CHANGING PATTERNS OF FAMILY LIFE Flashcards
what does Chester propose the concept of?
neo-conventional family.
what is a neo-conventional family?
families where both partners contribute to paid work.
evaluation of Chesters work?
downplays there significance of family diversity.
what does Stacey argue contemporary families are marked by?
increasing diversity and are more fluid.
evaluation of Stacey’s work?
challenges traditional nuclear family.
give 2 reasons for a decline in marriage?
- secularisation.
- costs and expenses.
evaluation of secularisation being a factor in marriage decline?
only 30% of weddings in the UK today are religious - clearly doesn’t ave that much of an impact.
give 2 reasons for an increase in delaying marriage?
- feminisation of the workplace.
- living longer.
how many couples in the UK are cohabiting couples?
3%
2 reasons for an increase in divorce?
- legal changes (law).
- female emancipation.
what is female emancipation?
in the past, women would have feared divorce bc of financial risks of losing husband - now they are independent and make their own money.
what are the consequences of increase in divorce?
increase in lone-parent families and blended families.
2 reasons for decline in childbirth?
- women’s increased participation in workforce.
- wider contraceptive access.
what is a life course?
the social phases we progress through, throughout our lives.
what do some argue that children are more likely to face in lone-parent families?
more economic and emotional challenges.
what are beanpole families?
extended families with fewer children in each generation but stronger ties across generations.
what is an evaluation of a beanpole family?
shows how important strong ties are within family.
what is a LAT couple?
living apart together.
2 reasons for LAT couples?
- prioritising career.
- financial independence.
what do Beck and Giddens argue that relationships have become more ….?
individualised.
what is the idea of Giddens’ pure relationship?
relationships based on emotional intimacy and equality rather than obligations or duties.
evaluation of Giddens pure relationship?
highlights importance of personal choice but can overlook social norms.
what do postmodernists’ like Stacey that family life is now characterised by….? (2 things)
diversity and fluidity.
evaluation of Staceys’ work?
may overemphasises individual choice.
