1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK

Question 1

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- point 1

Answer 1

The family is becoming more streamlined which is changing the its structure from extended families to isolated nuclear families.

Question 2

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK-example 1

Answer 2

Parsons argued that family members are no longer obliged to have social relationships with kin outside the nuclear family. This has led to the family becoming streamlined and specialised. He called this process structural differentiation. The family can then use other institutions to specialize elsewhere, for example, a retirement home can take care of the grandparents instead of the family.

Question 3

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK-explain 1

Answer 3

This shows that the extended family is no longer important because they are not needed anymore; extended family members do not have a function anymore and do not need to be taken care of so the relationships between kin members are weakening.

Question 4

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- counter 1

Answer 4

McGlone et al would argue against this as he found members of the extended family would constantly keep in contact even if they live far away from each other as they were needed for support. This helped to keep the extended family very close to one another.

Question 5

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- intro

Answer 5

The extended family is a group consisting of all kin, it contains 2 or more generations that normally live close or under the same roof. It is often viewed as no longer important.

Question 6

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- point 2

Answer 6

In pre-industrial societies there were clear status positions within the family, now with achieved status being so important, there might be conflict between generations of the extended family over work.

Question 7

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK-example 2

Answer 7

Parsons argued societies became industrial and made the extended family no longer important when there became an increasing importance on achieved status, which could create conflict between extended family. For example a son may get a higher status job than his father and this would disrupt the normal hierarchy and threaten the solidarity of the family. This wouldn’t happen when status position was mainly ascribed.

Question 8

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK-explain 2

Answer 8

This shows that the extended family is no longer important as the importance of achieved status creating conflict in families, destroyed the values of the whole extended family having a set of ascribed functions.

Question 9

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- counter 2

Answer 9

Fletcher argues that the extended families have increased in detail and importance and the family socializes the children into high standards of social status.

Question 10

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- conclusion

Answer 10

In conclusion, evidence shows the view that extended families are no longer important is actually incorrect. Many studies show that the extended families structure is changing and not dissolving, Devine would argue that despite geographical mobility, new technology keeps the extended family in contact and keeps their relationships strong and McGlone argued that the extended families would keep strong relationships even if they lived far away from each other as they were needed for support.

Question 11

1. Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- point 3

Answer 11

Family life is becoming more home centered and based around the nuclear family.

Question 12

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- example 3

Answer 12

Young and Willmott found in a study of a council estate near Bethnal Green that families were in privatisation; wives lost regular contact with their mothers and husbands cut off social contacts in Bethnal green.

Question 13

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- explain 3

Answer 13

This shows that the extended family is no longer important as the kin are losing contact due to geographical mobility as the family life is more home-centred.

Question 14

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- counter 3

Answer 14

Devine would argue that the degree of privatization of family life has been exaggerated. She found that Geographical mobility had not destroyed kinship networks as cars and telephones enabled relatives to keep in touch.

Question 15

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- point 4

Answer 15

The ideas of family life were initiated by the higher social classes and gradually filtered down to the lower classes.

Question 16

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- example 4

Answer 16

Young and Willmott argue that the changes to the extended family has occurred through a process of stratified diffusion, meaning that as the working class only had the values of the extended family given to them by the higher class, there is less need for the traditional mutual aid network of the extended family and because of their shorter working hours and a higher standard of living, family life has become increasingly privatised and nuclear.

Question 17

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- explain 4

Answer 17

This shows that the extended family is no longer important as its values aren’t being embraced anymore which is leading to more and more families with privatisation as they don’t feel the need to follow ideas set by the upper class.

Question 18

Outline and evaluate the view that the extended family is no longer important in the contemporary UK- counter 4

Answer 18

Many sociologists are unhappy about the concept of ‘stratified diffusion’, implying as it does that the working class automatically follows norms established by the middle class.