Chapter Eight: This chapter focuses on the family as a major institution in the U.S. and globally, structuring practices and ideas about gender and systems of inequality and privilege. It also explores the family as a place where women experience conflict, love, relationship, and power. Subsections include definitions of the family and its demographics in US society, connections between the family as an institution and other institutions in society, power and family relationships, and mothering.
Answer the following question fully in 5-7 sentences each:
- What is marriage equality? What is the current status of marriage equality in the U.S.? At the federal level? State level?
- What does it mean to say that although the meanings and practices of motherhood are socially constructed?
- What messages about gender and other systems of inequality and privilege did you get from your family when you were growing up?
