6.1 Chapter Reading Guide
Elizabeth B. Pearce
In this chapter you will learn about another way to think about belonging. Being represented in decision-making by being a part of both formal and informal processes contributes to a family’s sense of belonging in a community, state, and country. You’ll get a brief history of some of the social structures in the United States. Looking at the formal and informal ways of representation that expresses individuals’ and families’ needs is critical to thinking about families and equity.
The reading is designed to help you meet the following chapter objectives. You may also want to preview the key terms that follow. These terms will be bolded the first time they appear in the chapter. You can read the definitions here and also in the hyperlinks.
Chapter Learning Objectives
- Reflect on the significance of representation, belonging, and equity in social institutions in your own experience and for contemporary families.
- Describe the purpose, evolution, changes, and challenges of the census in counting every person in the United States.
- Analyze how the formal decision-making process of voting affects families in the United States.
- Discuss the barriers families encounter in voting and participation in the social process.
- Analyze representation and belonging from an equity perspective with a focus on the feminist and Black Lives Matter movements.
- Apply theoretical concepts related to representation and belonging to one’s own observations and experiences.
Key Terms Preview
- Allies: a person who forms relationships with and advocates with or for others who are marginalized but do not have that marginalized identity themselves.
- American Community Survey (ACS): a program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that gathers demographic information annually in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
- Black feminist critiques: a body of critical and creative work written by Black women in the United States regarding feminism and how it often ignores racism and class oppression.
- Disenfranchisement: the state of being rejected or being deprived of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote.
- Feminist movement: a series of social movements and political campaigns for radical and liberal reforms regarding sex and gender equity, women’s issues, and sexism.
- Representation: the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.
- Social movement: a loosely organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a social goal, such as carrying out change or resisting or undoing the status quo.
- U.S. census: a population census that takes place every 10 years and is legally mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
- Voter registration: the process whereby citizens register with election officials in order to become eligible to vote.
Licenses and Attributions for Chapter Reading Guide
Open Content, Original
“Chapter Reading Guide” by Elizabeth B. Pearce. License: CC BY 4.0.
the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.
ensuring that people have what they need in order to have a healthy, successful life that is equal to others. Different from equality in that some may receive more help than others in order to be at the same level of success.
can include the aim, goal, or intention of an action; a long-term guiding principle; the impact our life has on the world.