Chapter 1 – Page – 29 - Question 2
What is meant by the idea that race, class, and gender are interactive systems rather than individual variables? Think about your own family of orientation, and take one particular aspect of your family life as an example. Discuss briefly how race, class, and gender act simultaneously to shape that aspect of your family life.
Class, race and gender are present in a society and are very closely dependent upon each other.
They represent the diversity of the society. One cannot be thought of in isolation. These three
aspects make up an integrated family. My family though a matriarchal one has empowered the
women to be head of our households. We are brought up to date and marry inside of our race. The women run the family and take responsibility of the family. We are working class people who live a modest lifestyle. So our family has cut across societal norms and hence we are able to live together even in these days of family isolation. All the three have united my family in a very cohesive way.
Chapter 1 – Page – 29 – Question 4
Most people agree that marriages and families underwent major changes during the last half of the twentieth century; however, few people link these changes to larger societal changes that have taken place. Identify some of the major changes that have taken place during the past 50 years (for example, in transportation, technology, and social welfare policies), and discuss their impact on contemporary marriages and families. Reflect on your own family and consider how one such change has affected your family and/or families like yours.
Marriages and family structures underwent radical changes due to shift in habits. The
urbanization of the society led to many families being broken down into smaller units. The
nucelarization of families started. Transportation has enabled people to commute to work and
hence the growth of the suburban style of families was born. Technology especially the...