Family Diversity

Question 1

Individualisation Thesis

Answer 1

Giddens= increased choice and equality transform family due to contraception, women’s gained independence, and increased opportunities. Pure Relationships: now based on individual choice and equality to satisfy needs (free to leave)

Evaluation: Giddens= increased choice causes decreased stability

Beck= ‘risk society’. tradition has less influence, more individual choice. Tradition was unequal but provided stability. Patriarchy= undermined by
(1) Greater Inequality (2) Greater Individualisation
This caused the negotiated family (don’t conform to trad. norms)

Evaluation: today, people want a ‘haven of security’, but this can’t be provided due to instability. Beck= ‘zombie family’ (appears to be alive but is actually dead)

Question 2

The Personal Life Perspective

Answer 2

Smart and May= more family diversity (disagree with Giddens and Beck. Says they exaggerate the amount of choice today, ignore importance of structural factors. Ignore that not everyone has equal choices of relationships)

Question 3

The Connectedness Thesis

Answer 3

Smart= choice is made based on web of connections. existing relationships influence range of options and choices
(Challenges Giddens, Class and Gender limit choices (eg: children limit choices for remarriage). Power of Structures, May= structures are being reshaped. Emphasise importance of structures to shape freedom, but inequality still limits choices)

Question 4

Modernism and the Nuclear Family

Answer 4

1) Chester (The Neo-Conventional family)= increase in diversity (not negative). Neo-conventional is a dual earner family, nuclear family remains ideal, many not in a nuclear family is due to the life cycle (many stay in nuclear family for majority of their lives (eg: cohabitation is temporary, statistics only show a snapshot of time))

2)The Rapoports= diversity reflects freedom of choice and acceptance. Types of diversity today include
(1) Social Class (result of income)
(2) Organisational (difference in ways roles are assigned)
(3) Cultural (culture, religion, ethnicity etc cause different structures)
(4) Life stage (structure differs due to life stage (eg: newlyweds, children etc)
(5) Generational (cause different attitudes and experiences (eg: views on divorce)

Question 5

Postmodernism and Family Diversity

Answer 5

Cheal= no longer a ‘modern society’ causes new and chaotic society so no longer 1 dominant family type (causes more choice eg: sexual preferences, subcultures etc). ‘Pick n’ mix’ creates identity and lifestyle, is unpredictable due to rapid social change, but more choice given

Stacey= more freedom and choice benefits women (free from oppression). Rejects ‘mother’ role (work, divorce, re-marry), and new family types fit their needs better. ‘ Divorce Extended Family’ are connected by divorce not marriage for financial and domestic help