Family Structures

Chapter 11 Questions

1. On page 234 a quote from a survey taken by the Kaiser Foundation about gay and lesbian couples, half of the Americans who answered said “allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry would undermine the traditional American family”. What is a “traditional American family” and how is it being undermined?

2. Throughout the chapter it talks about a couple stereotypes of gay and lesbian relationships and gay and lesbian families. What are these stereotypes?

AF 14

1. “Our goal in this review was to call into question assumptions, beliefs, and false generalizations about the way “Latino families are” (p.239). Did the researchers Zinn and Wells meet this goal for you? What are some of your generalizations or assumptions that they proved false? By believing these generalizations, did it have any effects on the way you interacted with Latinos?

2. How do you feel that the current economic situation will affect these Latino groups because of low educational attainment, limited work skills and the loss of manufacturing jobs in the US?

3. In this article, Zinn and Wells write about Cubans and Mexicans who place high value on marriage and family (p.231). In what ways does the current American culture and economic structure work against these values? Can they make these values work for their families or it is a lost cause?

AF 26 Mom's and Jobs

1. How do the trends presented in the reading contradict conventional wisdom and the media's portrayal of an "opt-out revolution"?

2. What factors have caused the increase in women's employment? The plateau?