Ethnic differences in family patterns/ What do sociologists think?

Question 1

In 2008, what percentage of black families were single parent families?

Answer 1

70% (approx.)

Question 2

How many people per household does a Bangladeshi household tend to be?

Answer 2

4.5

Question 3

Mirza (commenting on the higher rate of black SPF)

Answer 3

The higher rate of black single parent families doesn’t reflect disorganisation, but rather the high value that black women place on independence

Question 4

Reynolds (commenting on misleading stats)

Answer 4

Statistics can be misleading: many ‘single’ parents may be in stable, supportive non-cohabiting relationships

Question 5

Ballard (commenting on the benefit on extended families and arranged marriage)

Answer 5

• extended families provided an important source of support among Asian migrants in the 1950s and 1960s
• in more modern times, many marriages are largely arranged but children expect to have some say in their marriage partner and couples expect more independence from their kin

Question 6

What has ethnic diversity in contemporary Britain contributed to?

Answer 6

• different types of families and households

Question 7

What do the Black Caribbean and Black African families have a higher proportion of?

Answer 7

• lone parent families

Question 8

What explanations are there for the high rate of female single parent families?

Answer 8

• traced back to slavery where if the couple were sold the children would stay with the mother
• more recently the high rate of unemployment/ poverty among black men which means they’re less able to provide for their family which results in high rates of desertion and marital breakdown (the male doesn’t feel the responsibility to the family/ cannot provide for the family so the female would want to be alone)

Question 9

What is the trend in Asian families?

Answer 9

• tend to be larger than other ethnic groups

Question 10

Describe the most common features of a large Asian family

Answer 10

• multi-generational
• organised through a network of males and bound by ideas of brotherhood and loyalty
• most are nuclear (not extended)

Question 11

What explanations are there for why Asian families tend to be bigger?

Answer 11

• reflects the value placed on the extended family in Asian cultures and practical considerations such as the need for assistance when migrating

Question 12

In the early period of migration, Asian families would often be extended and share one house. What happens today?

Answer 12

• most households are nuclear but the extended family still live close by which demonstrates the importance of kinship networks

Question 13

Which religious groups are more likely to live in extended family units?

Answer 13

Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus