Synthesis Paper
· WEEK 2: Race and Gender Lesson
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Although some generalizations apply to all families, there are differences associated with race, ethnicity, and gender. Together with social class, these are powerful forces that often overlap in molding our marital and family lives. The effects of ethnicity and race as social forces influence families in the form of historical experiences, support systems, and more. The numbers of interracial couples and children is rising. The impact of gender further confounds the picture as our ideas about gender are deeply rooted in our family lives. Additionally, economics exerts a strong, and sometimes largely unrecognized, influence on families that is woven throughout the various resources in this lesson.
To begin, review the following statistics:
· Canada and the United States represent only about 5 percent of the world’s population but receive more than half of the world’s immigrants.
· Four states and the District of Columbia are “majority-minority,” meaning that whites make up less than half of the population.
· More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2011 was due to the increase in the Latino population but, in 2010, Asians passed Latinos as the largest group of new immigrants to the United States.
· In 2011, more than half of the U.S. population’s younger than age 1 were minorities.
· The U.S. population that self-identified as having an Arabic ancestry grew by more than 72 percent between 2000 and 2010.
· In 2010, almost 9.1 million Americans self-identified as two or more races, a 32 percent increase since 2000.
One way to describe families and family life in the United States is that it is quite diverse. There is diversity in families in terms of race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, social class, health, education, and the list continues. When you review demographical information about the U.S., it can become quite clear why one family may not be representative of all families. Later in the course, we will also address childfree families, dual-earner families, and military families, to add to the list of ways that families exhibit diversity.
Watch the following video on Family Diversity . After you have viewed a portion of or the entire lecture, consider the following questions: how have families become more diverse? What do you expect to occur in terms of family diversity over the next 50 years? How do concepts such as discrimination and prejudice impact the family?
Next we examine gender roles in the family. Consider the following facts:
· Nearly 794 million people in the world (11 percent of the world’s population) are illiterate; two-thirds of them are women.
· Among 135 countries, the United States ranks only 55th in the number of women at the highest- ranking political positions, and well below developing countries such as Nicaragua (#5), Bangladesh (#8), Philippines (#14), and Cuba (#19).
· Men comprise less than 50 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older, but they account for 96 percent of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 CEOs, 93 percent of Hollywood directors, 87 percent of Wikipedia contributors, 86 percent of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, 85 percent (each) of authors of op-ed articles in influential national newspapers and senior executives at Fortune 100 firms, 84 percent of partners at the country’s largest law firms, 82 percent of the U.S. Congress, 74 percent of college presidents, 73 percent of the country’s state and federal judges, and 67 percent of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices.
· If they had a choice, 49 percent of American women compared with 24 percent of men would rather be stay-at-home moms and stay-at-home dads than have a job.
· Among U.S. adults, 25 percent believe that the most satisfying marriage is one where the man is the sole breadwinner, 71 percent believe that the most satisfying marriage is one where both spouses have jobs, and 4 percent aren’t sure.
Often the words sex and gender are used interchangeably. However, in sociology, those terms refer to two distinct concepts. Sex refers to the biological, physical characteristics that an individual is born with. Gender refers to the expected norms and behaviors related to being a man or woman. There are expectations of femininity and masculinity, which includes characteristics related to appearance and behaviors. While biologically there are differences in terms of physical makeup, many of the gender norms that we experience are learned through socialization. This includes gender roles within the family.
Gender is a social construct, meaning that the expectations for both boys and girls, men and women, are passed on through society. From a very early age, children receive messages about the proper behaviors, toys, clothing, activities, etc. that are associated with being a boy or a girl. We learn these lessons through the media, family, schools, peers, and a number of other agents in society. Family is often considered to be the most influential agent for children. Consider the factors that contributed to your lessons on gender. Were those learned in the family, from peers, the media, etc.? In what ways did family influence your beliefs about gender?
In addition to race and gender, social class differences can also lead to measurable differences across our lives:
• health (e.g., access to nutrition, health care, quality treatment, types of living conditions);
• leisure and recreation (e.g., level and types of sports participation, reading patterns);
• education (e.g., placement in “college” or “vocational tracks, drop-out rates, classmate networks that provide access to jobs).
Class differences are also observed in family life and very much tied to it (e.g., differential divorce rates, child-rearing patterns, gender roles). And it is obvious to most of us that economic resources play an important role in our family life in countless ways. Although our class may change across our lifespan, our family also provides us our social class.
"Class" is often discussed in concert with discussions of poverty. You can find U.S. Census Bureau information on poverty at the following link: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/index.html
The government defines poverty in mathematical ways (quantitative). However, most people define poverty in terms of whether their basic needs or their wants are met. Thus, poverty can be discussed as an absolute (e.g., the quantitative poverty line) or as relative (e.g., not having as much as compared with the “Joneses”). The U.S. Office of Management and Budget establishes poverty thresholds. These thresholds vary by family size and composition. They are not adjusted for variations in the cost of living across the nation.
As discussed in the resources in this lesson, class, race, and gender often intersect with the effect being that minorities, women, and children are impacted especially negatively.
Data Sources:
The resources presented here do a great job of laying out many important family-related class, race, and gender issues. You are also provided with rich data, especially on income and poverty issues. This information is not only personally interesting to most of us, it is also vitally important in government and non-government programs, policies, and the political scene.
Many times, resource, such as the U.S. Census Bureau are relied upon. A wealth of Census data is available online. In addition to supplementing your personal experience and painting interesting demographic pictures of our family lives, much of this data is likely to prove useful to you in other courses. However, negotiating the Census Bureau site and finding what you want and need is sometimes frustrating. Below are some sites that will provide you a good start when you need quick and handy data. You might want to bookmark these sites for future use, for personal interest, and in your other courses.
The Population Reference Bureau puts together some great and easy to use online reference material that covers U.S. population and family data. There are also many great sources of data on issues around the world. The link above will take you to the Population Reference Bureau homepage. The site is filled with useful and interesting data that supplement this course material and that you may find useful for a number of other courses.
As you can see, the U.S. Census Bureau puts together statistics on many items of interest to families. However, they also put together statistics on many other aspects of the American population. Two additional sites you may find of use in the future follow.
Use the link and/or drop down menu box on the left side of the page or click on the map to access a number of interesting and useful "quickfacts" for the US, states, counties and cities. The information covered includes demographics (e.g., race, age, poverty rates, etc.), business (e.g., farm v. non-farm employment, retail sales), and geography (e.g., land area and persons per square mile).
Statistical Abstract of the United States
The U.S. Census Bureau places some of its most frequently requested information in text and spreadsheet files here. They have readily available information on things you may not expect to find, for example, statistics on household pet ownership, national health expenditures, and population data for countries around the world.
References
Benokraitis, N .V. (2011). Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (7th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
· WEEK 1: Changing Families and Family History Lesson
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Families can be studied sociologically. To do so means to understand that our very definition of “family” and the forms and functions of families are strongly shaped by social and cultural forces. Historical and cross-cultural research shows the diversity of family across historical periods and societies. This research exposes the many, often strongly-held, myths that exist about families. These myths often paint inaccurate pictures of “traditional” or “normal” families that suggest, for example, that the Leave It to Beaver model was long the average American family. Debunking these myths often challenges ideas we find comfortable, yet it also brings a richness to our understanding of ourselves, our families, and society. It also challenges the commonly-expressed idea that modern families are in decline.
As we see with the introductory forums, each individual has their own perception and definition of family. The family can include blood relatives, those related by adoption or marriage, and even fictive kin. The amount of support and dependence on family can also differ per individual. As we embark on the examination of the institution of family, please keep in mind that everyone's experiences are different and contribute to the way that they perceive the world around them. With that in mind, we also want to use a sociological perspective as we examine the interesting, and at times controversial, topics related to the family.
Learning to take a sociological view recognizes that we hold strong feelings about our own families and families in general. We start life in a family. We are told by our family members, friends, the media, and others what families should be, what they currently are, what they are becoming, what is “typical” or “abnormal,” what is a “good” family or a “bad” family, etc. Taking a close, objective look at families and challenging what we “know” is uncomfortable for many people.
Sociologists consider families one of many social institutions. "Institutions" as used here does not mean a prison, school, etc. as you are used to hearing the term. Rather, institutions are the large parts of our social systems that together provide specialized functions to keep society “working.” The health care system, the legal system, the government, the economy, and the military are all social institutions.
One of the interesting debates that sociologists sometimes have regarding the family as a social institution is how the family fits in with the rest of these institutions. Is the family just another institution? Just another aspect of the social world in which we live? One among many interrelated institutions? This position would picture social institutions all interconnected and impacting the others but with no central institution more influential, or worthy of study, than the others. Or, is the family as a social institution the core institution? If society could be depicted as a wagon wheel, this position might picture the family as the hub connected to the other social institutions via the spokes. In sociology, we often examine the agents that are responsible for socializing individuals. The family is often considered to be the most influential socializing force in a child's life
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of a course covering the sociology of the family is the need to step back and evaluate families in ways that are new to many students. A huge challenge many students face is putting aside their tightly held myths and stereotypes about families (what they were, are, and should be) and looking at what research shows. Over and over on required essays, students parrot these old assumptions, often without acknowledging research findings and data that shows contrary findings. For example, “everyone knows” that divorce has only negative influences on children, cohabitation reduces divorce rates because the couple gets to know each other better before marriage, having children is a good way to save a troubled marriage, and families are safe havens when you need them. However, research covered in your text challenges and/or refutes each of these statements.
As you go through this course, take time to read and evaluate the arguments and data presented. It is imperative that, throughout this course, you keep in mind the importance of focusing on research. If you challenge your own taken-for-granted-assumptions about the family with sociological perspectives and solid research data, you’ll learn some interesting things about society, families, and yourself and learn to look at your own, and other, families and family issues in new and practical ways. A related topic is that of myths about the family. You have likely heard someone refer to a time in the past when families were stronger, better, etc. You will have the opportunity in the first assignment to examine and analyze those myths and to debunk them in light of sociological research.
Although we are specifically addressing the topic of changes in the family in the Week 1 forum, this is a topic that we will revisit throughout the course. There are a number of changes that are being researched in terms of family in the U.S. We will examine issues related to race, gender, age, and sexuality. Watch the following video on The Changing American Family . Consider the following questions: are these changes gradual or rapid in contemporary society? In what ways were the issues addressed controversial? How has the perception of the traditional family changed over time, if at all?
As mentioned previously, it is important when analyzing a topic from a sociological standpoint to identify personal experiences and any bias that can impact our perception. Researchers attempt to objectively assess topics to draw conclusions and make generalizations about society, and families, as a whole. However, although generalizations tend to fit a majority, there are often exceptions to the rule ("well, that is not how it works in my family"). Using a sociological perspective, we can begin to see the connections between micro-level and macro-level factors at work in society. How does a particular topic not only impact my family, but families as an institution? For example, the issue of unemployment is one that can be analyzed using both levels. While unemployment can have a negative financial impact on a family, it can also lead to shifts in social class standing, access to education, and health care as well.
Select the link to the National Council on Family Relations site. There are a number of resources available at the site related to family research. The site may be of use in your response to the Week 1 forum as well as the introductory forum when you must list a topic that you would like to pursue in this course. The Census site is another great resource when examining research on the family. Also watch the following brief videos on the importance of sociological theory and research.
Why is it important to conduct research and to use analysis when studying the family, rather than relying on opinion and/or experience?
When studying changes to the family in contemporary society, it is important to not only recognize the myths and methods used for research, but to examine the historical family structure as well. Like any other social institution, families evolve and change over time to reflect changes in society. As part of the myths that we are exploring this week and in the first assignment, there is a sense that in the past, families were happier, stronger, healthier, etc. Where does this myth come from? How is it perpetuated in society?
Explore the following site on Family Systems and how they differ across time and cultures. After reviewing the site, consider the following questions--what is the image of the ideal family? Has this image changed over time? Is this image cross-cultural?
Next week we will turn our attention to race and gender and their connection to the family.
· WEEK 3: Sexuality and Romance Lesson
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Examining emotions is not just the purview of psychologists. Did you know there is a sociology of love and also a sociology of sexuality? In a society that emphasizes coupling based on love, we need to understand better what love is and what it is not, how we know it when we see it, and what happens when love goes wrong. How do we express our love, sexually and otherwise? And how is sexuality and sexual expression a part of our lives overall? Get a sociological perspectives on these and other questions in these chapters.
What is love? How do you define that word? Is it a concept, an action? Where do we learn about love? While there is often a romanticized notion of the word love, there are also social forces that influence not only how we perceive love but also how it is expressed. For example, how does the media portray marriage proposals? Consider the following facts on love:
· Love is great for business. In 2013, Americans spent almost $19 billion, the highest amount in history, on Valentine’s Day gifts. The average man spent twice as much ($176) as the average woman ($89); 20 percent bought Valentine’s Day presents for their pets.
· About 28 percent of Americans believe that there is only one true love for each person.
· Among Facebook users, the average number of “friends” is 319 for those ages 18 to 34, 198 for those ages 35 to 46, 156 for those ages 47 to 56, and 42 for those age 75 and older.
· Should women propose to men? Yes, according to 77 percent of men and 63 percent of women.
· Among those ages 65 and older, 47 percent report being passionately in love, but 83 percent say that “true love can exist without a radiant sex life.”
· Nearly half of all single people in 24 countries believe that finding a sweetheart would bring them the greatest happiness in life.
Listen to the first section of the podcast on the Sociology of Love . Do you agree or disagree with the speaker on how we develop our perception of love? How do greeting cards affect the way love is portrayed in the U.S.? How does the discussion relate back to Week 1's examination of sociological research?
There are various theories related to how and why we love. First, there are biological explanations that love is related to biology and chemistry. There are also many who argue that there is a physical response to the feeling that you are in love. Consider how we phrase the event--"falling" in love, a physical response. There are similar explanations with an increased heart rate, etc. There are additional theories on how love is developed and sustained, as well as the needs that are met in a loving relationship. Visit the site for more information on Attachment Theory . You can also view the presentation on Reiss's Wheel Theory of Love .
In sociology we analyze micro-level and macro-level affects of various social factors. We have examined interpersonal responses and beliefs about love. What functions might love fulfill in society? Love fulfills several functions. Love helps to ensure the continuation of the population, not only in having children but in caring for and nurturing them as well. Love can impact physical and emotional health and quality of life as well. The reading this week refers to the effects of love and physical touch on infants.
Last week we examined the topic of socialization and gender roles. In what ways are gender roles related to our perceptions of love? Just as in many other areas of society, there are roles or expectations for men and women in terms of love as well. Who is often considered to be more romantic? Who is expected to be able to express feelings of love? Men or women? Consider the ways in which gender roles are portrayed in the media in terms of romantic relationships. Are these expectations cross-cultural?
Consider the following facts on sexuality and sexual expression:
· Nearly half of all high school students (49 percent of males and 46 percent of females) have had sexual intercourse, but 40 percent didn’t use a condom during the last time. The first sexual intercourse is at about age 17.
· By age 44, the median number of opposite-sex partners was 3.4 for women and 6.4 for men.
· Among those ages 15 to 44, 5 percent of men and 13 percent of women have had sexual contact with a same-sex partner at least once.
· Among Americans age 60 and older, 31 percent of women and 45 percent of men reported having had vaginal intercourse from a few times per month to every week.
· Globally, 38 percent of couples say that the best thing about their relationship is the sex. Nearly 60 percent of Brazilians, compared with only 15 percent of Japanese, rank their sex lives above all else in making them happy.
The facts address a number of topics related to sexuality. This includes sexuality throughout the life course as well as cultural understandings of sexuality as well. Review the following sources on sex education Article 1 , Article 2 . What are the various stances on how sex education should be provided to students? For those who have lived in another country, how is sex education presented there?
Reference
Benokraitis, N .V. (2011). Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (7th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
· WEEK 4: Dating and Mate Selection Lesson
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Courtship has been called the beginning of family life. But it is much more than the beginning of marriage. A sociological look at dating and premarital sexual behavior demonstrates how courtship and its meaning varies between cultures and time periods. Your grandmother’s courting was not the same as your courting which differs again from your child’s courting. It also demonstrates how often unrecognized social forces play a role in who we date and with whom we mate.
Although most adults marry at some point, and most married couples have children, alternatives to this pattern are increasingly chosen. More adults are choosing living arrangements that challenge “traditional” definitions of “family.” Tying these changes to wider social forces suggests the influence of society on families and families on society. In the U.S., we date and marry whoever we want, right? Take a look at how research answers this question and larger questions as to whether families are disintegrating, growing stronger, or morphing into new forms.
Consider the following facts as we prepare to discuss dating and mate selection:
· Among high school seniors, those who said that they never date increased from 15 percent in 1976 to 30 percent in 2010.
· Of all U.S. adults who have dated online, 53 percent have dated more than one person simultaneously.
· Among U.S. single adults age 50 and older, 63 percent of men want to date a much younger woman compared with 22 percent of women who want to date a much younger man.
· About 66 percent of Americans wouldn’t consider dating someone who didn’t like their dog.
· Almost half of U.S. online daters say that the most important factor is physical characteristics.
· In 2011, the annual revenue for the online dating industry worldwide was almost $1.1 billion, and is expected to increase to $2.3 billion by 2016.
Last week, we discussed the concept of love as well as sexuality. This week, we will examine dating and courtship. What notions does the word courtship bring to mind? Is this an old-fashioned term? Does it have a place in society today?
There are a number of functions fulfilled by dating and dating relationships in society. Dating can provide companionship, love, indicate maturity, and lead to marriage. There are also latent functions of dating indicated in the text, which are the unintended consequences. What are some latent functions of dating and dating relationships in the U.S.?
One of the most recent discussions in mainstream culture about courtship has centered around the Duggar and Bates families, who exhibit more traditional courting in their relationships. Watch the video on the Bates' courtship rules . How does their description differ from dating?
Next, we will examine various ways of meeting and selecting partners.
Meeting Partners
Personal Ads:
• Personal advertisements in magazines and newspapers existed in the US since at least the 1800s when ads were placed during the western expansion, gold rush, and movement to Alaska.
• Advantages: anonymity, cost, time choice of applicants, opportunity to avoid long-term commitment, make friends
• Major disadvantage - disappointment if desirability exaggerated
• Voice personals are also available.
• Much bargaining and exchange is evident in these ads, e.g., men offering financial security, women offering attractiveness).
Mail Order Brides:
• Mail order services publish photos/descriptions of available women, typically from third-world countries, from which a man can choose a wife. Some women may marry in order to come to the US or elsewhere. They may also find themselves in an abusive/exploitative situation.
• Are men who place these ads “losers” who want maids or live-in nurses, as women’s rights advocates argue?
• Or, are they as the men claim, men who would like the housekeeping but also do not like the characteristics of American women?
Dating Services:
• Computer dating agencies use data sheets including basic information: personal info about appearance, hair color, race, age, eye color, physical measurements, religious preference, marital history, hobbies, income, occupation
• Some use video recordings.
• Seen by many users as a good opportunity to pre-screen dates.
Arranged Marriages v. Free Choice:
A number of societies have practiced “arranged” marriages in which parents select their children’s mates. In the U.S. we talk about choice and marriages based on romantic love. Yet, a number of social controls influence our mate selection process so, to some extent, we also practice “arranged” marriages in the U.S. They’re just arranged by society’s encouragement of homogamy (defined as marriage between people with the same characteristics) rather than directly through parental contracts. This concept is new and intriguing to many sociology students.
Marriage Market:
- Do we have free choice in mate selection in the U.S.?
- Social approval is very influential in determining mate choices.
Yet, most of us do manage to find a “marriageable” mate and get married.
Watch the following video on Mate Selection across cultures . What are your thoughts on the findings of the study?
The Filter Theory of Mate Selection:
This theory posits that the process of mate selection involves a series of sociological and psychological filters that gradually narrow an individual’s choices from a pool of eligible mates. Certainly, such factors as physical appearance and attitudes are important in initial attraction, but we often underestimate the sociological factors at work. Consider the following highlights of factors:
Social class:
- We tend to marry someone of the same, or similar, social class.
- Women are more likely to “marry up” than are men.
Race/ethnicity:
- Most marriages occur within the same racial group. (Keep in mind that legal forces have long been at play here in addition to sociological. For example, when interracial marriage laws were ruled unconstitutional in 1967, 17 states still had such laws on the books.
Age:
- We tend to marry those relatively close to us in age.
Religion:
- There is a tendency to marry someone of the same religious faith.
- Past research has suggested that religious intermarriages are less stable. This pattern may change as society changes its focus on religion.
Education:
- We tend to marry someone with the same level of education.
- Men have tended to marry women with less education than they had. This pattern may change as more women gain the same or higher levels of education as men.
Physical attractiveness -
- Although it can be an uncomfortable subject, physical attractiveness makes a difference in judging others. It is especially important in sexual relationships
- Within cultures, there is generally a level of agreement about who/what features are attractive
- Some major exceptions to this are:
- Ourselves – we tend to be inaccurate in judging our own attractiveness and think we are better looking than we are, especially men. People who rate themselves as highly attractive also tend to see themselves as being likable, confident, competent, outgoing.
- Spouses/engaged couples – we tend to think these significant others are more attractive than perceived by others, especially wives judgment of husbands; This ma even impact marital happiness (for example, spouses who overestimate their partner's attractiveness express the most greatest marital satisfaction. Dating and married couples tend to be similar in attractiveness and such marriages tend to be more stable.
- In the dating world, although physical attractiveness is highly valued, people are usually aware of the realities of “competition” in approaching dates (for example, not approaching the most attractive prospect for fear of rejection)
- Women are more conscious than men of attractiveness ratings and are especially severe in self-judgment.
Propinquity (physical nearness):
- This is a great word to throw into a conversation at a party or social event :)
- Simply stated, we are more likely to marry someone who lives near us although this effect is declining as we become a more mobile society.
Almost all Americans marry; others form long-lasting relationships without a marriage. Until recently, most individuals were expected to marry and have children. Those who remained single were assumed to be “abnormal” in some way - e.g., unattractive, poorly adjusted, etc. – especially women. Contemporary choices have expanded the options. Will we marry? Will we have kids? Probably yes, according to the statistics, but the picture is evolving.
Next, we will examine "other options." Traditionally, how have we defined the ideal dating and mate selection? The ideal family? Although we examined myths earlier in the course and whether or not those ideals were ever true, there is still a particular ideal or image that is portrayed in mainstream culture as representing a family. However, as we also are examining in this course, there is diversity as well. Do children have to be present to be considered a family? Does a cohabiting couple with children constitute a family? Consider these questions as we examine the "other options."
Single Lifestyles:
- More people are single during part or all of young adulthood
- Many marrieds return to single status after divorce or a spouse’s death.
- Those who do remain single face a number of stereotypes: swingers; sexual availability; no one will marry them; homosexual insinuations. Underlying such stereotypes is the assumption that all “normal” people marry.
- Some reasons behind greater numbers of singles include changing sexual norms that are more accepting of non-marital sex and fewer women needing to depend on marriage for economic survival.
- Singles often have strong support and relationship networks.
Cohabiting:
- This term is usually used to refer to unrelated adults who live together presumably having sexual relations but not married to each other.
- While this may seem a simple concept, it is “open to interpretation and state of mind.” For example, how many days or nights a month constitute living together? Consecutive weeks? Individual criteria (what the couple says)? Common law marriages in which people are considered married after a certain number of years of cohabitation? What about cohabs in which one or both are legally married to another person? Researchers are faced with whether to treat cohabiters as single, married, or some other category.
- There are a number of different types of cohabiting relationships. Some are short term, especially younger looking for sexual experience. Others are longer-term love relationships. These are largely never-married committed couples. Some use cohabitation as a sort of trial marriage. For other, cohabitation is a permanent alternative to marriage.
- There are also different patterns of cohabitation. Some couples, especially younger ones, may cohabit because of feelings of insecurity or dependency. Others cohabit as a statement of adulthood and sexual independence, convenience, or testing the relationship.
- Cohabiters who marry usually say it was beneficial, but there is little evidence that these marriages are better or longer lasting.
- Cohabiting relationships have a high dissolution rate. Depending on the emotional commitment of the partners, this breakup may resemble a divorce in personal stress and pain. There are also important legal differences between the breakup of a cohabiting relationship and a marriage.
- Because their legal status is still being worked out, couples who cohabit are advised to understand the laws of their state. Lawyers often suggest cohabiters keep records of who brought what property to the relationship, and make agreements as to who gets what property bought commonly, how earnings are to be shared, separate bank accounts, and keeping both names on large purchases. Lawyers also advise that the couple needs to be aware if cohabiting is legal in their state before they write contracts.
Visit the site that has a variety of information on cohabiting couples . Take some time to look through the legal aspects of cohabitation and separation as well as rights.
Same-sex Relationships:
- Society defines appropriate and inappropriate sexual behavior.
- Homosexuality has been recorded throughout history. At varying times, it has been accepted or not accepted. Non-conformity may lead to discrimination.
- In the U.S., there has been increasing tolerance for gay lifestyles.
- The Gay Rights movement dates back to the Stonewall Riot in 1969 that resulted after police raided a gay bar (Stonewall) in New York City. A number of important gains in laws and public opinion were made during the 1970s. The AIDS epidemic in the 1980s stalled many gains. More recently, there has been increasing recognition and acceptance of homosexual relationships (e.g., some partner benefits on insurances, inclusion of partner names in obituaries in many places, “Will and Grace,” overturn of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” gay marriage in some states, etc.)
- As advocates became more politically active, more gays began living openly.
- In regard to stereotyping, homosexual couples tend to be more egalitarian than heterosexual couples.
- Homosexuals still experience discrimination and homophobia (defined as “an intense dislike of homosexuals and fear of saying or doing anything that might suggest homosexuality toward others”). The discrimination they experience may be: 1) ideological (e.g., religious ideals against homosexuality that may manifest in denial of church membership or overt violence), 2) legal (no gay marriages allowed), or 3) occupational (e.g., “don’t ask, don’t tell”).
- Homosexual couples still face a number of lifestyle difficulties. Consider the following:
- marriage laws
- insurance policies that deny partner coverage
- issues of community property rights
- inheritance laws that do not recognize partners
- child custody and adoption battles (including those that do not recognize homosexual partners)
- discrimination (workplace, housing, wider public)
- violent attacks
- stigma
- sexual conduct laws/police records