Photo 26: Elder Care

Photo 26: I didn't actually take this photo but I knew I wanted to include a photo of my grandma and some family. My grandma is the cute old lady in the back right corner (in white). She is in her mid-seventies (almost 75!). This was in 2010 when my aunt in middle and cousin (blonde) went to visit my cousin's then-boyfriend (the only male) who was graduating from the Navy. My grandma has been living with my oldest aunt (the woman with the glasses).

Sociological Perspective: Looking at my own family, my grandma has lived with her middle daughter, my mom (youngest daughter) has subsidized my grandma's housing, and now my grandma is living with her oldest daughter. All of her daughters at some point have found caring for my grandma to be a "burden." She can be a rather difficult lady but she is a wonderful grandma! There are no boys in the family, only daughters. In families where there are sons and daughters, why do daughters traditionally take on the burden of taking care of parents? How do sibling relationships change when one sibling takes on more responsibility for a parent than other siblings? How has society socialized women to be "nurturers" not just of their children but of their parents too? What sorts of programs and medical assistance is available to help caretakers take care of the elderly, if any?

Analysis: Margolies discusses how fifty years ago, few middle-aged people had frail, elderly parents. But now, nearly 90% of baby boomers have elderly parents. With the advancements in technology and public health, people are living longer and the sandwich generation is having to care for their own children and their parents. More elderly people are choosing to live independently, but when someone is taking care of them, Margolies says, it is typically the daughters. Margolies argues that daughters are socialized to be nurturers and due to this socialization it is expected that daughters will assume this care taking role. Margolies also discusses how as a result of care taking being a primarily female job, it is devalued and gets little recognition beyond the family sphere.

Photo 25: Families and Divorce

Photo 25: This is a picture of my mom and dad with my brother after his homecoming game. My parents have been divorce for over 10 years and still come together for important events and are close. My brother however is still very impacted by their divorce.

Sociological Perspective: When parents decide to divorce, what impact does that have on the children? In my family, I was happy to see my parents divorce because of the fighting, but my brother sees it differently and saw that our family was being torn apart. How does politics, the media, law create discourse for us to talk about divorce? What is the popular discourse surrounding divorce? Why does our society not have language to talk about a positive divorce? My parents still get along great, granted there are still issues, but for the most part, things are good. I would say they had a positive divorce, and this isn't normal. Because of this, people don't often know how to talk about this type of divorce. What sort of stigma still exists surrounding divorce?

Analysis: Adams and Coltrane discuss the shifting framing of divorce in their article. They also discuss the history surrounding the politics of divorce as well as the stigma surrounding divorce. They mention how the recent administration (Bush Jr.) has really pushed for a marriage movements which has shifted sentiments of marriage and divorce. Our culture has shifted away from accepting divorce toward stigmatizing divorce. In their article, they also discuss how their is a lack of language for "positive divorce" and due to this, our culture is unable to cope with individuals who are friendly post-divorce. We cast divorce in a negative light and are unable to see divorce as anything but negative. With the shifting rhetoric in divorce and divorce reform, attitudes toward divorce shift and this affects the people who are involved and their children. As I mentioned above, my parents' divorce greatly impacted my brother. However, my parents had a positive divorce and continue to have a relationship and I believe this is beneficial.

Photo 24: "Normal" American Family

Photo 24: This photo was taken of a nice house with a white picket fence. This is a house that anyone with the American dream would want and with the "Normal" American family.

Sociological Perspective: When we talk about the "Normal" American family what do we mean? Who decides what the "Normal" American family is? How do images of the "Normal" American family affect those who do not live up to this ideology? What class/race usually fits the ideology of the "Normal" American family?

Analysis: The Gittins and Pyke readings discuss aspects of the "Normal" family. The Gittins reading discusses what is family and is it universal? She introduces the dominant functionalist paradigm that has been used to study families and Murdock's definition of families--common residence, economic co-operation, reproduction, and sexuality (two adults of each sex). When we think about the "normal" family from this perspective we understand that most families do not fit into this definition. Not all families share a common residence and not all individuals living in a common residence are "family." Also, reproduction for some families, is not the main goal when some couples are choosing not to have children. This is one way of looking at how not all families fit one definition of the "normal" family. Another discussion of the "Normal" family comes from Pyke's article when she discusses children from Korean and Vietnamese families. These children have clear expectations and images of what "family" is and their families do not match this image. Pyke discusses how these images are heavily influenced by the media and are not realistic however, these children of immigrants hold their parents to this unrealistic standard of what a "Normal" American family is.

Photo 23: Immigration and Families

Photo 23: I grew up in Orange County and used to see the running family signs all the time driving to San Diego. I asked my mom to take one when going to visit her partner's mom this weekend. She said the signs are no longer there anymore or that she doesn't see them. I knew I wanted to use this sign for my immigration picture and decided to settle for using one off the Internet. The picture represents immigrant families and their struggle to have a better life in the United States. 

Sociological Perspective: What sacrifices do immigrant families make to forge a "better" life in the United States? How do immigrant families assimilate or resist American culture? What strategies do immigrant families use to maintain culture in the United States? How does the relationship between immigrants and their U.S. born children affect family dynamics?

Photo 22: Government and Families

Photo 22: My husband and I were in Capitola and I saw this picture of Capitola's City Hall. I realize it is a small form of government, but government is government and all forms of government affect families.

Sociological Perspective: How do laws that the government creates affect family life, i.e. right to marry? How do families affect government policies and laws i.e. Proposition 8 and a strong push by religious and families to get Prop 8 on the ballot and get it passed? In what ways does government shape families?

Photo 21: Adoption and Gay Families

Photo 21: My husband and I were walking in downtown Santa Cruz and saw this gay couple. I don't actually know if their daughter was adopted but I think that the picture poses some important questions about gay family structures and children.

Sociological Perspective: Due to the fact that gay families are not "normal" and have limited structures supporting them, how do they construct families? When gay families want to have families, what methods do they use? How has adoption become more prevalent in gay families? Why does it seem that some states are more willing to allow gay adoption as opposed to others? What are some of the big arguments against gay families adopting children?

Photo 20: Poverty and Families

Photo 20: I had seen a mother and her child outside a grocery store for weeks prior to this assignment and for some reason once I decided to do the blog didn't see them anymore. So I ended up taking a picture off the Internet of a homeless family with signs asking for help.

Sociological Perspective: In the United States, who is most likely to be in poverty? Homeless? How does poverty affect families? How does it affect young children in families? What strategies or mechanisms do families use to overcome poverty? How is poverty linked to race-ethnicity and family?

Photo 19: Racial-Ethnic Mothering

Photo 19: I took this picture of a Hispanic mother and her child at the mall.

Sociological Perspective: What hardships do racial-ethnic mothers face when it comes to mothering that white mothers don't face? How do racial-ethnic mothers explain issues of race/class to their children when they are growing up? How do racial-ethnic mothers help their children exist in a society that may oppress them? What differences have existed for racial-ethnic mothers and white mothers over time (i.e. working vs. not working, class, second shift)?

Analysis: Zinn discusses how conventional notions of family don't take into account the experiences of racial-ethnic mothers. Their experiences are shaped by the fact that they are racial-ethnic women.She discusses how in racial-ethnic families, racial stratification shapes family resources and structures. The way women make a living differs for women of different race-ethnicities. This in turn affects how these women run their  domestic lives. Zinn says that women's work outside the home is an extension of family responsibility. The types of jobs women hold, for example, racial-ethnic women are more likely to be employed in the service sector versus women who are not racial-ethnic. It is important to understand how work affects their ability to mother. Also, patriarchy and issues of privilege and subordination affect racial-ethnic women. These women are already subordinated under a patriarchal system, and when you add the dimension of race-ethnicity, there is another layer of subordination and a loss of privilege.

Photo 18: Disney and Family

Photo 18: I took this picture outside the Disney store. Enough said.

Sociological Perspective: Oh Disney...How does Disney ingrain its image into the minds of little girls and make them its little spawns of princess culture? How does Disney's massive empire manage to affect the young people in families and their images of what families should look like? How are the images of princesses distorting reality of the family? How has Disney managed to create such a massive consumerist empire by exploiting young girls love of the color pink and all thinks princess? (P.S. Disney is BAD!!!)

Photo 17: Consummerism and Family

Photo 17: I took this picture when walking around the mall one day.

Sociological Perspective: How does our consumer economy affect families? In what ways do parents buy into consumerism to appease their children? How does the media appeal to particular genders when advertising games, toys, clothes? Do parents tend to also ascribe to these gendered games, toys, and clothes for their children? How do families buy in to ideas of a consumer economy? (holidays, birthdays, etc.) Why does it seem like parents are so quick to buy things for their children?

Analysis: Pugh discusses how consumption becomes a symbol of caring and belonging for kids and their parents in her article. Products (toys, games, phones, etc.) are so saturated into social lives and the lives of young kids. If kids don't have these things it shows that kids are outsiders. Pugh discusses the commodification of childhood and says that it is advancing with kids spending so much money on themselves and parents spending so much money on them. Children's childhood is defined by what they have or don't have and this impacts their emotional relationship with parents and friends. Parents feel guilted into buying things for their kids because they don't want their child to be cast as an outsider for not having the new cool thing. Pugh discusses the economy of dignity and how this is very important for parents and children: it means belonging to the social world.

Photo 16: Religion and Family

Photo 16: I took this picture of the church that my husband and I attend.

Sociological Perspective: What roles do families play in religion? How are families considered central in particular religions? In what ways does the institution of religion influence family values? How do religious values get passed down to younger members in families? What types of families go to church or attend religious services?

Photo 15: Education and Family

Photo 15: I took this picture of a school that we saw while driving around in Santa Cruz. It is a grammar school.

Sociological Perspective: How do families decide what schools their children will go to? In turn, how do schools and education impact children? How does the education system impact families in different classes? Does the education system work to benefit families of different or particular classes? How do families affect policies in schools (sex education teaching)? How does school impact what goes on in family life (homework, activities)

Photo 14: Triad Family

Photo 14: I took this photo of a triad family at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. It is of two men and a woman and their two daughters. They were riding their bikes together and leaving the festival.

Sociological Perspective: How do alternative sexualities and family structures make it work in a society that is heteronormaitve and nuclear-based? What institutions support alternative family structures? How do triad families deal with issues like jealousy? Is it possible that a triad family is actually more stable than the "normal" nuclear two-person household? How do members of these people's families react to the idea of alternative family and sexuality structures and lifestyles?

Analysis: Easton and Hardy discuss the "ethical slut" in their book "The Ethical Slut." While we only read a few chapters, it is important to understand that alternative sexualities and family formations do work for some people. Easton and Hardy argue that that we have all been taught one way of relating: lifelong monogamous heterosexual marriage and that this is the only right way and if we don't get it right then we don't fit in. Easton and Hardy argue for a type of love and sexuality that is more open and honest and stresses communication. To deal with jealousy and feelings, you have to communicate them to your partner.

Photo 13: Pregnancy

Photo 13: I took this photo at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. I saw this pregnant woman standing with her husband and she seemed really happy.

Sociological Perspective: How with this soon-to-be mother be affected by American ideologies of motherhood? If she is a working mother how will she balance work responsibilities and responsibilities of motherhood? Will she have to work the second shift or will she hire people to help her? As a racial-ethnic woman how will she teach her children about being a racial-ethnic child? How will this soon-to-be mother manage to ensure that she is being a "good" mother to her child according to societies standards? i.e. cleaning, cooking, providing protection and support, caring, being emotionally there, etc.

Photo 12: Technology and Children

Photo 12: I took this picture at a high school football game of a kid who spent the entire time playing games on an Iphone.

Sociological Perspective: Nowadays it seems like more kids are spending time out of the house on technology devices. Kids don't know how to engage in conversations and just enjoy the activities around them. They constantly need to be engaged in technology. How do parents use technology to "babysit" their children? How do parents buy in to the consumer society to "please" their children? What affects might this have on their family dynamics? What affects might this have on their children's socialization skills?

Photo 11: Fathering

Photo 11: I took this picture when walking in downtown Campbell of a father out in the town with his son.

Sociological Perspective: How has the role of a father been seen traditionally in society? In what ways are fathers becoming more active in their kids lives? What laws or policies support the traditional father role? Is there backlash against fathers who want to take a more active role in their kids lives?

Analysis: Coltrane talks about the paradoxes of fathering as well as the contradictions and dilemmas in his article. He says that the paradox of American fathers is that they are very important to their children but that they are less likely to live with them, today. Some of the contradictions are that there is more father-child interaction in two-parent families but fewer two-parent families. He discusses two general patterns of fathering, intimate and aloof. An intimate father is one who is more involved in both the family life and the child's life. An aloof family doesn't spend time with the children and tends to hold more traditional gender beliefs. An intimate fathering model is generally better for the community and the children. The middle-class ideology of fatherhood has shifted and was assumed for all but this didn't occur for all. It didn't happen geographically, for all classes or races. In the 1980s, the new father ideal emerged. This father was nurturing, caring, emotionally attuned along with the idea of the new working mother--it was a middle class ideal as well. Overall, Coltrane stresses that the father-child relationship is important because it reduces sexism, promotes gender equality, and curbs violence against women.

Photo 10: Dating

Photo 10: I took these pictures at a high school football game. I figured there would be good examples of teenage dating.

Sociological Perspective: How has dating changed from 50 years ago to today? How has dating become something that was done to find a husband to something that is done more for pleasure? How does society influence dating? Who has more power in a dating relationship these days? Who used to have the power? What aspects of modern society have made dating more convenient for teenagers?

Analysis: Whyte argues that dating is a relatively new institution and that we have a youth-driven pattern of courtship in American society. Prior to the turn of the century women had control of the "dating" scene when they "called" upon men for dates and "kept company" of a man. It was the woman's choice of who she wanted to date and there was parental supervision and approval. Today we have the modern corollary of dating and "going steady." There is very little if any adult supervision and rarely do parents get any say in who their child dates these days. With advancements in technology it has become easier for teenagers to sneak off and date each other. Consistent with the "old" days, however, I would argue that the sexual double standard still exists. This means that men are the sexual aggressors and out to get the women. Women however, are  to be not too unfriendly so men won't date them but not too friendly so they are seen as sluts. I think that today kids are dating a lot more frequently and often. Dating doesn't seem to be as serious of an issue and people don't seem to be as shy about it from what I see in the schools.

Photo 9: Alcoholism and Family

Photo 9: I took this picture when I was walking in downtown Campbell of a bar.

Sociological Perspective: How does alcoholism affect families? When a parent is an alcoholic what affects does it have on the children? When there are issues in a family and a child begins to drink what affects can that have on the family dynamics?

Photo 8: Stay-at-home Mom

Photo 8: This is a photo of a mom and her son tandem bike riding home after school.

Sociological Perspective: I think this picture says a couple of things. One, the mom is most likely a stay at home mom and has the luxury to pick her son up after school and does not have to work. This is not very common today and is seen as a luxury by some women. Second,  when looking at the geographic area in which this picture was taken, Willow Glen, class is a big issue. The majority of people living in this area are upper-middle to upper-class and are wealthy. The wives can afford not to work and therefore are able to stay at home and not work and can pick their children up from school. This is very different from just 10 miles down the road where in another part of San Jose many of the kids are walking home by themselves. It is also important to note that the school makeup is predominately white and so race/ethnicity also place an important factor in the family dynamics. Ultimately, when looking at family dynamics, it is important to acknowledge how race/ethnicity and class are intersecting.

Photo 7: Pets and Families- Class

Photo 7: The photo on the left is a picture of my dog Sashi, a Yorkie. The picture on the right is a picture I took of a man walking his Chocolate Lab.

Sociological Perspective: We talked during our first class about what dog size says about class and status. Dogs can be a status symbol not just based on their size. Typically the size of a dog should denote the size of the house you live in. The bigger the dog the bigger the house. I have lived in apartments and know that people have big dogs in apartments. I also think it is important to note that the breed of dog is important. Yorkshire terriers are very expensive dogs and therefore I don't see them that often. People really do think they are so adorable though. Yorkies I think are a status symbol and say a lot about class as well. I think that Labs as well as Golden Retrievers as typical family dogs and are associated with families.

Photo 6: Sports and Families

Photo 6: This photo was taken at a high school football game.

Sociological Perspective: Typically sports, football, are associated with families that have more time on their hands. When thinking of a really important book by author Anette Laureau, Unequal Childhoods, I am reminded of how she talked about middle class families and how they scheduled a lot of activities for their children. They had more affluence and were able to provide their children with opportunities like sports and music. The parents at this game were very involved and active. It makes me think: how is a sport like football engrained to socialize boys in American society and make them to be young men? How are families socialized around football? Football is seen very much as a family sport and families gather around football teams and their children who play them. For families who cannot afford this luxury, what does this mean?

Photo 5: Intergenerational Families

Photo 5: This photo was taken after school one day when a grandpa was picking up his granddaughter.

Sociological Perspective: With the increasing rate of dual-earner families, families are replying more on outside kin and extended families for child care. This grandfather is responsible on a daily basis for picking up his granddaughter. We can also look at this issue from another perspective. Perhaps the grandfather is dependent on his kids for assistance and needs to live with them. He might pick up his granddaughter to help but his kids are being subjected to the term "sandwich" generation by having to take care of both his/her parent and his/her children.  If this is the case, how does this complex family structure affect the family structure, which is predominately nuclear?

Photo 4: Healthcare and Families

Photo 4: I took this picture when going to physical therapy of the entrance of the Kaiser building.

Sociological Perspective: How do the institutions of health care and family intersect? In what ways do health care and insurance services prevent families from receiving good care? We see that there is a great divide between low-income families and high-income families and the type of health care they receive. For those that are unemployed it can be difficult when it comes to health care. This is especially difficult when children are involved. I am reminded of Michael Moore's documentary Sicko where he discusses the insurance business but also the state of our health care system in the United States.

Photo 3: Biracial Family

Photo 3: Biracial Family: This photo was taken of a biracial family and their two children after school one day.

Sociological Perspective: How does the intersection of race and family affect family structure? Historically, how has the law prevented races from forming families? In what ways do couples handle issues of race in their own families with their biracial children? I think of the fact that we have a biracial president who is in fact half black and half white yet he is only seen as being black. The fact that he is half white is often dismissed.

Photo 2: Food and Families

 Photo 2: I took this picture of a grocery store when going grocery shopping one day.

Sociological Perspective: How is the food that families eat indicative of the class that family belongs to? How is nutrition and health tied to family well-being? How is food tied to family relations? In different cultures, how is food seen differently? What is the meaning and significance of food for the "Normal American family''? How do families teach how how to eat, what is healthy, and what is normal when it comes to food?