Family diversity Flashcards
Functionalist view on diversity
Parson - functional fit nuclear best fit as serves functions stabilisation of personalities / socialisation
Murdocks 4 functions - socialisation/ reproduction/ stabilisation of sex drive / meets economic needs
Doesn’t acknowledge diversity and views others as dysfuntional as unable to meet the needs
evaluation of functionalism on diversity
- Ignores family diversity → reductionist and out of date theories
- Biological differences → women now childless goes against parsons biological mothers wanting to be nurturing
- Symmetrical families a shift against the stereotypical roles
New right overall view on diversity
They are firmly opposed to family diversity
- Hold the view that there is only one correct family type that is the conventional patriarchal nuclear family → with clear cut in division of labour
- See this nuclear family as ‘natural’ and based on biological differences
- Believe the family is a cornerstone within society a place for refuge and contentment
What family type are the new right mostly concerned about?
Concerned mostly about the growth of lone parent families arguing that
* Lone parent families cannot discipline children properly
* Lone-parent families leave boys without a male role model - resulting in educational failure
* Likely to be in poverty → dependent on welfare state
Benson new right on cohabitation V marriage
BENSON - analysed data on parents of 15k babies and found over the first 3 years the rate of family breakdown was 20% in cohabiting couples compared to 6% in married couples
Benson - argues that couples are more stable when married as is more stable and requires a deliberate commitment whilst this commitment is lost in cohabitating. - believe govt policies need to encourage marriage
New right argue
* Only return to ‘traditional views’ can prevent social disintegration
* Regard laws and policies such as easy access to divorce,gay marriage and widespread availability of welfare benefits as undermining to the conventional family
evaluation of the new right view
- OAKLEY - wrongly assume jobs are fixed by bio but cross-cultural studies highlight variation with the roles within the family
- FEMINISTS - argue the nuclear family favoured is based on patriarchal oppression of women that prevents women from being able to work keeping their dependence on men
- OAKLEY - Argues new right is - about feminist equality campaigns
- The viewpoint cohabitation = less commitment → not always true some view as a phase into marriage whilst soe a permanent alternative
- Rate of cohabitation greater in poorer groups → Smart argues the breakdown in these relationships may be poverty not refusal to marriage
What family type does chester argue?
The neo conventional family
What does chester argue about family diversity?
Recognises that there has been an increase in family diversity but is not significant as new right argues. →
* The significant change is the the Neo - conventional family ( where both work)
- Chester consequently argues the extent of the importance of family diversity has been exaggerated - seeing nuclear as dominant
- But still recognises the conventional → neo conventional unlike functionalists
What do the rapoports argue about family diversity?
- argue the diversity is central importance to understanding family life today
Believes we’ve moved away from the traditional nuclear family as dominant to a range
Families in britain have adapted to a pluralistic society (life is more diverse) - They view that family diversity reflects the greater freedom of choice and widespread acceptance of multiculturalism - seeing family diversity as a positive response to different needs and wants
What type of diversity do the rapoports argue?
- organisational diversity - ways families are organised (willmott and young - younger families more likely to be symmetrical)
- cultural diversity ( african = lone parent / asian = extended)
- generational diversity (older and young have differing attitudes / views on same sex / divorce)
What do post modernists argue?
Argue that we no longer live in a society with predictable structures
* No longer one dominant stable nuclear family
* Family structures have become fragmented as individuals have more choice
- Choice brings freedom to find relationship that means their own needs
- Freedom of choice can lead to risk of instability
What does stacey argue ?
- Argues greater freedom has benefited women allowing them to free from patriarchal oppression
Used life history interviews -Construct series of post modern case studies
found women created new types of family that best suited their needs
- Noted a ‘divorce extended family’ - family structures connected by divorce often female and may include former in - laws or exs past or new partner
- This highlights postmodern families are diverse and family structure based on active choices individuals make
what is the individualisation thesis?
The thesis argues → traditional structures such as class,gender and family have lost much influence over us meaning that roles and identities are less fixed now than they were in the past. → freed from stereotypes
We have more choice and freedom - ‘the do it yourself biography’
- Sociologists argue this thesis has actively caused changes implications for family diversity
Tradition is breaking down
What does Giddens argue?
Argues family has been transformed by greater choice + = relationships between men and women due to
* Contraception
* Women gained independence as feminism and =policies
- Argues in the past marriage held together due to external forces (premarital sex / norms of divorce) but now couples are free to define their relationships rather acting out tradition.
Giddens pure relationship
- Relationship based on individualisation and self fulfilment
- Exists solely to satisfy ones needs→ relationship only last if both think in their own interest to do so
Stay together due to love, satisfaction rather than tradition or children sake - Individuals free to enter and leave when wanting to do so
