Professor reserves the right to change syllabus and course outline

Course: This course examines the family as a social institution with an emphasis

              on both men's and women's changing roles in the American family.

              Topics will include: family background, mate selection, sexuality, family

              finances, effective relationship communication, parenthood, marital

              conflict, and issues concerning stepfamilies.

Text:      Benokraitis, Nijole V. Marriages and Families; Changes, Choices, and

                    Constraints. 2008. Sixth Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Course in Detail

I. The Changing Family

    A. Defining Marriage and Family

    B. Family Structure and Function

        1. Regulation of Sexual Activity

        2. Procreation

        3. Socialization of Children

        4. Economic Security

        5. Emotional Support

        6. Social Class

    C. Diversity in Family

        1. Types of Marriage

        2. Residential Patterns

    D. Perspectives on the Changing Family

    E. Trends in Changing Families

II. Theoretical Perspectives of the Family

    A. Critical Thinking in Studying the Family

       1. Ecological Perspective

       2. Structural-Functional Perspective

       3. Conflict Perspective

       4. Feminist Perspective

       5. Symbolic - Interaction Perspective

       6. Social Exchange Perspective

       7. Family Life Course Developmental Perspective

       8. The Family Systems Perspective

    B. Methods in Family Research

       1. Surveys ( Interviewing and Questionnaires )

       2. Clinical Research

       3. Field Research

       4. Experiments

       5. Evaluation Research

    C. Ethical Issues in Research

III. Gender Roles and Socialization

      A. Nature vs. Nurture

      B. Learning Gender Roles

          1. Social Learning Theory

          2. Cognitive Developmental Theory

          3. Feminist Perspective

      C. Agents of Gender Socialization

          1. Parents and Peers

          2. Teachers and Schools

          3. Books

          4. Popular Culture and the Media

       D. Examination of Gender Roles

          1. Traditional Views

          2. Contemporary Views

          3. Changes and Limitations

          4. Variation in Global Perspective

Exam One

IV. Sexuality

     A. Sexual Identity, Orientation, and Scripts

     B. Having and Learning About Sex

     C. Sexual Behaviors

         1. Autoeroticism

         2. Petting

         3. Oral Sex

         4. Sexual Intercourse

     D. Sexuality Over the Life Course

     E. Sexual Infidelity

     F. Homosexuality and Bisexual Activity

     G. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

     H. Sexual Physiology ( Appendix A )

     I. Sexual Dysfunction and Treatment ( Appendix B )

V. Choosing a Mate

     A. Functions of Dating

         1. Manifest Function

         2. Latent Function

     B. Meeting Potential Mates

         1. Classified Ads

         2. Mail Order Brides

         3. Professional Matchmakers

         4. Speed Dating

         5. Cyperdating

     C. Homogamy and Filter Theory

     D. Mate Selection Theories

     E. Global View: Desirable Characteristics

     F. Dating Violence

         1. Power and Control

         2. Aggression and Violence

         3. Date Rape

      G. Process of Breaking Up

VI.  Single Life and Cohabitation

      A. The Single Option

      B. Trend: Staying Single Longer

         1. Postponing Marriage

         2. Individual Choices

         3. Constraints

     C. Influences on Singlehood

         1. Demographic

         2. Macro-Level Perspective

         3. Racial and Ethnic Single Life

    D. Myths and Realities

    E. Cohabitation

       1. Trends and Characteristics

       2. Cohabitation and Law

       3. Global View

    F. Gay and Lesbian Relationships

    G. Communal Living

Exam Two

VII Marriage and Communication

   A. Reasons to Marry

   B. Types of Marriage

        1. Cuber and Haroff’s five marriage types

            a. conflict-habituated marriage

            b. devitalized marriage

            c. passive-congenial marriage

            d. vital marriage

            e. total marriage

   C. Happiness, Health, and Marital Quality

   D. Curvilinear Change in Marriage over the Life Course

   E.  Communication

       1. Essentials of Good Communication

       2. Communication Barriers

       3. Power and Conflict

   F. Marital Conflicts

       1. Gender Roles

       2. Fidelity

       3. Sex

       4. Money

       5. Power

       6. Privacy

       7. Children

    G. Improving Communication

       1. Men and Women Speak Different Languages

       2. Learning to Speak Their Language

       3. Emotional Word Pictures

VIII.  Raising Children - An Awesome Responsibility

    A. Parental Roles

    B. Theoretical Perspectives of Child Development

        1. Mead and the Social Self

        2. Piaget and Cognitive Development

        3. Erikson's Socio-Psychological Stages of Development

    C. Parenting Styles and Discipline

    D. Changing  Parental  Styles over the Life Course

    E. Gay and Lesbian Parenting

    G. Child Care

         1. Absence Fathers

         2. Latchkey Children

         3. High Quality Day Care

         4. Foster Care

IX.  Working Families

    A. Economic Challenges

        1. Unequal Income Distribution

        2. Poverty

        3. Homeless Families

        4. Adaptation to Economic Changes

    B. Women in the Workplace

    C. Roles in the Working Environment

        1. Two-Person Single Career

        2. Stay-at-Home Dads

        3. Dual-Earner and Dual-Career Families

        4. Trailing Spouses

        5. Commuter Marriages

     D. Work and Family Dynamics

        1. Marital Quality

        2. Men and Household Chores

        3. Effects on Children

        4. Gender Gap in Wages

    E. Sexual Harassment

Exam Three

X. Budgeting and Making Ends Meet

    A. Budgeting- A Continuous Process

         1. Examining your Values on Spending

         2. Dollars and Sense in Shopping

         3. Live Better – Spend Less     

    B. Saving – Always an Advantage

         1. Guidelines for Saving 10-20%

         2. Saving Tips that Work

    C. Credit

        1. Credit Card Trap

        2. Advantages of Credit Cards

        3. Disadvantages of Credit Cards

        4. 20% Rule for Short-Term Debt

    D. Purchasing a Home or Renting

    E. Bankruptcy and Debt

        1. Strategies to Avoid Bankruptcy

XI Separation and Divorce

         A. Phases of Separation

         B. Process of Divorce

             1. Emotional

             2. Legal Aspects

             3. Economic Aspects

             4. Co-parental Divorce

             5. Community Divorce

             6. Psychic Divorce

         C. Reasons for Divorce

             1. Macro-Level Perspective

             2. Demographic Variables

             3. Interpersonal Reasons

         D. Effects of Divorce

             1. Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Effects

             2. Financial Effects

             3. Custody and Child Custody            

         E. Children of Divorce

             1. Absent Fathers

             2. Adjusting to Divorce

             3. Helping Children Cope

         F. Counseling and Divorce Mediation

XII. Remarriage and Stepfamilies

        A. Defining a Stepfamily

        B. Characteristics of Remarried Families

        C. Remarriage Process

        D. Remarriage Dynamics

             1. Myths about Remarriage

             2. Marital Dynamics, Quality, and Stability

             3. Effects on Children

        E. Stepfamilies: Merging of Corporations

             1. Types of  Stepfamilies

             2. Parenting in Stepfamilies

             3. Stereotypes

             4. Parenting in Stepfamilies

         F. Characteristics of Successful Remarriages

Final Exam

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