Family Diversity Flashcards
What does parsons say the role of the family is ?
Expressive role
Instrumental role
- Primary socialisation of children
- Stabilisation of adult personalities
- other family types is considered dysfunctional as they are less able to perform the functions required of the family
What does the new right believe about family diversity ?
- the oppose family diversity
- causes social problems
- they say lone parent families are harmful to children as :
• lone mothers cannot properly discipline their children
• they leave boys without a role model- results in educational failure, delinquency and social instability
• they are welfare dependent so are a burden on taxpayers
What does the new right thinker Benson say about cohabitation ?
There’s a higher rate of breakdown during a baby’s first 3 years in cohabiting couples (20%) compared to married couples (6%)
- this is due to marriage offering further stability due to a commitment
What is AO3 for new right and functionalist view of the family ?
- Oakley - challenges the idea that roles are biological. She looks at cross cultural studies that show a variation of roles men and women play
- feminists - traditional nuclear family is based on patriarchal oppression and the main source of gender inequality
- Smart - poverty causes the breakdown of a relationship, not cohabitation
What does Chester say?
Family diversity has been exaggerated
The only major shift has been to the neo- conventional family . The only difference is that this is a dual earner family .
- most marriages continue until death as there’s a high rate of re marriage
- cohabitation has increased but it’s a temp phase for most before marrying
- births outside marriage have increased but most are jointly registered- parents are committed to bringing up children together
How do the rappoports argue against Chester and say there is family diversity in the family ?
- they regard this change as positive and that it reflects greater individuals choice and freedom
5 types of family diversity:
1) organisational diversity- dual earner, joint conjugal roles etc
2) cultural diversity - different family structures due to ethnicity and religion
3) social class diversity - income differences between households, class differences in child rearing
4) Life stage diversity - dependent on life cycles
5) generational diversity - different generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect historical periods in which they have lived
What does the postmodernist cheal say about family diversity ?
More diversity than what the rappoports say
- we no longer live in a modern society that has a clear and distinct structure, we are now in a chaotic, fragmented postmodern era
- individuals have much more choice and freedom to choose that family type that suits them
+ greater individual choice and freedom to plot their own life course
- greater risk of instability as they are more likely to break up
What does Stacey say about postmodern families ?
Greater freedom and choice has benefited women the most
Women now reject the housewife role
Divorce extended family - connected by divorce rather than marriage
What does Morgan say about postmodern families ?
It’s pointless to make generalisations about families like functionalists do
We must understand that family is whatever arrangements those involved chose to take
We can look at this through a life course analysis
What is a life course analysis ?
Research using in-depth unstructured interviews to understand and explore the meanings individual family member give to their relationships and the choices they make at various points in their life
(Hareven)
Who came up with the individualisation thesis ?
Neck and Giddens
what does the individualisation thesis say?
Traditional social structures such as class, gender and family have lost their influence. In the past, people were prevented from choosing their own life course due to the idea of fixed roles. However, now, we’ve become more free from traditional roles and structures meaning that we can choose our own life course.
Who came up with the idea of a pure relationship?
Giddens
What is a pure relationship ?
Relationship based on love, individual choice and equality
In the past, relationships were held together by external forces such as the law. Now, we have more freedom so our relationships exist purely to satisfy each others needs, it will only survive if it serves both partners interests, they stay together out of love and happiness rather than a sense of duty
What does middens say about same sex relationships ?
They’re leading the way to new, more equal relationships. This is because they haven’t been influenced by tradition So can negotiate their relationship and create structures that suit them best.
