CDFS 255 Class Notes Chapter 2

Family Contexts: The Many Facets of Family Life

Chapter 2

An Ecological Model of Development

Developed by psychologist Psychologist

Theory that multiple influences affect development over a lifetime
Individuals interact in multiple environments
Must understand the interactive relationships among the variables in the
contexts of development
Impact on relationships is bi-directional

The Individual
Development is combination of
Biology
Cognition
Social Interaction
Microsystem – developmental context nearest to individual

Elements of Micro System

Interaction focused on the individual
Influences are from the following
Family of Origin
Daycare/Schools
Community
Church, Synagogue, Mosque

Elements of Mesosystem and Exosystem

Mesosystem
Focuses on interaction between individual and various elements
Exosystem
Societal policies supportive of families
Umbrella for al the systems of society

Elements of the Macrosystem and Cronosystem

Macrosystem
Cultural values
Cultural beliefs
Chronosystem
Outermost layer
Changes over time

The Traditional Family

Traditional family
Middle class nuclear family
Husband, wife, their children
Ascribed set of gender roles
Women are homemakers,
Men are primary wage earners

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CDFS 255 Class Notes Chapter 2

Patriarchal family structure –

Male dominant, decision maker

Contemporary Families
Result of changes in the 21st Century
Social and cultural factors
Lower birth rates
Delays in marriage
Economic Factors
Women in the workforce
Changes in the economy
Political factors
Roe v. Wade decision
No fault divorce laws

Diverse Families
African American Families
Historically families were traditional married couples
In 2004, 69.2 percent of births to unmarried women
Multigenerational families common
Strong commitment to family
Frequent family interaction
Close system of mutual aid and support
Latino Families
Composed of extended family networks
65 percent of children live in two-parent families
High poverty rates due to language barrier
Asian American Families
Immigrate from a variety of countries including Korea, Japan, China
Taiwan, Vietnam and others
Vast cultural and ethnic differences
About 83 percent of children live with both parents
Families are child-centric
Middle Eastern Families
Come from a geographic location and a religious faction
Women socialized to obey husbands
Men are socialized to be family’s provider
Since 9/11/2001 individuals of Arab descent face prejudice and
discrimination

The Economic Context

Economic stability is a measure of family well-being
Working families in in the U.S.
Employees work _1,978 hours per year
65 million women in the workforce
¾ have children under 18
¼ spend a least some nights or weekends at work
¾ of employees have no control over their work schedules
1/2 all women work different schedules that those with whom they live
½ of working families have child care expenses

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Over 54 million adults provide some degree of care for aging, disabled or
ill family members

Dual Earner Couples

The proportion of married women in the workforce tripled in the last 50 years
Decisions to work based on need for additional income
Family is still highest priority
5 percent of dual-career families are on professional or managerial positions
Women participate in the workforce
To gain power and status in relationships
To improve the economic situation of their family

Division of Household Labor

Marital Satisfaction depends on equality in the division of labor in the home
Unequal division of labor referred to as the second shift
Marital satisfaction requires an egalitarian division of household chores

Child Care
Over 71% of American children live in a home with a working mother
Child care options
1. working different shifts
2. extended family members provide childcare
3. daycare centers or preschool

The Impact of Work on Relationships

Evenings are time for interaction and household chores
Outside activities require coordinating schedules

Conflicting Demands
Role conflict
Contradictory demands between roles individuals must perform
Role Overload
When spouses take on roles that have excessive demands

Religious Context
Gallup Poll found that 60% of Americans reported that religion is very
important in their lives
91% of Americans believe in the supernatural
74% of Americans believe in an afterlife
82% of Americans believe in God or a higher power makes someone a
better person
76% of Americans believe that God or a higher power judge their actions

Spirituality and Religiosity

Spirituality– the depth to which a person experiences the sacred
Religiosity- an individual’s preference for religious expression

Influence of Religion on Dating and Marriage

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Sharing spirituality
Religious system teach appropriate ways to conduct lives
Religious convictions impact selection of an acceptable mate
Interfaith relationships may require a greater degree of tolerance
Rituals around special holidays may pose dilemmas

The Government Context:

Family Policy and Family Life
Family Policy – governmental goals and/or programs that seek to support and
strengthen families
Policies address
School _______________
After-school programs
Parenting and childrearing
C_______________
Care of the _______________
Equal _______________
Substance abuse/use awareness programs
Poverty
 a_______________ poverty – not having enough money to meet the
essentials of life, such as food, shelter and clothing
 r_______________ poverty – have difficulty maintaining an average
standard of living

Poverty t_______________ – based on family’s monetary income and their

measure of need
W_______________– those who are working but remain below the poverty
threshold for their family size

Those Affected by Poverty

R_______________ Poor
Poverty rates are higher in rural areas
Three causes of poverty in rural areas
The _______________
The _______________
S_______________

Those Affected by Poverty

The _______________ Poor
Ghetto poor – those inner-city residents, primarily black or Hispanic living
below the poverty line

Healthcare
Attitudes toward _______________and _______________are formed in the family
_______________and _______________ health are closely linked
Declining physical health can have a negative impact on _______________

Education
_______________of quality education does not exist for everyone in the U.S.
Lack of _______________leads to _______________

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N______________________________– established minimum standards for

achievements for students nationwide

Social Welfare
War on Poverty – Economic Opportunity Act
Created welfare programs such as
H_______________
M_______________
M_______________
F_______________
J_______________