Family Diversity

Question 1

Parsons - functionalism

Answer 1

Parsons states that family diversity has increased, and there has been a shift away from the traditional nuclear family. nowadays, it is more common for reconstituted, lone-parent and cohabiting families to exist. However, functionalists and the new right reject this in arguing the nuclear family is the only family type functional for society

Question 2

the new right

Answer 2

believes the nuclear family as the only ‘natural’ family type. other family types produce social social problems (e.g: lone parent families lead to a dependency culture). generous welfare benefits have encouraged such deviant family types

Question 3

the Rapoports

Answer 3

believe we have moved away from the nuclear family into a range of different family types. unlike the new right, Rapoports see diversity as a positive response to people’s needs and wishes. their 5 types of family diversity include: organisational diversity, cultural diversity, social class diversity, life-stage diversity, generational diversity

Question 4

Chester

Answer 4

although there has been some increase in diversity, the nuclear family still remains dominant. there has been an important change form the conventional family (segregated conjugal roles) to the neo-conventional family, which adopts a symmetrical family structure

Question 5

Giddens - postmodernism

Answer 5

believes that society has become ‘disembedded’ from traditional family structures, leaving us free to choose how we live our lives. this has led to the ‘pure relationship’ - one that exists solely to satisfy each partners needs