Which factor helps explain differences in family forms across racial and ethnic groups?

• A. Genetic differences
• B. Access to resources and experiences of discrimination
• C. Biological determinism
• D. Uniform parenting practices

Answer: (B)

Key idea: family forms across racial and ethnic groups are shaped by social and economic conditions rather than biology or universal parenting patterns. Access to resources like income, wealth, housing, education, and health care, along with experiences of discrimination and the policies that affect opportunities, influence decisions about marriage, childbearing, and who lives in the household. When resources are limited or barriers exist, families may rely more on extended kin, multigenerational arrangements, or other living patterns as a strategy for support and security. Discrimination and unequal access to opportunity create stress and instability that can affect family structure and stability in ways that do not reflect genetic or biological differences. In contrast, genetics or biological determinism would suggest inherent, group-wide biological differences driving family forms, which research shows is not the driver. Uniform parenting practices across groups are unlikely, given cultural diversity and differing resource pressures, so they don’t account for broad cross-group differences.