominated by males. Although feminist thought is diverse, most would agree that feminism "demands that existing economic, political, and social systems be transformed."

The foundations of the conflict viewpoint may be traced back to Karl Marx's key works. All societies, according to Marx, go through stages of economic growth. Concerns about satisfying survival requirements are replaced by concerns about generating a profit, which is the characteristic of a capitalist society, as cultures develop from agrarian to industrial. The bourgeoisie, or owners of the means of production (e.g., factories, farms, and enterprises), and the proletariat, or wage earners, are the two classes that emerge as a result of industrialization.

The owners of the means of production benefit from the split of society into two classes: "haves" and "have nots." Workers are denied access to the various resources accessible to the affluent proprietors, even if they are just earning subsistence pay. The bourgeoisie, according to Marx, uses its power to exploit society's institutions. For example, Marx said that religion is a "opiate of the masses" because it alleviates the misery and suffering associated with working-class existence and concentrates workers' attention on spirituality, God, and the afterlife rather than on practical issues like living circumstances.

Participants in an Ipsos Reid study from 2010 were asked what they considered to be a family unit. A family, according to 80% of respondents, consists of a husband, wife, and children. A common-law spouse with children is still considered a family, according to 66% of respondents. A single mother and children (55 percent), a single father and children (54 percent), grandparents raising children (50 percent), common-law or married couples without children (46 percent), and homosexual male couples with children (45 percent) are among the less typical arrangements. When children were included, the number of those who believed that unmarried couples make up a family virtually quadrupled.

Not every child will experience these things, but research shows that children (in unstable situations) have behavior difficulties, worse academic achievement, and a variety of indications that demonstrate stability is almost the most significant determinant in how kids succeed," Wang said.

According to some experts, children who live with cohabiting adults will do just as well as children of married couples since the main issue is that there are two people in the house.

Factors that have led to the rise of single people include domestic violence and death of the other parent