Page 413 - Essencials of Sociology

386 CHAPTER 12 Marriage and Family

Down-to-Earth Sociology

Family Structure: Single Moms and Married Moms

ome of the terms that sociologists use seem “dry,” What’s the difference? Chris is married and lives on two
theoretical, and unconnected to “real life.” The term paychecks. Jessica is single and lives on one paycheck.
Sfamily structure ranks high among such terms. It certainly
is not likely to get your juices going. Married parents enjoy tremendous advantages that elude
But the terms of sociology do represent “real life.” Let’s single parents. Just the time factor is significant. Two parents
look at the seemingly cold and antiseptic term family struc- can divide up the housework, shopping, and taking the kids
ture. The term is simple enough. It refers to the way a family is to after-school and weekend activities. Where does the time
put together, what it consists of. In its simplest form, the term come from for one parent to do it all? How about supervising
refers to whether families have one or two parents and how homework? Handling the children’s inevitable bickering? Or en-
many children are in the couraging the “constant little things” that children are involved
family. And granted recent in and for which they want
changes in legal marriage, their parents’ attention and
it also refers to whether approval? The needs are
the spouses are of the endless, and one parent
same or different sex. can’t double her time sim-
At this point in the text, ply by wishing it.
you’ve been introduced Does this distinction
to a lot of terms. Like oth- make any real difference?
ers that you have learned, Yes, it certainly does.
this one packs a lot into it. Children get a lot of ben-
And if you think about it efits from living with two
(which I know you might or parents. The additional
might not do), family struc- attention, encouragement,
ture is a short-hand way supervision, and opportuni-
of saying a lot of relevant ties go a long way. Children
things. Yes—relevant. who live with two parents
To see why, let’s look at are less likely to have physi-
just one aspect of family Family structure is a vital aspect in the socialization of children. cal and emotional health
structure—whether or not a problems. They are more
husband-father is present. Single-parent families also consist likely to avoid trouble with
of father-headed families, but since four of five are headed by the law. They are more likely to finish high school and to attend
mothers, we’ll look at these. Let’s start with a real-life situation and complete college. They are more likely to start having sex
(based on DeParle 2012): later and to postpone having children until after they marry.
They earn more, and their marriages are more likely to last
(McLanahan and Percheski 2008; Wen 2008; Waldfogel et al.
Chris and Jessica have a lot in common. They are both
white females in their late twenties who work at the same 2010). And so important, two-parent families have considerably
day care center. Each is the mother of two children. They less stress—and more resources to deal with that less stress.
both juggle work and child care. Chris, who is the boss, What comes as a surprise to many is that the two parents
earns a little more than Jessica, but not much. They are do not need to be a man and a woman. Two women or two
friends who even got tattoos together. men who rear children together apparently do as well as a
During the workday, their worlds are almost identical. husband and wife (Farr et al. 2010).
But night brings a different story. After work, they enter As you probably noticed, the distinction is not only
worlds so different, it is as though they live on opposite whether children have one or two parents. At least as signifi-
sides of the Grand Canyon. cant is family income. Higher and lower incomes create huge
Chris goes home to an attractive house in the suburbs, divisions, offering lifestyles of opportunity for some while forc-
Jessica to a small apartment in a less desirable part of ing others into tiny corners of highly limited choices.
town. Chris’ kids go to a lot of weekend events: swimming, You can see, then, why sociologists are so interested in
karate, baseball, and Scouts. Jessica very much wants her family structure—and why this term refers to “real life.”
children to take part in these activities, but she has nei- For Your Consideration
ther the time to take them nor the money to pay for the
activities. Chris bemoans rising food prices, but she buys ↑ What is your family structure? Has your family structure
whatever food she wants. Jessica uses food stamps and changed over your lifetime? What effects has family structure
watches every penny. had on your life?