ethnic differences in family patterns Flashcards
what has led to ethnic differences in family patterns
Increased migration and according to shaw, these patterns continue to change as they interact with the changing culture of Britain as a whole.
sociologists
shaw and berthoud
British south Asian families
They have a more traditional family life than the other groups with higher rates of marriage and low rates of cohabitation and divorce according to Berthoud. Couples married younger and fertility rates were higher. Arranged marriage was relatively common among Sikhs and Muslims and there was little intermarriage. There was a higher rate of three-generation households and obligations to assist extended kin were important. A higher value was placed on izzat or family honour especially in relation to the behaviour of daughter as Bhattis study of asian families also found
white British families
They had lower marriage and fertility rates, later marriages, smaller family sizes and high rates of cohabitation and divorce. Arranged marriages were unknown and intermarriage with other ethnic groups was common. Once married, setting up a separate household was the norm
black British Caribbean families
Lower marriages than the other two groups and fertility rates similar to those of White brits. They had higher rates of lone parenthood and high rates of intermarriage with other groups, esp white brits
old fashioned values v modern individualism
According to Berthoud despite the differences between and within these groups, all three were moving in the same direction away from traditional values towards modern individualism, where individual choice in personal relationships is more important than biding obligations and commitments.
changes in british asian families
many British asian families continue to have the traditional features described by berthoud. However, as Bhatti argued there were signs of changing attitudes among the young and conflict with elders esp as sons had chosen to marry out of their ethnic groups. Similarly, attitudes to divorce among British Pakistanis have changed. Qureshi found that first-generation migrants were more strongly opposed to divorce but there was now a growing acceptance of it. This is due to cultural conflicts in arranged marriages between British born Pakistanis and Pakistan-born spouses.
changes in Black British families
Among black british families there is a higher proportion of married and cohabiting couple families. Berthoud believes that part of this is the continuation of family patterns in the Caribbean where mother households are headed by a female who relies on the support of nearby female kin. In these households, there are no men present. However, Reynolds argues that the stats on lone parenthood are misleading, in that many lone parents have a visiting partner who may also play a full paternal role. (LATs). Black families are fluid and adaptive and such arrangments often transition into cohabitation or marriage. Safia Mirza argues that higher rate of lone parent black families reflect the high value that Black women place on their independence
types of families common in ethnic households
Extended families - Charles
Bean pole families -
why has the extended family survived
According to Chamberlain because it performs important functions for its members. Working class families had more frequent contact and there was more domestic help from mothers to daughters and among MC families there was more financial help from father to son. Extended families continue to play an important role for many people today - providing both practical and emotional support when needed. This is different from parsons extended family where extended family live and worked together and who were bound by strong mutual obligations. Nevertheless, some sense of obligation does remain, at least to some kin and as a last resort in times of crisis.
beanpole family
Brannen describes this as long and thin. It is extended vertically through three or more children but it is not extended horizontally, it does not involve aunts, uncles and cousins. For example, Charles found that mothers and daughters had higher levels of contact, this was not the case among brothers and sisters
why do beanpole families emerge
Increased life expectancy - more surviving grandparents
