UCLA Marriage And Family Social Factos Reflective Project

For Reflective Project #3, you may choose one of the following three options. Please ensure that your paper is around 3 pages, double-spaced, with a heading (your name, course info, etc.) and a creative title. Remember that you must utilize ideas and concepts from the textbook, class lectures and discussions to illustrate your point, so the prompt that you choose to write about must reference any of those corresponding chapters, lectures, discussions, and/or activities. Lastly, factors such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar certainly count towards your reflection paper grade, so be sure to edit your paper beforehand. 

Below are the three prompts that you may choose (one) to write about:

1) Sexual Orientation: Outline both the Kinsey model of sexual orientation (Figure 2.3 in Chapter 12) and the Klein model of sexual orientation (class mini-lecture). For your review, graphics of these two models are included. What is similar? What is different? If you’ve reviewed these two models to see where you may lie, discuss your results if you are willing. Were you surprised by your results? Why or why not? You may also discuss this in more vague terms–what do you think of these models?

Then, discuss some key points related to the issue of maintaining sex and gender binaries (male/female and masculinity/femininity) in society. Why are they problematic? In what ways do they influence a skewed understanding of the terms “sex” and “gender,” as well as conformity to particular sexual orientation(s)? Be sure to illustrate your answer with explanations from the text, our lectures and/or other cited research. 

-OR-

2) Marriage and Family: Many Americans claim to believe that “love is blind” and that romance can spring up anywhere, as long as two people have chemistry. Chapter 14, however, argues that Cupid’s arrow is largely aimed by society. What social factors play into the mate selection process? Explain.

Then, watch ONE of the following:

documentary/biography “Meet the Patels” (check out the trailer and streaming optionsLinks to an external site.)

or, the film “The Big Sick” (check out the trailer and streaming optionsLinks to an external site.)

…and be sure to discuss how what the main character is going through (either Ravi Patel for “Meet the Patels,” or Kumail Nanjiani for “The Big Sick”), relates to the concepts presented in the text for this chapter. 

Lastly, examine your own relationships (past, present, anticipated future, etc.) and discuss how these social factors influenced your own mate selection. Do you see any patterns in the people you tend to date and/or the circumstances? Describe these phenomena from your life in sociological terms from the text. 

3) Marriage and Family – alternate, if you can’t find the documentary or film above: Many Americans claim to believe that “love is blind” and that romance can spring up anywhere, as long as two people have chemistry. Chapter 14, however, argues that Cupid’s arrow is largely aimed by society. What social factors play into the mate selection process? Explain.

Then, do some research on how other societies view and practice love and marriage, particularly within bi-cultural families, such as those who immigrated to the US in recent generations and are attempting to juggle a fine balance between customs in the US, and those of their native countries. Be sure to relate how some of these phenomena relate to the concepts presented in the text for this chapter, and remember to include citations to your sources within your paper, and at the end via a Works Cited or Bibliography. 

Lastly, examine your own relationships (past, present, anticipated future, etc.) and discuss how these social factors influenced your own mate selection. Do you see any patterns in the people you tend to date and/or the circumstances? Describe these phenomena from your life in sociological terms from the text.