Assignment 8

1. According to Hochschild, what is the “Second Shift?”

The second shift according to Hochschild, is when the wife/husband is doing more work outside from their full time job which is considered their first shift. In this case, Nancy and Evan who are a married couple have been married now for a few years and has a son named Joey. Nancy complains that she comes home from her full time job and has to make dinner, play with her son Joey, and clean the house. Nancy feels her husband does not share the same amount of housework that she has to do and feels irritated. Nancy explains she comes home and her husband Evan grabs a beer and goes downstairs to the garage and organizes his tools and works on the car. In Nancy’s eyes she is working two jobs by going to her first job in the morning and then taking care of their child and housework, along with cooking. (Hochschild, 1989)

2. Hochschild argues that families create “myths” about their division of household labor. Name and describe the family MYTH created by Nancy and Evan Holt.

The Family myth which is talked about in this reading is where the husband and Wife split up their housework in a sense of division. The wife, Nancy takes care of the upstairs of the house which includes the living room, bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms. The husband, Evan takes care of the downstairs which includes the garage, car, and taking care of their dog Max. For purposes of accommodating the second shift, then, the Holts garage was elevated to the full moral and practical equivalent of the rest of the house. For Nancy and Evan, Upstairs and Downstairs, inside and out was vaguely described like half and half, a fair division of labor based on a natural division of their housework. (Hochschild, 1989)

3. According to Hochschild, what is the purpose of family myths?

The purpose of the family myths is to have the husband and the wife feel like they are doing the same amount of work and being equal with one another. (Hochschild,1989)

4. How do you expect to divide household labor and child care when you start a family? Please note whether you intend to work full-time, part-time, or stay at home when married and/or when you have young children.

I expect to divide the household labor and childcare equal between my husband and I. I plan to have a full time job as well as my husband. After I work for a few years then I plan to start having children maybe around the age of 27-28. I will do the cleaning around the house because I don’t mind cleaning and my husband and I will split up the cooking amongst us throughout the week.

Assignment 6

In the past thirty years cohabitation has changed a lot since back then. Cohabitation did not happen as much as it did before. Today, many people have been cohabiting with each other especially before marriage. More than 67% of marriages today are proceeded by cohabitation. 

According to the Textbook cohabitation has different meanings such as The sharing of a household by unmarried individuals who have a sexual relationship. There are generally  two types of cohabitation. Both Partners plan to marry each other in the near future.Cohabitation as alternative to marriage. 

I do consider cohabitation in today's world because I believe living with the person you are going to marry is the first thing you should do, so you know what the person is like before you marry them. Many people do have different beliefs but I feel this is the right thing to do. 

The things that people want as a married couple has that a cohabiting couple does not have is social security, Alimony and Welfare.

I believe that heterosexual couples should have the same rights as married couples because they are living the same way, acting the same way all except for a marriage certificate. I believe it will be the same for same sex couples too. Just because you are not "married," should not mean that you can not have the same rights.

Assignment 5

1. According to the slides how do we define power, prestige, and privileges and give an example of each.
 Power is the ability to force another person to do something against their will. An example of this would be someone who has a lot of money, resources, and opportunities that people have to provide themselves with material goods and favorable living conditions.
Prestige means the respect and status in society. An example of this would be is a group of people who share the same lifestyle and often identify with each other.
Privileges are a special benefit or advantage enjoyed by individuals but not all. An example of this would be people who have access to special advantages such as attendance at elite universities. 

2. Also, what three variables do Sociologists use to define social class? How would you define your social class and why?


Sociologist’s three variables to define class are Privilege, prestige and Power.
I would define my class as privilege. I say this because I get to enjoy going to college and get myself a career to better myself in the future. A lot of people I know and talk to cannot go to college because they can’t afford it. I am very thankful to be where I am today.

3. Think about how your race/ethnicity or gender or age has blocked you from an opportunity or given you an advantage.
Thinking about my race/ethnicity I can definitely say it has given me an advantage. I say this because I know there a lot of people out there who do not get a job because of their race. I happen to get things given to me a lot more easily. I applied for my job where I am at, and they liked how I had experience and was young, compared to the other girl who did not have experience and of another race, he gave me the job instead. He was also going to pay the other girl a dollar less than me if he hired her.
4. Please identify your age, or gender of race/ethnicity and then tell me your story.

I am 21 years old, female and my race/ethnicity is white. My story is everything has been going along smoothly in my life.

Assignment 4

1) What does Cherlin mean when he argues that gender differences are built into the system i.e. "society." Give an example from the text of how gender is systematic.
 
Cherlin argues that gender differences are built into the system because gender differences are social creations deeply imbedded in the way society is organized. In the United States it is said that men and woman are built into their social systems through patriarchy. Patriarchy is a social order based on the domination of women by men, especially in agricultural societies. An example of how gender is systematic is men are more likely to work for pay, and when they do, most earn considerably higher wages and salaries than women.

 2) Give an example of "doing gender" from  your own life. Had you ever thought about this idea before?

An example of doing gender from my own life would be that I am the one who always has to the housework such as vaccuming,dusting, mopping and doing the dishes. My brother would always be the one who has to do the outside work such as mowing the lawn, landscaping, and helping my dad fix something that is broken. My mom would always tell me girls do housework and guys do outside work. Yes, I have thought about this idea before but never went into depth with it.

 3) From chapters 3 & 6 in the Cherlin text: define sexual identity in your own words. You may
 paraphrase/summarize Cherlin, but do not directly copy his words.

According to the definition in the text it say, " a set of sexual practices and attitudes that lead to the formation in a persons mind of an identity as heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual." Basically what this means is that every individual is either straight, gay or in some cases likes both genders. This is very important to ones being because it is natural and it tells a lot about our selves and our sexual identity.

4) Next give one reason why social constructionists argue that sexual identity or gender are socially constructed.

Social constructionists believe that sexual identities are entirely socially created. They note the unclear boundaries of the two gender, heterosexually dominant model. They might cite the between man and woman genders such as the two spirits. Social constructionists also say that in ancient Greece and Rome, men are allowed, even expected, to desire sex with other men or boys as well with woman.

5) Last, why is it difficult to find accurate data on sexuality as a researcher? If you were asked to participate in a study on sexuality would you answer truthfully? Would you participate at all? What kinds of things would you want to hear from the researcher about how your privacy would be protected if you did participate?

It is difficult to find accurate data on sexuality as a researcher because finding out the different sexualities from people are from many different answers. Some say they are born the way they are, Or they have feelings for either the same gender or the opposite, or some just do it because they want to. There is so many reasons to distinguish accurate sexuality on someone. If i was to be asked to participate in a study on sexuality I would answer truthfully. Yes, I would participate. I would ask the researcher what kind of things he would want me to answer first and how he is going to keep it protected and That he will keep my name out of his/her study on me. I believe everyone should be open about themselves not to be scared of what someone thinks of them and to love themselves for who they are. 

Assignment 3

Well my family and I are considered white Race and I am mostly English. I think my race and ethnicity is very important because I like to know where my ancestors are from and I think it is interesting to know about my culture. Every Race has different beliefs amongst social and personal lifestyles and it is interesting to know how people think and how they live their lives compared to how some one of a different race lives theirs.

After Looking at the census sheet and reviewing questions 7 and 8, I would answer question 7 as:

I'm 21 years old and my birthday is May 19, 1990. 

For question 8 I would answer as:

" NO, not of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin"

As for my parents My mom and dad were both born in New jersey and My mom's parents. As for My dads parents, his mother was born in Yorkshire, England and his dad was born in the United States. My Dad's Mom  came to the United States when she was 31 years old. 

 DOLL VIDEO:

After watching the doll video the first thing that struck me was that colored kids were picking the white doll as the "nicer one," or the "prettier one." I thought that maybe kids of their own race would pick their own race but that did not happen. 

I think children of color picked the white doll because in today's society people think that girl with blonde hair or nice hair and good body are the best looking people compared to everyone else. From looking at the media and social construction, people think in their minds that these are the pretty people. In reality, everyone is beautiful in their own way and that is what people have to find within themselves.  

 

 

Assignment 2

1. According to functionalist theory, what was the definition of the "instrumental leader" and what was the definition of an "expressive leader." What family roles were connected to each of these leader definitions?

After Reading through Chapter 1, the definition of the instrumental leader according to the functionalist theory as the person in each small group to lead the group discussion about how to accomplish the task they had been assigned. 
 The person who is known as the expressive leader was the person who kept up with groups spirit with warm, supportive remarks and jokes. 
Therefore Parsons and Bales assumed that the husband in the family was the instrumental leader because his labor provided the financial support for the family and the wife in the family who is the stay at home wife is considered to be an expressive leader because she provided emotional support to her husband and children. 

2. What main demographic change during the 1960s and 1970s led theorists to be critical of the functionalist perspective?

In the 1960's and 1970's the demographic change here was the work force for women. Married women started in the workforce around this era and the breadwinner-homemaker family lost its dominant position. 

3. In contrast to functionalist theorists, in your own words, what is the main theme of conflict theory?

The main theme of conflict theory is pretty much are people who focus on inequality, power and social change. Basically what this means is that Between Men and Women conflict theorists would say that men are seen more powerful because of physical force and economic resources as for women are not. They use the power between what people have and resources to see who and what dominates the other. 

4. Social exchange theory is based on ideas from what discipline (not sociology). What do exchange theorists say about husbands bargaining power versus that of wives?

According the the exchange theorists, husbands who are in a stronger bargaining position when they are the sole earners in their families because their wives have fewer alternative sources of income. When wives earn money on their own their dependence decrease and therefore their husbands power over them decreases. They can drive a better bargain for who does the house work. Basically who ever is more dependent then their power is greater over the other person.





 
 5. Feminist theory is based on what main idea?

feminist theory is based upon gender, which is usually defined as the social and cultural characteristics that distinguish men and women in a society. Feminists argue that nearly all gender differences we see in roles of woman and men are of cultural origin and have been socially constructed.

6. Thinking about the functionalist, conflict, exchange and feminist/gender perspectives or theories: do you think the power of wives versus husbands in families is changing and why? CLEARLY identify a specific demographic, economic, or cultural change(s) we went over in lecture 3 to support your argument.


After reviewing these different theories and aspects I believe the power of wives versus husbands in families is changing for many reasons. According to Lecture three and reviewing over the chapter in the book women in today's world women are seeking more education. Single and married woman's labor force participation rates have increased a lot. These are some examples from reading under the demographic changes in this era. Also, it is more common that both parents have to work to support a family; a husbands income cant support a family on most occasions now.

About Me

    Hello! Everyone, Just to inform everyone my name is Tiffany Ingraham and I just transferred to Montclair State University. I am originally from Warren County, and finished my associate’s degree in elementary and secondary education at my community college. I live on campus at Montclair because it is too far to commute back and forth everyday and I am currently living at Red Hawk Crossings with three other roommates. So far my experience here at the college has been exciting and I can’t wait to see what happens next while I am starting my bachelor’s degree.

              I am currently studying Child Studies and Family concentrations with K-5 teaching. The reason why I chose this as my career choice is because I enjoy working with kids and one of my passions is to help anyone who is in need. Teaching is an art because there is so many people out there who are looking to forward themselves in the future and I want to be that one person who makes at least the slightest difference in their life of achieving their goal. 

               A funny thing I guess you can say about me is a have a big imagination and that is why I love to write and I am a book nerd. Currently, I am writing a book with one of my best friends and it is coming along very well and at the same time I am writing solo for my own book. I originally wanted to major in writing but then I always loved children and figured I can teach and do my writing on the side. Most of the stuff I write is fiction and everyday poems that have a meaning to life. 

            After I finish my bachelor’s degree here at Montclair State University I plan to pursue in teaching in an elementary school as a special education teacher. Special education is high on demand in today's world and I would love to help these kids pursue their education with their disabilities. When I start officially teaching my goal is to travel every summer to a different place. I come from a small town and I have never really been around the states or even across seas. Marriage is not on my list, I cannot predict my future or say what is going to happen but the statistics of being married is 50/50 and I am thinking its best to just not get married. I see life as you do not have to be married to say you’re bound to this person for the rest of your life, I don’t even know why you can just be with that person without a piece of paper. I plan to also have 3-5 kids of my own someday.  

            My parents met their senior year of high school and are still married to this day. I also have one older brother and a cat named Cocoa. My family in general is all very close including my cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. On the holidays everyone comes to my house to celebrate.

            Two topics I am interested in learning in this course are History of family life and Marriage. The reason I am interested in these two are because it is important to know how family life started and learning the traditions of families from one culture to the next; it is how we developed. I am very eager to learn about Marriage because of the good and bad sides of marriage and promises two people make to each other and most of the time marriages end up failing. All of the things marriages lead up to and change the two people. I am not against marriage at all but it is very rare to end up staying with one person the rest of your life.

            So far Wiki has been an alright website to be using and doing blogs on but I do prefer blackboard because I been using it since community college but It is good to have a change and I am excited to learn about family life in this class and good luck to you all!