Page 411 - Essencials of Sociology

384 CHAPTER 12 Marriage and Family

for the higher educational and income attain-
ments of Asian Americans that we discussed in
Chapter 9.
In Chapter 9, I also emphasized how Asian
Americans, like Latinos, are not a single group.
That Asian Americans emigrated from many
different countries means that their family life
reflects not only differences of social class but
also a variety of cultures. Families whose origin
is Japan, for example, tend to retain Confucian
values that provide a framework for family life:
humanism, collectivity, self-discipline, hierarchy,
respect for the elderly, moderation, and obliga-
tion (Suzuki 1985). Obligation means that each
member of a family owes respect to other family
members and has a responsibility never to bring
shame to the family. Conversely, a child’s suc-
cess brings honor to the family (Zamiska 2004).
To control their children, these parents are
more likely to use shame and guilt than physical
To search for the Native American punishment.
family would be fruitless. There are
rural, urban, single-parent, extended, The cultural differences among Asian Americans are so extensive, however, that many
nuclear, rich, poor, traditional, and are not even familiar with Confucianism. In addition to the vast differences stemming
assimilated Native American families, from their countries of origin, Asian American family life also differs by length of resi-
to name just a few. This photo was dence in the United States. As with immigrants everywhere, recent immigrants continue
taken on the Big Cypress Reservation their old patterns, while the family life of Asian Americans who have been here for gen-
near Hollywood, Florida.
erations reflects few of the patterns of their country of origin.
Native American Families
Perhaps the most significant issue that Native American families face is whether to fol-
low traditional values or to assimilate into the dominant culture (Frosch 2008). This
primary distinction creates vast differences among families. The traditionals speak native
languages and emphasize distinctive Native American values and beliefs. Those who have
assimilated into the broader culture do not.
Figure 12.8 on the previous page depicts the structure of Native American families.
You can see that it is closest to that of Latinos. In general, Native American parents are
permissive with their children and avoid physical punishment. Elders play a much more
active role in their children’s families than they do in most U.S. families: Elders, espe-
cially grandparents, not only provide child care but also teach and discipline children.
Like others, Native American families differ by social class.
In Sum: From this brief review, you can see that race–ethnicity signifies little for under-
standing family life. Rather, social class and culture hold the keys. The more resources
a family has, the more it assumes the characteristics of a middle-class nuclear family.
Compared with the poor, middle-class families have fewer children and fewer unmar-
ried mothers. They also place greater emphasis on educational achievement and deferred
gratification.

One-Parent Families
An indication of how extensively U.S. families are changing is the increase in one-parent
families. Look at Figure 12.9 on the next page. There you can see the decline in the per-
centage of U.S. children who live with two parents. Divorce is not the only reason for
this fundamental change. Another is that single women who give birth are taking longer
to get married (Gibson-Davis 2011). Because women head most one-parent families,
these families tend to be poor. Even though most divorced women earn less than their
former husbands, four of five children of divorce live with their mothers (U.S. Census