Historian Eric Sager, commenting on the growing ranks of singles

Chapter 12

 

1. Historian Eric Sager, commenting on the growing ranks of singles, points out, “It is often said that divorce today performs the function that death did in the past. The promise to live together for better or worse, so long as you both shall live, means something very different if you anticipate a married life of 60 years, as opposed to a married life of 25 years.” Do you agree or disagree with Sager? Is the goal of lifetime marriage realistic in today’s society? What role, if any, does an increase in life expectancy play in marital stability? Explain.

 

Chapter 13

 

1. Discuss the significance of viewing remarried families as entities that are distinct from nuclear families. In a similar vein, some sociologists have argued against referring to remarried families as reconstituted or blended families. How might these latter terms cause problems for individuals living in remarried families? Should biological parents who are cohabiting with a partner be considered stepfamilies? Explain.

 

2. The divorce rate is higher in second marriages than in first marriages and even higher in third marriages. What factors are involved in these lower rates of marital stability? Do you see any as more important than the others? Explain. What can individuals and the community do to help improve the duration of remarriages? Explain.

 

 

Chapter 14

3. How does the experience of aging differ for single, married, divorced, and widowed people? For heterosexual and homosexual elderly? For elderly with children and those without? What actions could communities take to improve the lives of their elderly citizens?

 

4. InChapter 12, we asked whether the idea of a permanent marriage is a realistic option in today’s society. In this chapter, we noted that 6 percent of all married couples celebrated golden wedding anniversaries. Can you imagine yourself married for 50 or more years? What do you think it takes to stay married that long? The longer people stay married, the more likely they are to experience widowhood. Can or should married couples prepare for this eventuality? Would this make a difference in the way they experience widowhood? What advice and support could you give to a couple when one spouse is terminally ill? Explain your position.