Assignment 6

  Identify one of the examples of ancient marriage described by the author and discuss how it differed from the "one man, one woman idea" of marriage 

One of the examples of ancient marriage described by the author is the tradition in Tibet. In which one woman is shared among brothers, she is to have children with these bothers and raise the children as siblings. This differs from the “one man, one woman idea” because this type of tradition isn’t allowed in the United States. In addition, brothers are not to share a wife as well as a man isn’t allowed to have multiple wives. The “one man, one woman” is the idea of marriage and a commitment together as husband and wife not for your wife to be share with other men.

2) Among which two groups has postponing marriage become the most likely? Why?

Couples in Low and Middle class are most likely to postpone marriage. The reason for this being is because the Middle class is focused on getting an education and having their career settled before marrying. In addition, it’s known that now a day’s one person’s salary isn’t enough to maintain a family. The Low Class are postponing marriage because majority of the time they don’t have a job and they are out look for a job. Nevertheless, majority of them have little to no education that they are limited when looking for a job. Also, majority of the job they can get are low paying job requiring long hours. 

Choose one tradition and do a little research on-line - what is the history behind that tradition. Write about a paragraph about the origin of the tradition and whether you will include this in your own wedding - if you plan on having one.

There were several different traditions in the video such as..

1.       The smashing of glass

2.       Revealing the wedding dress to the husband the day of the wedding.

The smashing of glass at a Jewish wedding symbolizes the destruction of their holy temple. This custom is unknown, although it has been given reasons. The primary being based on tow accounts in the Talmud of rabbis, who upon seeing that their son’s wedding celebration was getting out of hand, broke a vessel in the second case glass to calm thing down. Another explanation is that it is a reminder that despite the joy, Jews still mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.  I will not be doing the smashing of glass at my wedding; it isn't a tradition in my family. The only way that I see this happening is if I do marry a Jewish man, in honor and for respect to his family will I do the smashing of glass. However, I will not reveal my wedding dress to my husband until the wedding day because it is said in my family that it is bad luck to have the groom see you in your wedding dress before the big day. 

Assignment 4

1. Sex is an individuals biological and genetics. While gender is what an individuals believes he or she is depending on the roles and behaviors. 

2.  I was doing gender when I went shopping with the girls and got a manicure and pedicure, and then got ready to enjoy the night. 

3a)  Risman and Seale used interviews as their method of research. Their study population consisted of forty-four middle school students, 17 boys and 27 girls. During Fall 2003 and Summer 2004 for about 1-2 hours, in Southeast City, US. 

3b)  One limitation that the authors mentioned was that there was no physical observation so they had to rely on what the students said.

3c)  The tweens stated at the beginning of the interview  that males and females are equal. But after they answered some questions based on gender and jobs they started to stereotype and noticed that gender norms do exist. 

3d)   The “girly-girl” is someone who is completely focused on physical appearance, prissy, wears high heels and a lot of make-up, boy-obsessed, and gossips a lot. The “tomboy” is someone who is athletic and roughed no where near the “girly-girl.”

3e)  I think that children act like girls or boys because it's learned  from parents and society. That's why I pick "nurture/learned" these children see their parents buying them specific colors, items, and toys and that's when they learn what colors, items, and toys are appropriate for them.  I definitely think that we create these gender roles by rewarding children for gender appropriate behaviors because before they go to school they are brought certain toys to play with at home that when they go to school they play with the toy they are familiar with already. Working in a day care center I have noticed boys playing in the kitchen and teachers have never told the boys that they are not allowed to play there. In fact teachers emphasize for all children to try all different playing activities. I feel that girls like pink and boys like blue because usually those are the colors of items and toys that surround them which reflect on the fact that we learn to like these colors. However, I feel that children should be free to like whatever color they like and be able to play with whatever toys they want to. 

4. Print this copy in word so you can add T for true and F for False

1.           F   In the year 2000, 64.6 percent of mothers with children younger than age 6 were part of the labor force.

2.       __F__ The number of working mothers with children ages 6 to 17 increased by 15 percent between 1975 and 1980.

3.       __F__ During the period 1995 to 2001, the number of working mothers with children younger than age 6 increased by more than 5 percent.

4.       __T__ In the last five years on the chart, the percentage of working mothers with children younger than age 18 decreased.

5.       __T__ The number of working mothers with children younger than age 6 went above the 50 percent mark for the first time between the years 1980 and 1985.

6.       __F__ The number of working mothers with children ages 6 to 17 has not been below 70 percent since 1980.

7.       __T__ The number of working mothers with children younger than age 6 decreased between 1997 and 2001.

8.       __F__ In 1955, fewer than one-fourth of all mothers with children under age 18 were part of the U.S. workforce.

9.       __T__ Working mothers with children younger than age 6 have always made up a smaller percentage of the workforce than those who have children ages 6 to 17.

10.   __T__ In the year 2001, more than three-fourths of all mothers of children ages 6 to 17 were part of the labor force.

6.   Yes, I do think that women are doing as  I expected. By looking at the increase of mothers with children under 18 years old, there is a significant gap from 1955 to 2004. It shows that there is a 43.7% increase in the amount of mothers working.  The disappointing factor is that women still get paid less then men. This still shouldn't be happening. 

Assignment 5

1) According to the article, what percent of Americans polled support gay marriage and why is this news?


According to the Article 45% of Americans support gay marriage. This is news because it been a big increase since 1996 when 25% of Americans supported Gay marriage. In addition, the percentage of Americans supporting gay marriages will increase with the new generations because it's mostly the old generations that don't agree with gay marriages.

2) Click on the link to Proposition 8 in the NY Times article. What is Proposition 8? Also, briefly describe the history of Prop 8 over the past few years.


Proposition 8 was a ballot measure made in California that banned same sex marriage. However, Proposition 8 didn't end there people still protested and tired to change the outlaw. There was a Judge from San Francisco who stated that this outlaw was unfair to gay women and men which created for the ban to get dropped. Instead the date for dropping the ban got extended and the court concluded that Proposition 8 was illegally discriminating due the the term used "Domestic partnership." Giving the option for different wording that would categorize everyone despite the gender. However, the voters felt strong about their votes and Proposition 8 was left banned but already married couples were allowed to stay married and for now the same sex marriages are discontinued. Nevertheless, advocates for same sex-marriages are going to continue to fight and start a new ballot measure.  



3) According to the this amendment, what is the definition of marriage in the U.S.?


According to the amendment the definition of marriage in the U.S is a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word "spouse"refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. It's sad to see that the Amendment doesn't even recognize homosexuals with new laws being implemented i feel as thought the documents of the U.S should change as well. 


4) You can click on a state to see their stand on gay marriage, adoption of Defense of Marriage Act etc. Choose two states and compare their positions on gay marriage. Please don't all choose NJ and now NY has same-sex marriage!

 Pennsylvania has already adopted a Defense of Marriage Act, but in recent years, there has been a push to pass a constitutional marriage amendment as well. That  measure has passed in the state House but not in the Senate in its present form. Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on November 2008. The measure also can ban civil unions and domestic partnerships. The state already had a Defense of Marriage Act.

5)How is the legalization of same-sex marriage in NY expected to influence the wedding industry. List two of the expected changes reported in the story. 


The legalization of same sex-marriages in NY expected to influence the wedding industry by expecting sixty-six thousand couples to marry within the next three years. Which will hence the New York tourism and create more jobs for wedding planners and designers. 

According to UCLA demographer, Gary Gates, how do the marriage rates of straight couples differ from the marriage rate of same-sex couples? Who is more likely to marry, gay men or lesbians? Why are some same-sex couples NOT marrying?


According to the UCLA demographer gay marriage is something that slowly but shorty is starting to be accepted in different states which is creating for same sex marriages rates to grow. However, opposite sex marriages still continue to have a higher rate than same sex marriages. Lesbians are more likely to marry but they are also more likely to separate faster.Same sex marriages are not marrying because they feel that it might hurt them instead of helping them because in a lot states still same sex marriages aren't recognized. In addition, they won't receive benefits and they won't get respected.