Family and marriage are cultural universals and social institutions. However, sociological, cross-cultural, and anthropological studies show that they are practiced in various ways, and differ from one society to another. Starting from these social and anthropological facts, answer the following questions: 

1- Who do you consider is part of your family? and why? Does some or all parts of the sociological definition of the Family cited in your textbook apply to your family’s composition?   

2- What makes family, marriage, and divorce social institutions (structures) ?  

3-Do you think that the roles of the family and marriage as social institutions are less relevant and diminishing in modern capitalist societies such as the U.S?  Or they are just restructuring to adapt to the new political, cultural, and economic conditions?  

4- In today’s society, does marriage and having a stable family symbolize social status (prestige) and economic success ? 

Note: You can talk about the United States or your country of origin.