25% Of American wives report having been physically assaulted; 8% - raped.
Study after study has shown that the more violence an individual experiences as a child, the more violent he or she will be as a parent. In many cases, abusive parents were victims or witnesses to family violence when they were children.
An adult who strikes a child is supplying the child with a model for psychical aggression. Studies have found that frequent use of physical punishment results in a marked increase in the child’s own aggression.
Sexual abuse of children (usually by father, stepfather, uncle, or cousin) leads to sexual promiscuity, older sexual partners, drugs, alcohol, depression, low self-esteem, suicidal behavior.
Several studies indicate that spousal abuse is more common among low-income couples than among high-income couples. Low-income men may be more prone to violence because they have few other means to control their wives, such as through having a higher income or education than their wives. In addition, the high levels of stress induced by poverty and unemployment may lead to more violence within families. Unemployed men are nearly twice as likely as employed men to assault their wives.
Alternatives to Marriage
Singlehood. For most individuals, being single is only a temporary or transitional state: 90% of Americans marry at some point in their lives.
Single parenthood. Most single parents are women. 25% of American kids live with just one parent. Single parenthood leads to numerous problems with kids: juvenile delinquency, low self-esteem and bad grades in school, early sexual life of teenage girls (because they were short of father love and now try to compensate it in such a way) and teenage boys (who try to raise by early sexual life their low self-esteem).
Living together (cohabitation). College students do not usually plan to marry the person they are living with. In Great Britain 25% of children are now born to cohabiting parents. Couples who live together before marriage are actually less likely to stay married than other couples are. About 50 percent of such couples in the USA do get married; about 40 percent break up; and about 10 percent stay together without even getting married.
Voluntary Childlessness. Reasons: health problems, careers, age, dislike of children, lifestyle children may disrupt (travels or prolonged solitude)
Social Functions of the Family
Replacement of family members. In 1957, before the contraception pill, the average American woman had 4 kids.
Regulation of sexual activity. All societies place limits on the sexual behavior of their members, including limits regarding who can have sexual relations with whom. Forbidding sex between close family members (called the incest taboo) is a universal restriction.
Socialization of children. Children must be taught the elements of culture needed for competent participation in social life. The family is the primary arena in which this cultural learning takes place.
Gratification of emotional needs. One of the most important functions of the family is to meet the individual’s members need for love and emotional security. Ideally the family offers warmth, loyalty, concern, willingness to sacrifice for the good of others, and unconditional love.
Protection the young and disabled. During infancy and early childhood, humans are dependent on their parents for food, clothing, shelter, and basic care. Even as adults, many people experience episodes of illness or disability during which they can’t take care of themselves. The family sees its members through these times when special help is needed.
Married men live longer than single men. They are less likely to have traffic accidents, commit crimes, or get into other trouble. They also are mentally and physically healthier than single men. The reverse is true for women.