10 Markers: Changes in Society Flashcards
Outline and explain two ways in which changes in society may have weakened the traditional nuclear family unit [10 marks]
As we move to a postmodern society that is fraqmented and
diverse, relationships and choice change. Society is full of
people making their own choices rather than following
traditional norms, values or beliefs, so people are no longer
inclined to follow traditional social structures like the nuclear
family. Giddens and Beck call this the individualisation thesis.
This suggests that people’s lives are no longer determined by
fixed roles. This implies that we have fewer fixed roles to
follow such as the expectation to get married and follow their
appropriate gender role. As a result, individuals have become
freed from traditional roles and structures which provides
more room for people to choose how to lead their lives. As a
consequence, individuals look for pure relationships to satisfy
their own self-interest and this has actively challenged the
patriarchal conventional nuclear family by basing relationships
on love rather than traditional norms.
Social movements such as feminism have contributed to the
advancement of women and this may have weakened the
traditional nuclear family. Changes in women’s employment
and the provision of education for girls has influenced
changes in women’s positions in both the home and society
generally. Allan and Crowe suggest that “marriage is less
embedded within the economic system”. This means that
women are able to support themselves and are now longer
dependent on men financially as they find themselves in
employment. This suggests that marriage is no longer
necessary for women. In addition, women having access to
income directly undermines the domestic division of labour
present within the traditional patriarchal family. As a result of
having their own income, women may seek divorce from their
husbands in the absence of love and are less likely to tolerate
unequal relationships if they are gaining equality outside the
home or even avoid marrying altogether knowing they can
support themselves thereby weakening the traditional nuclear
family, particularly because men are no longer a source of
financial stability.
Item Y Since 1900, there have been significant declines in birth rates and death rates, and greater life expectancy in the UK. More women are choosing to have fewer or no children, and many delay having children until they are older. Such demographic changes are influencing the size and shape of families and households, and contributing to greater family and household diversity. Applying material from Item Y, analyse two ways in which demographic changes are leading to more family and household diversity in the contemporary UK [10 marks]
One demographic change that could lead to more family and
household diversity is a trend of “significant declines in birth
rates’ (Item Y). The birth rate refers to the number of live births
per thousand of population per year. Harper believes that the
education of women is the most important reason for the
long-term fall in birth and fertility rates. Such changes in the
amount of babies has an instrumental impact on family
structures and sizes. This may lead to smaller family sizes,
meaning that women are more likely to be able to go out to
work, thereby creating a more symmetrical family as opposed
to conforming to the patriarchal nuclear family. Similarly,
having less children may also create more lone-parent
families. This may be due to the increased career options/
welfare benefits of women, they may feel that they do not
need a partner to financially support them. Therefore creating
more lone-parent families. Despite this, class differences still
impact the birth rate. For example, children born into poor
families are more likely to die in infancy or childhood.
Another demographic change that could lead to more family
and household diversity is greater life expectancy in the
UK’ (Item Y). Life expectancy refers to how long on average a
person born in a given year can expect to live. Harper
suggests that ‘radical longevity’ will soon be achieved as there
are now an increased number of centenarians. Greater life
expectancy can lead to an increase in single person
households. This suggests number of pensioners living alone
has increased. Specifically, a high proportion of these
pensioners tend to be female. This is because women
generally live longer and because they are usually younger
than their husbands. Therefore, as the life expectancy is
increasing and many pensioners are living alone. This suggests
that there is a greater number of single person households,
often occupied by widows. Furthermore, increased life
expectancy can lead to an increase in the beanpole family.
This is because grandparents are more likely to survive.
However, there are regional differences which may have a
negative effect on life expectancy. Walker suggests that those
living in the poorest areas die on average seven years earlier
than those in richer areas.
Outline and explain two ways in which government policies may affect family structure 110 marks]
One government policy that may affect family structure is the
provision of welfare benefits. The New Right believe that the
provision of welfare benefits encourage society to move away
from the natural, traditional and patriarchal nuclear family.
New Right thinker Murray argues that the provision of over-
generous welfare benefits, such as housing for unmarried
teenage mothers and financial support for lone-parent
families, undermine the conventional nuclear family and
instead encourage other dysfunctional family types. This
suggests that such welfare benefits offer ‘perverse incentives’
that encourage irresponsible behavior. For example,
providing housing for unmarried teenage girls encourages
young girls to get pregnant, and this undermines the value of
marriage and normalises births outside of marriages. Thus
encourages the lone-parent family structure, as young girls do
not need to get married to be financially secure. In addition,
welfare benefits also encourage fathers to abandon their
responsibilities as they believe that the state will maintain their
children, further lessening the prominence of the conventional
nuclear family and instead increasing the prominence of lone-
parent families.
Another set of government policies that may affect family
structure is changes in the law regarding divorce. Gradually,
changes in the law have made divorce easier, especially for
women. For example, the grounds for divorce were equalised
in 1923, divorce was made cheaper in 1949 and the grounds of
divorce were widened in 1971. As outlined by Renvoize,
professional women were able to support the child without
the father’s involvement. This could mean that professional
women may intiate divorces more than non-professional
women. This leads to an increase in lone-parent families, and
these lone-parent families are usually headed by women as
divorce courts normally give custody of children to mothers.
Furthermore, non-professional women may be more willing to
give up work to care for the children in comparison to men, as
they are often financially supported by welfare benefits. This
may because women are naturally suited to expressive role.
Similarly, this may also lead to an increase in one-person
households, as the father is likely to leave the family home
following a divorce and children are more likely to live with
their mother (who has custody of them). Therefore, changes in
the divorce law has led to the creation of lone-parent families
and one-person households.
Outline and explain two reasons for changes in the size of families and households in the last 50 years or so [10 marks]
- Changes in the position of women
One reason for changes in the size of families and households
is the shift in women’s positions. Particularly, women have
better access to paid work and equal opportunities within the
education system provided by the National Curriculum.
Evidence: Harper (2012) - Women’s education is the most
important reason for the long-term decrease in birth and
fertilitv rates.
Analysis: This suggests there is a change in mindset amongst
women, they are beginning to plan their lives and putting their
careers before having children and this causes a significant
change in family sizes, in particular smaller family sizes.
Furthermore, cultural norms about family size has changed
and smaller families are more widelv accepted, women now
no longer feel pressure to conform to having a large family. - Children have become economic liabilities
Point: Another reason for changes in the sizes of families and
households is the change in the economic status of children.
Explain: Children have shifted from being seen as economic
assets to being seen as economic liabilities
Evidence: As suggested by Aries, children in the middle ages
entered wider society on the same terms as adults, meaning
that they would work at an early age
Analysis: Extending the school leaving age and banning
children from carrying out paid work allows children to remain
economically dependent on their parents. Norms are also
changing, children expect more from their parents in material
terms. As a result, parents often have less children as they
cannot cope with the added financial pressures, and the family
size decreases.
Outline and explain two changes in society which have contributed to the increase in single person households [10 marks]
- Point: One societal change that has contributed to the
increase in single person households is an increase in the
aging population.
Explain: The average age of the UK population is rising; this
means there are fewer young people and more old people.
Evidence: Spijker and Maclnnes point out that there are now
more people over 65 in the UK than children under 15.
Analysis: The number of pensioners living alone has increased.
These pensioners tend to be female, both because women
generally live longer and because they are usually younger
than their husbands. Therefore, as the average age of the
population is increasing and many pensioners are living alone,
there is a greater number of single person households, often
occupied by widows. - Point: Since the 1960s, there has been a great increase in the
number of divorces in the UK.
Explain: The decline in marriage and the rise in divorce has
created more single person households, with more diverse
relationships.
Evidence: Levin suggests that LATs have become more
common as a result of the decline of marriage.
Analysis: The increase in separation and divorce has meant
more people are living alone, and this is usually men. This is
because, after divorce, the children involved are more likely to
live with their mother and the father is more likely to leave the
family home. As a result, individuals may engage in LATs to
deal with the fallout of divorces and also to carry out a “trial’
on their new partnership before committing fully to avoid
inevitable divorce. This suggests, that changes in marriage,
divorce and relationships are contributing to the increase in
single-person households.
Outline and explain two changes in society which may have contributed to women's changing roles within families [10 marks]
- Point: The spread of feminist ideas mav have contributed to
women’s changing roles within families, in particular Liberal
feminism.
Explain: Schools of thought like Liberal feminism are involved
with ensuring gender equality within society. They actively
challenge sex discrimination and equal pay rights. They hold a
‘march of progress’ view towards gender equality.
Evidence: Liberal feminists believe that women’s oppression is
being gradually overcome through changing people’s
attitudes and through changes such as the Sex Discrimination
Act (1975).
Analysis: This change in attitudes suggests that we are moving
towards greater gender equality, this equality will depend on
reforms in attitudes and socialisation patterns of the sexes
Progressively, the way parents socialise their children is more
equal than it has been previously and parents are beginning to
have unified aspirations for their children. This means, women
are encouraged to follow similar career paths as men.
Additionally, it’s believed that men are doing more domestic
labour and the domestic division of labour is becoming more
equal which allows the burden to not be placed completely
on women, therefore women’s roles are changing within the
family, they are no longer seen as just domestic workers. - Point: The position of women has improved in regards to
decision-making within the household.
Explain: Over recent decades, women are becoming more
involved in paid work and this has impacted their role on
decision-making.
Evidence: Laurie and Gershuny found that 70% of couples
believed they had an equal say in decision-making, and
women who were high earners and professionals were more
likely to have an equal say.
Analysis: This shows that the traditional expressive role women
had has broken down. As a result, women are now taking on
an instrumental role and are beginning to earn for the family.
Traditionally, the power to make decisions relied on men
because they had economic power over women. This simply
isn’t the case anymore; women are earning a proportion of
income meaning they can have a say in decisions. This
demonstrates a move towards equality in the family, and
women’s roles have changed as a result.
Item V In Britain, the traditional family life cycle and life course have changed dramatically. There have been huge changes in family formation, and young people face growing uncertainty as they encounter a range of choices in their personal lives, and are less guided and constrained by traditional norms and values surrounding family life and relationships. Applying material from Item V, analyse two ways in which changing norms and values have contributed to growing diversity in personal and family life today [10 marks]
As society changes, norms and values begin to change. It is
believed that we now live in a society where young people
face growing uncertainty’ (Item V). Beck (1992) argues that we
now live in a ‘risk society’ where tradition has less influence
and people have more choice. As a result, we are more aware
of risks. This may be due to the lack of conformity towards
tradition, this suggests that people calculate the risks and
rewards associated with different options. This is a stark
contrast to the past; people were expected to marry, men
were expected to carry out the breadwinner roles whilst the
women were expected to carry out the homemaker role.
Furthermore, trends towards greater gender equality and
individualisation have meant that there has been a rise in
‘negotiated families’ (Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, 1995). These
refer to families that do not conform to traditional family
norms, and they vary according to the needs and wishes of its
members by negotiation. Therefore, the relationships are more
equal. Despite being a more equal family, the negotiated
family is less stable because individuals are free to leave if
their needs are not being met, and this instability leads to
greater family diversity for example by creating more lone-
parent families.
Over time, people have experienced an increase in the ‘range
of choices in their personal lives, and are less guided and
constrained by traditional norms and values surrounding family
life and relationships’ (Item V). Relationships are no longer
bound together by the law, religion, social norms or traditional
institutions, they are bound on individual choice and equality.
This has created a new type of relationship, one that Giddens
calls the ‘pure relationship’. This type of relationship is
particularly common within late modern society. Specifically, a
pure relationship exists solely to satisfy each partner’s needs.
This means that the relationship is likely to survive if both
partners feel it meets their interests. As a result, couples often
stay together based on love, happiness or sexual attraction
rather than being governed by tradition, duty or children.
Therefore, individuals are free to enter or leave relationships
on their own terms. As a consequence, relationships become a
key part of self-discovery or self-identity. But, this viewpoint
ignores the fact that not everyone has the same ability or
privilege to exercise choice about relationships, for example
this can be influenced by gender, men are usually freer to start
new relationships, whereas women are often burdened with
childcare after divorce and this can restrict their abilities to
start new relationships.
