Soc 2600 Marriage & Family

Soc 2600 Marriage & Family

This class examines the nature of marriage and family as an institution in society. Emphasis placed on the effects of modern social structures and cultural values on interpersonal relationships and family life.

Instructor: Dwight Adams, MS
email: dwightladams@msn.com (the BEST way of contacting me)

Public & Private Families, 4th Ed., by Andrew J. Cherlin, McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07-287359-0

1) To understand "marriage and family" in today's America and to understand one's own place in "family and marriage."

2) To recognize the many variations in "marriage and family" today.

3) To become familiar with the terminology used "marriage and family."

4) To assess the social, biological, emotional, cultural, and psychological dimensions of "marriage and family" as they impact individuals, their loved ones, and the larger community.

5) To become aware of government involvement in "marriage and families."

Learning Opportunities:

1) Please read the textbook assignments prior to class. This allows for more productive class discussions. It allows class time to go beyond the text, to clarify the text, to answer questions that come up in your studies, and to challenge the text when you feel the need to do so.

2) Since exams will be made up from both the class and the text, class attendance is important and will be noted. It is an important part of your grade. We will have group projects that need full class participation.

3) Outside study and work will be needed to compliment our class time. This includes a Term Paper and other items assigned throughout the quarter, including a short class presentation.

4) A difficulty that some students have is that they feel they already understand what "Marriage and Family" are all about. The tests and papers will serve to measure how well you untangle expectations from more reliable research information.

5) Journal articles will be needed for additional reading and for your term project. Homework may include reading a journal article or other material supplied by the instructor then giving a brief oral report about it in class.

We need to accomplish one text book chapter each time we meet in class. Chapter 1 will be the first week, chapter 2 the second and so forth.

Tests will include 4 chapters: Midterm 1, chapters 1-4 and so forth. The Final will have only 3 chapters, but will also be a review of the whole course.

Due to illness or other events in your life, I give you a "grace period" of 8 clock hours missing class. After that, your final grade will be impacted. Class preparation (reading the chapters before lecture) and cooperative participation in discussions is also expected and is a portion of your grade. Please be courtious in class. You should not be talking to each other during class time as it interfers with the learning of the other students. I do alter your final grade downward if I have to talk louder to get above your noise or wait for you to stop talking.

Your final grade consists of attendance & participation, exams (3 Midterms & 1 Final), your homework, and Term Paper. See "Expectations" section for complete details. You are in competition with the other students and your final grade will reflect your overall standing in the class, not just test scores.

There are a great many issues within the study of Marriage and Family. As an introductory course, we will only skim the surface of these issues. Your term project will be to write a paper that goes into more detail on a subject of that interests you. The paper will be double spaced, using regular margins and print size and follow the APA format. It will be at least 8 pages long and have at least 5 references; at least 3 references must be peer-reviewed journals.

Your subject will need to be cleared by the instructor before you begin. It is suggested that you start gathering peer-reviewed journal articles by the 4th week of the semester. You may have to use library resources beyond that of the SLCC libraries. As a SLCC student, you are allowed to use libraries at all other state colleges and universities. However, I do not know the rules on checking out materials at these other institutions.

Students with disabilities needing accommodations such as: special test arrangements, note taking, taped textbooks, tutoring, equipment, etc., please contact your instructor and/or the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in the College Center Room 230; 975-4659 (voice) or 975-4646 (TTY). Skills Center Students-Contact Disability Support Services (DDS), South City Campus, Room W132; 975-3337 (voice) and TTY.

Consider:

What movies help illustrate Marriage and Family?

--Traditional families?

--Teen Families?

--Nuclear Families?

--Blended Families?

--Other Family Types?

How do humans "couple?"

--Arranged Marriages?

--Polygyny, Polyandry, Polyamory, Polygamy?

--Mail Order Brides?

  --What is attraction and how does it work?

--When do couples decide to formalize relationships?

Why do people "uncouple" (such as divorce)?

  --Why is there abuse between people who love each other?

  --What is the effect on children and other relatives?

What does the future hold for Marriage and Family in the United States?

--In other areas of the world?

What can be done to improve relationships within Families (the Private Family) and with relationship to the Public Family?

What about intergenerational issues?

--------------------------------------------------------

Tough Questions for Men

There are five things that women should never, ever ask a guy, according to an article in last April's issue of Sassy magazine. The five questions are:
1 - "What are you thinking?"
2 - "Do you love me?"
3 - "Do I look fat?"
4 - "Do you think she is prettier than me?"
5 - "What would you do if I died?"

What makes these questions so bad is that every one is guaranteed to explode into a major argument and/or divorce if the man does not answer properly, which is to say dishonestly. For example:

1 - "What are you thinking?"
The proper answer to this question, of course is, "I'm sorry if I've been pensive, dear. I was just reflecting on what a warm, wonderful, caring, thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful woman you are and what a lucky guy I am to have met you." Obviously, this statement bears no resemblance whatsoever to what the guy was really thinking at the time, which was most likely one of five things:
a - Baseball
b - Football
c - How fat you are
d - How much prettier she is than you
e - How he would spend the insurance money if you died

According to the Sassy article, the best answer to this stupid question came from Al Bundy, of Married With Children, who was asked it by his wife, Peg. "If I wanted you to know," Al said, "I'd be talking instead of thinking."

The other questions also have only one right answer but many wrong answers:

2 - "Do you love me?"
The correct answer to this question is, "Yes." For those guys who feel the need to be more elaborate, you may answer, "Yes, dear." Wrong answers include:
a - I suppose so.
b - Would it make you feel better if I said yes?
c - That depends on what you mean by "love".
d - Does it matter?
e - Who, me?

3 - "Do I look fat?"
The correct male response to this question is to confidently and emphatically state, "No, of course not" and then quickly leave the room. Wrong answers include:
a - I wouldn't call you fat, but I wouldn't call you thin either.
b - Compared to what?
c - A little extra weight looks good on you.
d - I've seen fatter.
e - Could you repeat the question? I was thinking about your insurance policy.

4 - "Do you think she's prettier than me?"
The "she" in the question could be an ex-girlfriend, a passer-by you were staring at so hard that you almost caused a traffic accident or an actress in a movie you just saw. In any case, the correct response is, "No, you are much prettier." Wrong answers include:
a - Not prettier, just pretty in a different way.
b - I don't know how one goes about rating such things.
c - Yes, but I bet you have a better personality.
d - Only in the sense that she's younger and thinner.
e - Could you repeat the question? I was thinking about your     insurance policy.

5 - "What would you do if I died?"
Correct answer: "Dearest love, in the event of your untimely demise, life would cease to have meaning for me and I would perforce hurl myself under the front tires of the first Domino's Pizza truck that came my way." This might be the stupidest question of the lot, as is illustrated by the following stupid exchange:

"Dear," said the wife. "What would you do if I died?"
"Why, dear, I would be extremely upset," said the husband. "Why do you ask such a question?"
"Would you remarry?" persevered the wife.
"No, of course not, dear" said the husband.
"Don't you like being married?" said the wife.
"Of course I do, dear" he said.
"Then why wouldn't you remarry?"
"Alright," said the husband, "I'd remarry."
"You would?" said the wife, looking vaguely hurt.
"Yes" said the husband.
"Would you sleep with her in our bed?" said the wife after a long pause.
"Well yes, I suppose I would." replied the husband.
"I see," said the wife indignantly. "And would you let her wear my old clothes?
"I suppose, if she wanted to" said the husband.
"Really," said the wife icily. "And would you take down the pictures of me and replace them with pictures of her?"
"Yes. I think that would be the correct thing to do."
"Is that so?" said the wife, leaping to her feet. "And I suppose you'd let her play with my golf clubs, too."
"Of course not, dear," said the husband. "She's left-handed..."

SLCC Soc Marriage and Family


				*SLCC Students* *Soc 2600 Marriage & Family*



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		This class examines the nature of marriage and family as an institution in society. Emphasis placed on the effects of modern social structures and cultural values on interpersonal relationships and family life.



		Instructor: Dwight Adams, MS email: dwightladams@msn.com (the BEST way of contacting me) Required Text: Public & Private Families, 4th Ed., by Andrew J. Cherlin, McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07-287359-0 Objectives: 1) To understand "marriage and family" in today's America and to understand one's own place in "family and marriage." 2) To recognize the many variations in "marriage and family" today. 3) To become familiar with the terminology used "marriage and family." 4) To assess the social, biological, emotional, cultural, and psychological dimensions of "marriage and family" as they impact individuals, their loved ones, and the larger community. 5) To become aware of government involvement in "marriage and families." Learning Opportunities: 1) Please read the textbook assignments prior to class. This allows for more productive class discussions. It allows class time to go beyond the text, to clarify the text, to answer questions that come up in your studies, and to challenge the text when you feel the need to do so. 2) Since exams will be made up from both the class and the text, class attendance is important and will be noted. It is an important part of your grade. We will have group projects that need full class participation. 3) Outside study and work will be needed to compliment our class time. This includes a Term Paper and other items assigned throughout the quarter, including a short class presentation. 4) A difficulty that some students have is that they feel they already understand what "Marriage and Family" are all about. The tests and papers will serve to measure how well you untangle expectations from more reliable research information. 5) Journal articles will be needed for additional reading and for your term project. Homework may include reading a journal article or other material supplied by the instructor then giving a brief oral report about it in class. Schedule: We need to accomplish one text book chapter each time we meet in class. Chapter 1 will be the first week, chapter 2 the second and so forth. Tests will include 4 chapters: Midterm 1, chapters 1-4 and so forth. The Final will have only 3 chapters, but will also be a review of the whole course. Missing Classes: Due to illness or other events in your life, I give you a "grace period" of 8 clock hours missing class. After that, your final grade will be impacted. Class preparation (reading the chapters before lecture) and cooperative participation in discussions is also expected and is a portion of your grade. Please be courtious in class. You should not be talking to each other during class time as it interfers with the learning of the other students. I do alter your final grade downward if I have to talk louder to get above your noise or wait for you to stop talking. Grading: Your final grade consists of attendance & participation, exams (3 Midterms & 1 Final), your homework, and Term Paper. See "Expectations" section for complete details. You are in competition with the other students and your final grade will reflect your overall standing in the class, not just test scores. Your Term Project: There are a great many issues within the study of Marriage and Family. As an introductory course, we will only skim the surface of these issues. Your term project will be to write a paper that goes into more detail on a subject of that interests you. The paper will be double spaced, using regular margins and print size and follow the APA format. It will be at least 8 pages long and have at least 5 references; at least 3 references must be peer-reviewed journals. Your subject will need to be cleared by the instructor before you begin. It is suggested that you start gathering peer-reviewed journal articles by the 4th week of the semester. You may have to use library resources beyond that of the SLCC libraries. As a SLCC student, you are allowed to use libraries at all other state colleges and universities. However, I do not know the rules on checking out materials at these other institutions. Special Needs: Students with disabilities needing accommodations such as: special test arrangements, note taking, taped textbooks, tutoring, equipment, etc., please contact your instructor and/or the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in the College Center Room 230; 975-4659 (voice) or 975-4646 (TTY). Skills Center Students-Contact Disability Support Services (DDS), South City Campus, Room W132; 975-3337 (voice) and TTY.						Family Issues Consider: What movies help illustrate Marriage and Family? --Traditional families? --Teen Families? --Nuclear Families? --Blended Families? --Other Family Types? How do humans "couple?" --Arranged Marriages? --Polygyny, Polyandry, Polyamory, Polygamy? --Mail Order Brides? --What is attraction and how does it work? --When do couples decide to formalize relationships? Why do people "uncouple" (such as divorce)? --Why is there abuse between people who love each other? --What is the effect on children and other relatives? What does the future hold for Marriage and Family in the United States? --In other areas of the world? What can be done to improve relationships within Families (the Private Family) and with relationship to the Public Family? What about intergenerational issues? -------------------------------------------------------- Tough Questions for Men There are five things that women should never, ever ask a guy, according to an article in last April's issue of Sassy magazine. The five questions are: 1 - "What are you thinking?" 2 - "Do you love me?" 3 - "Do I look fat?" 4 - "Do you think she is prettier than me?" 5 - "What would you do if I died?" What makes these questions so bad is that every one is guaranteed to explode into a major argument and/or divorce if the man does not answer properly, which is to say dishonestly. For example: 1 - "What are you thinking?" The proper answer to this question, of course is, "I'm sorry if I've been pensive, dear. I was just reflecting on what a warm, wonderful, caring, thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful woman you are and what a lucky guy I am to have met you." Obviously, this statement bears no resemblance whatsoever to what the guy was really thinking at the time, which was most likely one of five things: a - Baseball b - Football c - How fat you are d - How much prettier she is than you e - How he would spend the insurance money if you died According to the Sassy article, the best answer to this stupid question came from Al Bundy, of Married With Children, who was asked it by his wife, Peg. "If I wanted you to know," Al said, "I'd be talking instead of thinking." The other questions also have only one right answer but many wrong answers: 2 - "Do you love me?" The correct answer to this question is, "Yes." For those guys who feel the need to be more elaborate, you may answer, "Yes, dear." Wrong answers include: a - I suppose so. b - Would it make you feel better if I said yes? c - That depends on what you mean by "love". d - Does it matter? e - Who, me? 3 - "Do I look fat?" The correct male response to this question is to confidently and emphatically state, "No, of course not" and then quickly leave the room. Wrong answers include: a - I wouldn't call you fat, but I wouldn't call you thin either. b - Compared to what? c - A little extra weight looks good on you. d - I've seen fatter. e - Could you repeat the question? I was thinking about your insurance policy. 4 - "Do you think she's prettier than me?" The "she" in the question could be an ex-girlfriend, a passer-by you were staring at so hard that you almost caused a traffic accident or an actress in a movie you just saw. In any case, the correct response is, "No, you are much prettier." Wrong answers include: a - Not prettier, just pretty in a different way. b - I don't know how one goes about rating such things. c - Yes, but I bet you have a better personality. d - Only in the sense that she's younger and thinner. e - Could you repeat the question? I was thinking about your insurance policy. 5 - "What would you do if I died?" Correct answer: "Dearest love, in the event of your untimely demise, life would cease to have meaning for me and I would perforce hurl myself under the front tires of the first Domino's Pizza truck that came my way." This might be the stupidest question of the lot, as is illustrated by the following stupid exchange: "Dear," said the wife. "What would you do if I died?" "Why, dear, I would be extremely upset," said the husband. "Why do you ask such a question?" "Would you remarry?" persevered the wife. "No, of course not, dear" said the husband. "Don't you like being married?" said the wife. "Of course I do, dear" he said. "Then why wouldn't you remarry?" "Alright," said the husband, "I'd remarry." "You would?" said the wife, looking vaguely hurt. "Yes" said the husband. "Would you sleep with her in our bed?" said the wife after a long pause. "Well yes, I suppose I would." replied the husband. "I see," said the wife indignantly. "And would you let her wear my old clothes? "I suppose, if she wanted to" said the husband. "Really," said the wife icily. "And would you take down the pictures of me and replace them with pictures of her?" "Yes. I think that would be the correct thing to do." "Is that so?" said the wife, leaping to her feet. "And I suppose you'd let her play with my golf clubs, too." "Of course not, dear," said the husband. "She's left-handed..."



		SLCC Soc Marriage and Family