04/18/2304/18/23

Family Sociology

Montclair State UniversityMontclair State University

Lecture 1Lecture 1

Hi ! I am Professor Connie GagerHi ! I am Professor Connie Gager(pronounced Gay-jer)(pronounced Gay-jer)

Professor Connie GagerProfessor Connie GagerOffice hours:

Online office hours Monday 11:00 – 12:00Online office hours Monday 11:00 – 12:00

Wednesday 2:00-3:00 or by appt.Wednesday 2:00-3:00 or by appt.

Best way to contact me is e-mail:

gagerc@mail.montclair.edu

I will try to be on-line during these hours and you can also e-mail me any time, but see syllabus for reply policies!

Professor Connie GagerProfessor Connie Gager Academic Interests: What I do when I am not teaching

– Predictors of marital quality and divorce Do children model their parent’s relationship

patterns?– The division of housework in families

Who does more -- husbands or wives Daughters or sons?

– Measuring martial quality Marital happiness Perceptions of fairness Sexual frequency

How to get a good grade in How to get a good grade in this class:this class:

KEEP UP – This is a fast-paced On-line KEEP UP – This is a fast-paced On-line ClassClass

Complete reading,review of lecture slides Complete reading,review of lecture slides on your own and assignments by the due on your own and assignments by the due datedate

Check the wiki at least weekly!!Check the wiki at least weekly!! DonDon’’t fall behind!!t fall behind!!

Course wikiCourse wiki

We will use a course “wiki” in addition to Blackboard

Why: I HATE BLACKBOARD! How about you? Wikis are much more tech. forward And we can all post to the wiki – i.e. more

democratic A wiki is an editable web page http://fcstmsu342.wikispaces.com/

Course wikiCourse wikihttp://fcstmsu342.wikispaces.com/

Use the wiki for:Course SyllabusLecture slides in PowerpointBlog assignmentsCourse café

Ask questionsPost interesting linksGet announcements

Use the wiki to ask questions!Use the wiki to ask questions!

Wiki: Post general questions under Course Café link.

Please sign questions first name, last initial as in: Madonna C.

I will check and answer questions weekly!Everyone can benefit from your general

questionsStudents! You can answer questions too!

YOU MUST JOIN THE WIKI!YOU MUST JOIN THE WIKI! Go to home page of the wiki http://fcstmsu342.wikispaces.com/

Your first assignment is to create a blog Click on blogger link on home page Follow instructions YOU CANNOT sign up using your Montclair e-mail Montclair has reserved your MSU e-mail address for

when we get G-mail If you already have a g-mail account you can use that

to sign up

Graded Class RequirementsGraded Class Requirements On-line GRADED writing assignments You will write these in a blog you set up Instructions in Assignment 1 Remember blogs are in the public

domain, don’t use your last name As a general rule, I say don’t write

anything you wouldn’t want your parents to read!

Graded Class RequirementsGraded Class Requirements On-line blogging assignments These are worth 30% of your grade If you miss one blog assignment your

grade goes down a whole letter grade!!! You choose and complete 6 of the 7

assignments for full credit If you fail this blog section, you fail the

class!

Graded Class RequirementsGraded Class Requirements Midterm Exam (30% of grade). Final Test – (Last week of class) (30% of grade) Exams will be given on-line on Blackboard Exams are under the Course Documents/TESTS

folder on our Blackboard site NO class on exam days

Using BlackboardUsing Blackboard How do I access this class on How do I access this class on

Blackboard ?Blackboard ?

– you must be registered for the class– Login with User ID and password– A listing of your classes will appear– Click on Family Sociology

– MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED RIGHT NOW!!!

SyllabusSyllabus

Click on Click on ““A SyllabusA Syllabus”” link on green left link on green left panel of wikipanel of wiki

Bookmark the wiki siteBookmark the wiki site

CHECK the wiki for announcements, and CHECK the wiki for announcements, and answers to general questions at least answers to general questions at least once a week!!!once a week!!!

Major Topics Major Topics

Introduction to sociology and the study of families

Defining families Review of contemporary families – what

are the latest demographic trends? Theory and methods used in the

Sociology of Families and Family Studies

Major TopicsMajor Topics Gender and families

– How do husbands’ roles differ from wives’ roles?

– How have roles changed or not changed after feminism?

– The good news http://www.pewtrusts.org/http://www.pewtrusts.org/

our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=56851our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=56851

Major TopicsMajor TopicsReport compares couples ages 30-44 in 1970 and

2007Findings:A larger share of women are married to men with

less income and less education

In 1970 only about 4% of husbands had wives who brought home a higher salary

In 2007, 22% of husbands are married to wives with higher earnings

Women are the majority of College Graduates

Major TopicsMajor Topics

Gender and families– How do husbands’ family and work roles differ

from wives’ roles?– How have roles changed or not changed after

feminism?– Back in the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsQpTbQ9Uo

http://www.match.com/en-us/landing/10659_eh/10659_eh.html?TrackingID=525774&BannerID=677070&gclid=CKPY-9bK9aMCFZJ95QodrCBt3w

Believe it or not, I used to play Mystery Date! Today: More than 50% of women are not married –

but they still make Mystery Date!

Major TopicsMajor Topics

Diversity in familiesDiversity in families– Race/ethnicityRace/ethnicity– Gay and lesbian familiesGay and lesbian families

– What did you hear in the news about What did you hear in the news about gay families this past year, summer?gay families this past year, summer?

Major TopicsMajor Topics Love and sexualityLove and sexuality

– How often do couples have sex?How often do couples have sex?

CohabitationCohabitation– 50% of couples now live together prior to 50% of couples now live together prior to

marriage marriage

Marriage Marriage – How has the meaning changed – no longer How has the meaning changed – no longer

viewed as forever??viewed as forever??

DivorceDivorce– Effects of divorce on childrenEffects of divorce on children– On ex spousesOn ex spouses

Major TopicsMajor Topics Family PolicyFamily Policy

The State and family policiesThe State and family policies

Families and children in povertyFamilies and children in poverty

Welfare reformWelfare reform

How do we study families and personal relationships?

Who are the experts?Who are the experts? What constitutes reliable data and What constitutes reliable data and

sources on families?sources on families? Many books are published on

relationships and families but… Are these books/articles based on a

“representative” sample of people or did the “expert” just interview their friends and family?

What makes a family?What makes a family? Do members have to be related by

blood?

Do members have to be married?

Do they have to share the same household?

Which picture is a family?Which picture is a family?

New FamiliesNew Families

ALL of them!!!!ALL of them!!!!

Defining FamiliesDefining Families

A proposed inclusive working definition:A family is a relationship by blood, marriage, or affection in which 1) the members may cooperate economically2) may care for children3) and may consider their individual identities to be intimately connected to the larger group”

Seccombe and Warner, p. 6

04/18/2304/18/23

The Sociological Approach – The Sociological Approach – Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions

• Family sociologists examine how social institutions Family sociologists examine how social institutions interact and how they influence behaviors, attitudes, interact and how they influence behaviors, attitudes, and opportunities in familiesand opportunities in families

Economy

Families

GovernmentEducation

Religion Healthcare

How does the government or the How does the government or the economy influence families?economy influence families?

How has the Obama administration affected families?• Can the values of a president be translated to

families or individuals?

How does the economy affect families• New research shows the bad economy has

influenced the birth rate! • How has it affected your family?

The downturn in the economy…The downturn in the economy…

……has actually led to a lower has actually led to a lower fertility ratefertility rate The The fertility rate fertility rate is the average number of is the average number of

children per womanchildren per woman The fertility rate has gone down since the The fertility rate has gone down since the

recessionrecession This is an example of how a change at the This is an example of how a change at the

societal (MACRO) level affects decisions societal (MACRO) level affects decisions at the a family MICRO) levelat the a family MICRO) level

http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/753/american-birth-rate-decline-linked-to-recession-

SummarySummary Get on the wiki and set up your blogs and

complete Assignment 1

Families are influenced by larger society – • the economy • the government• religion • the education system• The media

Families, relationships and the meaning of these relationships are constantly changing