Deck 8: Commitments: Women and Close Relationships

Question 1

The tendency for women to "marry up" and men to "marry down" when it comes to attributes such as occupational prestige and income potential is called the

A)matching hypothesis.
B)marriage gradient.
C)couples' incline.
D)masculine advantage.

Answer 1

marriage gradient.

Question 2

Marriage viewing the husband as "senior partner" and wife as "junior partner" is

A)traditional.
B)modern.
C)egalitarian.
D)dual-earner.

Answer 2

modern.

Question 3

Many marriages remain unequal in some level of male dominance,but couples often refuse to acknowledge these traditional gender roles;instead constructing a

A)myth of equality.
B)marital justification.
C)traditional denial.
D)None of the above is correct.

Answer 3

myth of equality.

Question 4

"Traditional" marriages are characterized by

A)a "best friend" relationship between the woman and man.
B)togetherness in most leisure activities.
C)male authority.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 5

American women are marrying later because

A)goals beside being a wife and mother are more acceptable.
B)advances in contraception have made premarital sex less risky.
C)there is a shortage of marriageable men for some women.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 6

"Marrying up" may be defined as

A)a tendency for females to choose a man with high prestige and income potential.
B)a tendency for females to choose a man with high income potential only.
C)a belief marital happiness will increase over time.
D)a belief financial security in a marriage will increase over time.

Question 7

Cross-cultural differences in potential mate selection found people in several __________ countries placed more importance on virginity,whereas people in ________ countries considered virginity irrelevant.

A)South American;Asian and Middle Eastern
B)Asian and Middle Eastern;Scandinavian
C)Asian;European
D)African;European

Question 8

The marriage gradient implies a 30-year-old male lawyer is most likely to marry

A)another 30-year-old lawyer.
B)a 23-year-old teacher.
C)a woman at least as high as himself on the wage gradient.
D)He is equally likely to marry any of the above.

Question 9

A woman who enters her first marriage at an older age

A)is likely to have had some experience of independent living.
B)has probably held paid jobs.
C)has had time to get more education.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 10

"Modern" marriages involves

A)equality of power between the wife and husband.
B)a valuing of togetherness in leisure time.
C)more importance being given to the wife's employment than to the husband's.
D)modern love.

Question 11

Marriages in which the partners have moved beyond gender to define their roles in that they value equity and the needs of each other and their children are referred to as

A)equalitarian marriages.
B)the myth of equality.
C)post-gender relationships.
D)privileged relationships.

Question 12

In recent studies of power in dual-career marriages,

A)over 70% of wives say when there's a really important decision on which the spouses disagree,both have equal power.
B)35% of wives say when there's an important decision on which the spouses disagree,the wife has the final say.
C)there is a consistent pattern of inequality of power,in favor of husbands.
D)male dominance is endorsed as much as it is in traditional marriages.

Question 13

Which factor is present in an "egalitarian" marriage?

A)Both members have equal power and authority.
B)Both members share responsibilities equally.
C)Both members expect to be best friends.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 14

Respondents of a cross-cultural study of people from 37 countries ranked the importance of 31 characteristics for a potential mate,showing

A)no two groups ordered the characteristics in exactly the same way.
B)gender differences were larger than cultural differences in the ordering of characteristics.
C)the biggest difference was in characteristics of physical attractiveness and personality.
D)all countries stressed chastity.

Question 15

cross-cultural study,_______________ were more similar in their mate preferences than were _________________.

A)men and women from the same culture;men to men from different cultures
B)men and women from the same culture;men to women from different cultures
C)men to other men from different cultures;men and women from the same culture
D)a and b.

Question 16

"Modern" marriages are characterized by

A)a "second shift" for the wife.
B)a "near-peer" or "senior partner-junior partner" relationship.
C)the woman working outside the home.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 17

"Egalitarian" marriages are characterized by

A)equivalent power and authority between husband and wife.
B)"separate but equal" work around the house (tasks divided along gender roles).
C)putting the children ahead of the marriage relationship.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 18

Which of the following is a likely cause of US women's rising average age at first marriage?

A)advances in contraception
B)feminism's emphasis on choices for women
C)a shortage of men in some ethnic groups
D)All the above are correct.

Question 19

Age at first marriage

A)has increased in recent years.
B)has decreased in recent years.
C)has increased in the U.S.but decreased in Europe.
D)has increased among blacks but not among white women.

Question 20

Globally,the biggest difference across cultures in mate selection was due to

A)gender values.
B)cultural values.
C)both gender and cultural values.
D)intelligence.

Question 21

Which statement accurately describes lesbian relationships?

A)Few lesbian couples mimic "husband" and "wife" roles in their lives together.
B)Most same-sex couples believe both partners should work for pay.
C)The importance of the work or career interests of each partner is likely to be fairly equal.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 22

Compared to long-term heterosexual relationships,lesbian couples

A)lack institutional and societal support.
B)are more egalitarian.
C)share more leisure activities.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 23

One myth about marriage is

A)men rely on women for social and emotional support more than women rely on men.
B)equality is not easily achieved.
C)all marriages lasting over time are happy marriages.
D)happy marriages are possible.

Question 24

Lesbians share more leisure time than heterosexual couples.This is because

A)only lesbians can find a same-sex friend and a spouse in the same person.
B)most people need a same-sex "best friend."
C)women are socialized to have more common interests with other women than with men.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 25

Social Exchange theory explains greater male power in marriage in terms of

A)traditional beliefs and social norms.
B)bringing in greater outside resources results in greater influence.
C)the exchange of financial security for affection and caring.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 26

Many women feel more negative about their marriages after they have children.This seems to be because

A)as they expected,the division of household chores became more lopsided.
B)they resent the burden of the increased workload at home.
C)they are disappointed their husbands do less household work/child care than expected.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 27

When there are power differences in a lesbian relationship,they are usually due to such things as one partner

A)having greater resources of money.
B)having greater resources of education.
C)being more committed than the other.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 28

Lesbians who are "out" to significant others in their lives

A)report less satisfaction with their partners.
B)often have a smaller group of close friends with whom they associate.
C)report increased satisfaction with their partners.
D)report no satisfaction at all.

Question 29

Social exchange theory implies

A)if husband and wife have equal external resources,marital interaction will also be equal.
B)if husband and wife have unequal external resources,marital interactions will be equal.
C)women exchange love for security.
D)men exchange sex for financial support.

Question 30

Instead of challenging husbands or admitting the relationship is unequal,women

A)minimize conflict or blame themselves when it happens.
B)used distancing and vague,hypothetical terms when talking about equality.
C)made positive comparisons between their own husbands and other people's.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 31

Who do wives and husbands most often turn to confide their deepest secrets?

A)Husbands turn to male friends or relatives;wives turn to female relatives.
B)Wives turn to husbands;husbands turn to wives.
C)Wives turn to female relatives or friends;husbands turn to wives.
D)Husbands turn to male friends or relatives;wives turn to husbands.

Question 32

People cohabit in order to

A)have a "trial marriage" with a partner.
B)show their independence from their parents.
C)pay the rent more easily.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 33

Career interest of each person is more likely to be fairly equal in lesbian or bisexual couples than in heterosexual couples because

A)lesbians and bisexuals consider their careers more important than their relationships.
B)same-sex couples cannot assign the "breadwinner" role based on sex.
C)lesbians and bisexual women tend to value independence in their relationships.
D)b and c

Question 34

Identifying a butch/femme-as a mandated identity in a lesbian relationship.

A)is for bisexual rather than lesbian relationships.
B)is an example of heterosexism.
C)is based on physical attractiveness.
D)is based on being "out" in the relationship.

Question 35

During marriage,a decline in happiness often occurs after

A)the first two months.
B)the second child is born.
C)the first child is born.
D)two years.

Question 36

A suitable,everyday term for couples who live together but who are not married does not exist in this culture.This suggests

A)experiences of cohabiting couples are so varied they cannot be reduced to one term.
B)cohabiting is very rare.
C)the cohabitation relationship is not yet an institution in this society.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 37

Lesbian and gay couples share many similarities with heterosexual couples;however,lesbian and gay couples

A)have standardized roles into which they must conform.
B)must resolve numerous conflicts arising from gender based division of labor.
C)do have the social features of marriage,encouraging their relationship.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 38

Dual-career marriages often fall short of being egalitarian in which way?

A)Husbands do much more housework than their wives.
B)Wives do much more housework than their husbands.
C)Usually only the husband has a glamorous,prestigious career.
D)Usually only the wife has a glamorous,prestigious career.

Question 39

What does research show about social exchange theory's explanation of greater male power in marriage?

A)In couples with equal incomes,power is usually about equal.
B)The more traditional the couple's beliefs,the more power the man has.
C)In couples with equal incomes,the man's power is usually still greater.
D)More financially secure couples don't necessarily have more equality.

Question 40

Which statement about happiness and marriage is true?

A)Men and women are both about equally happy.
B)Women are happier than men.
C)Men are happier than women.
D)Women and men are both fairly unhappy with marriage.

Question 41

The US has the highest divorce rate of any industrialized nation.More recently,the divorce rate in the US

A)had begun to level off.
B)was continuing to increase at an alarming rate.
C)had doubled.
D)began to decrease considerably.

Question 42

Suggest two or three factors accounting for the increased rate of divorce in the U.S.over the past 40 years.

Question 43

Research on cohabitation and later marital satisfaction indicates that

A)people who cohabit and later marry are more likely to divorce.
B)the "trial marriage" approach to cohabitation leads to better marital adjustment.
C)couples who cohabit and later marry usually manage to avoid conflicts.
D)cohabitating couples rarely marry.

Question 44

Of the following groups,which is the least likely to receive child support?

A)White women
B)Black women
C)Women who are welfare clients
D)Hispanic women

Question 45

It has been argued marital satisfaction changes over the life cycle.Explain what this statement means.

Question 46

One contributor to the rising divorce rates is many women

A)have become more argumentative as they have become more liberated.
B)find men will not tolerate the woman's desire for equality in the relationship.
C)have alternatives for economic survival other than dependence on a husband's income.
D)are marrying at an older age than in previous generations.

Question 47

At the societal level,several factors have been correlated with rising divorce rates.Divorce rates rise along with

A)political and social unrest.
B)the unemployment rate.
C)women's participation in the paid work force.
D)a and b

Question 48

Why do women lose out financially in divorce?

A)A majority of state property laws assume property belongs to the spouse who earned it.
B)Economic value of the wife's unpaid labor is not considered in the divorce proceedings.
C)Women's sense of guilt and failure may prevent them from asserting financial needs.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 49

Research on formerly cohabiting couples who are then married indicates they are

A)much less likely to divorce.
B)more likely to be white and well-educated.
C)more likely to be liberal.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 50

Janet (a 22-year-old secretary)and Ryan (her 30-year-old boss)have recently married.Discuss the types of marriage they could have (traditional,modern,egalitarian,dual earner).What factors will help determine which type they find themselves in? Which one do you think they are most likely to be in and why?

Question 51

Studies of divorce and remarriage suggest second marriages are ___________ than first marriages to end in divorce.

A)slightly less likely
B)equally as likely
C)much less likely
D)much more likely

Question 52

In the U.S. ,over 40- 50% of first marriages end within _________ years.

A)2
B)5
C)7
D)15

Question 53

Women are more likely than men to say their marriages ended due to their partners'

A)infidelities.
B)substance abuse.
C)mental or physical abuse of them.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 54

Strains on remarriages that may lead to divorce include

A)stress from complex family structures and dynamics.
B)conflicts over how to allocate money to various household members.
C)spouses being less inclined to stay if unhappy,having already divorced once.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 55

Women seem to adjust better to divorce than men because

A)they tend to receive custody of the children.
B)women focus on building and maintaining networks of supportive friends and family.
C)they typically receive spousal support.
D)they only have to do housework for themselves again.

Question 56

When dividing a couple's assets upon divorce,divorce courts often do not consider the value of the husband's ________________,which the couple has built together.

A)pension benefits
B)education
C)future earning power
D)All the above are correct.

Question 57

There are various alternatives to heterosexual marriage (lesbian relationships,cohabitation,and divorce that may or may not lead to remarriage).Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each for women.

Question 58

Research on divorce indicates

A)the US has the highest divorce rate of any industrialized country.
B)people whose parents have been divorced are less likely to divorce.
C)divorce rates continue to rise steeply.
D)women who work outside the home are no more likely to divorce than are homemakers.

Question 59

Women who are full-time homemakers and get divorced

A)lose their source of financial support.
B)have fewer marketable workplace skills.
C)view their divorces as personal failures & loss of a job.
D)All the above are correct.

Question 60

_______ remains highly correlated with divorce.

A)Intelligence
B)Sexual creativity
C)Marrying young
D)Female unemployment

Question 61

How does egalitarian marriage differ from traditional and modern marriage? Why is it so rare?

Question 62

Discuss the different forms of power found in marriages,as described by the text.

Question 63

The text describes a variety of different types of marriages.Describe each of them,their structures,and the roles each partner plays in the different types of marriages.

Question 64

Does the experience of divorce make second marriages better? Support your answer with evidence.

Question 65

What factors contribute to greater male power in marriage and dating relationships? In what ways are changes in women's lives affecting the traditional power balance?

Question 66

Why do some people choose to cohabit?

Question 67

Is egalitarian marriage possible? Why or why not?

Question 68

Overall,cross-cultural differences in mate preference are greater than differences between men and women within the same culture.What does this statement mean?

Question 69

Describe the added strains for lesbian and bisexual women in committed relationships.

Question 70

What does social exchange theory predict about equality in marriage? What are some problems with this theory?

Question 71

What social and economic factors account for the current trend of marrying later in the U.S.and Western Europe?