1. Real and Ideal Families. Ask students to describe their ideal family. Then have
them describe the features and experiences of their actual families. Depending on the
2. Diverse Families. Depending on the diversity of family forms represented in the
class, introduce underrepresented families through films, guest speakers, research, and
3. Family Matters. Present the class with one or more issues confronting American
families today, like divorce; gay and lesbian relationships; teen pregnancy; balancing
work, childcare, and household duties; managing blended families; or domestic abuse.
Discuss policy approaches that could address these issues.
4. Theoretical Perspectives of Family. Lead a directed discussion on how each of the
major sociological perspectives (include feminism) contributes to the understanding
5. Family Values. There is a great concern in the nation about declining family values
and lack of family cohesiveness and solidarity leading to the “breakdown of the
6. Intergenerational Families. Focus a class discussion on who cares for the elderly in
an aging family. Incorporate into this class discussion cross-cultural family patterns,
7. Marriage patterns. Hold a classroom discussion on the different types of marriage
8. Kinship Patterns. Hold a classroom discussion about why both exogamy and
endogamy are acceptable forms of marriage in the United States. Then ask students to
9. Divorce and Remarriage. Engage the class in a discussion about divorce and
remarriage and divorce and remarriage patterns in the United States. This could lead
10. Religious Minorities. Invite a member or leader of a religious group in your
community that represents a sizeable minority such as Buddhists or Muslims. There
11. Religious Diversity. Use the religious diversity and religious affiliation patterns in the
local community to discuss patterns of religious diversity and religiosity in America.
Such information should be readily available from ecumenical and interfaith
organizations, as well as from specific religious organizations.
12. Religion and Social Issues. Select a social or political issue currently in the news
that involves religious influence and positions—such as same-sex marriage. Analyze
13. Religion and Peace. Introduce students to the website of the World Conference of
Religions for Peace, which has been organizing on a global level since 1970. Students
14. Analyzing Religion Sociologically. Hold a class discussion on how functionalist
15. Is Science a Religion? Hold a classroom debate about whether consumerism is leading
to the decline of religious participation in the United States in the 21st century, and
16. Cults. Students are often confused about the role of cults in history. Few realize
Christianity was a cult or that cults tend to be a byproduct of social forces. Have your
students conduct research on cults and present why they have been designated as a cult.
17. Transnational Families. Have your students discuss the realities that families who
18. Religion and Same-Sex Marriage. Have the class investigate the Pew Research
19. Cult or Religion? Give the class some modern examples of various New Religious
Movements and have the class decide if they are “cults” or legitimate religions. Be
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
1. About Family and Religion. Assign a short essay from information in this chapter
2. Parenting. Many local organizations offer parenting classes, and in some
circumstances—such as family violence or substance abuse—the courses are mandated
3. Family, Role Strain, and Role Conflict. Have students document the distribution of
work and leisure—outside and inside the home—in their families. In addition to
documenting what they observe and what family members report, they should
interview family members about their perceptions of other members’ contribution and
4. Family Issues. Let students select a major issue confronting U.S. families that interests
them and to argue for a policy direction to address the issue. This could be assigned as
5. Religion and Public Life. The Pew Research Center has a Forum on Religion and
6. Religious Socialization. Ask students to describe their own process of religious
socialization, or if they feel more comfortable, interview someone else and describe
their religious socialization. Did their socialization fit the usual patterns? What kind of
changes or developments do they anticipate as they grow older?
7. Faith-Based Initiatives. Assign students to access the Pew Research Center Forum on
8. Islam in America Post 9-11. Have students contact local mosques or Muslim
organizations, as well as national organizations like the Council on American-Islamic
by 9-11? What has happened in mosques, schools, and other organizations of the
community? How have any arrests, deportations, searches, and so on affected the
community? How are relations between the Muslim community and the broader
community? How have local authorities related to the community? Have there been
9. Family Responsibility to Elderly Parents, Grandparents, and Other Relatives.
With the advent of better sanitation and good health care, people are living longer than
in prior decades. However, this does not necessarily mean that the older adults are
financially and economically capable of taking care of themselves with the
responsibility often falling upon younger family members. Thinking in terms of this
chapter and prior chapters on race, ethnicity, social class, and socialization, how will
your family meet this challenge? To help the students investigate this issue, set up a
10. Religious Extremism. Fundamentalists and cults around the world are comprised of
large populations. Students often find discussions on religion interesting. Have your
students choose a religious group and prepare a presentation. In the discussion, have
them address the type of religious extremism they are most familiar with.
11. Family and Domestic Violence. Have students research family and domestic violence
12. Religion and Social Change. Religion and social change are interdependent. How are
VIDEO SUGGESTIONS (Videos with a * next to them have corresponding activities
below.)
A Nuclear Family (2013, 79 min.)
In 1973, a woman walked out on her husband and children. Filmmaker Ian Hawkins was
one of those children. A Nuclear Family is the poignant story of an ordinary family dealing
with divorce. It is also the story of an independent filmmaker turning interviews,
Around the World in 80 Faiths (2009, 6 hours)
Anglican vicar Peter Owen-Jones has been given a year’s sabbatical to travel the world
Bend It Like Beckham (2002, 112 min.)
This story of a girl from a traditional Indian family who wants to play soccer can be used to
point out cultural differences in gender expectations as well as the role of family in gender
socialization.
Christian Dilemmas (2012, 139 min.)
The authentic beliefs, customs, and concepts of Christianity were immensely different
The Children Are Watching (1999, 60 min.)
This PBS special looks at how parent behavior impacts children by following four
Juggling Work and Family (2001, 120 min.)
This documentary examines the impact and implications of the shift in America’s
Sociology Documentary—Family Relationships (2012, 8:44 min.)
Interviews with students that address their family relationships, values, and
The Motherhood Manifesto (2007, 58 min.)
This film, put out by a group called Moms Rising, looks at U.S. policies regarding
families and mothers and points out how the United States really isn’t a “family–friendly”
* Jesus Camp (2006, 84 min.)
This documentary with very little narration looks at the children and families who attend
a Pentecostal summer camp that encourages children to practice their “prophetic gifts.”
* Not Without My Daughter (1991, 115 min.)
Although 27 years old, this film version of a book by the same title tells the timely story
of an American woman, long married to an Iranian doctor who lures her and her daughter
* For the Bible Tells Me So (2007, 98 min.)
This film discusses how homosexuals are perceived by many Christians, who use the
Bible as evidence for their views. The film interviews people who struggle with religion
and homosexuality (http://firstrunfeatures.com/forthebibletellsmesodvd.html).
God in America (2010, a series with six episodes, each episode approximately 55 min.)
Poor Kids (2012, 53 min.)
Frontline explores the economic crisis as it is rarely seen—through the eyes of children.
VIDEO ACTIVITES
Have students view Not Without My Daughter and read reviews of this movie by
2&keywords=not+without+my+daughter)._
Ask the students to analyze how the comments of reviewers reflect the societal norms
and values of their own society.
In a discussion about religious fundamentalism, have students watch Jesus Camp. What
sticks out to them? Are their practices really so different than most mainstream Christian
beliefs, such as the Catholic notion of transubstantiation? Are these people dangerous?
INTERNET EXERCISES
1. The Pluralism Project of Harvard University (pluralism.org/) has the following
mission “Engaging, Educating, and Strengthening the Next Generation of Religious
global violence prevention, public policy, and advocacy. Choose one program area;
explore the analyses, policies, and best practices; and write a report evaluating the
approaches from a sociological perspective.
3. You could compare, for example, the American Family Association
5. The Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly has a site for
finding resources to help stop the mistreatment and to find help for mistreated
7. COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer
parents and caregivers into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and
SUGGESTED READINGS
Ali, Tariq. 2002. The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity.
London, U.K.: Verso. Ali provides a sweeping historical perspective on the conflicts
preceding and underlying the events of September 11th, turning a sharp eye to Islamic and
Judeo-Christian fundamentalisms.
Armstrong, Karen. 2000. The Battle for God. New York: Ballantine. Armstrong explores
the rise of religious fundamentalism in every major world religion as a response to the
spiritual crisis of the modern world. See also Armstrong’s many books on Christianity,
Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, including: Islam: A Short History, A History of God, and
Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today’s World.
Coontz, Stephanie. 1997. The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms with America’s
Changing Families. New York: Basic Books. This book offers a research-based
historical view of the causes and consequences of today’s family trends.
affect/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-lgbti-people/families-like-mine)
Hubner, John and Jill Wolfson. 1996. Somebody Else’s Children: The Courts, the Kids,
and the Struggle to Save America’s Troubled Families. New York: Three Rivers Press.
This compelling piece of investigative journalism explores the daily workings of one
typical American family court system and the lives of the children whose fate it decides.
It provides thoughtful reflections on what should be done to support children and families
in today’s America.
Lyons, Lydia. 2006. “Americans Still Oppose Gay Marriage.” Princeton, NJ: The
Gallup Organization.
Mamdani, Mahmood. 2004. Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the
Roots of Terror. New York: Pantheon Books. Mamdani’s systematic expose of the
history, stereotypes, and misconceptions underlying U.S. policy toward the Muslim
world helps to distinguish religion from politics, offering a fresh perspective on the roots
of fundamentalisms and terror in the contemporary world.
Presser, Harriet B. 2003. Working in a 24/7 Economy: Challenges for American Families.
New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Presser focuses on the impact of nonstandard work
schedules of men and women, families and childcare, and examines the social policy
implications.
Sered, S. S. 1994. Priestess, Mother, Sacred Sister: Religions Dominated by Women. New
York: Oxford University Press. An interesting study of women’s spirituality and women’s
religions.
Tichenor, Veronica. 2005. Maintaining Men’s Dominance: Negotiating Identity and Power
When She Earns More. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research 53(3/4): 191–205.
Wald, Kenneth D. 2003. Religion and Politics in the United States. Fourth ed. New
York: Rowman & Littlefield. This book examines the relationship between religion and
political power in the United States.
WEBSITE SUGGESTIONS
See website suggestions throughout this chapter.
www.thearda.com The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) provides data
and studies on religion in America and around the world.
Beyond Blue has developed a multimedia guide that offers practical advice to families of
young gender diverse people, same-sex attracted and bisexual people, and those who are