family diversity Flashcards
functionalism AO1
‘functional fit’ between nuclear family and society
nuclear family is uniquely suited to meeting needs of society for a geographically and socially mobile workforce
performs 2 irreducible functions:
- primary socialisation of kids
- stabilisation of adult personalities
all contribute to stability and effectiveness of society
other family types can be considered as dysfunctional
new right AO1
opposed to FD
see the nuclear family as natural and based on biological differences between men and women
see lone parent families as harmful to children:
lone mothers cannot discipline their children properly
likely to be in poverty and thus a burden on the welfare state
new right - cohabitation v marriage AO2 Benson
analysed date of parents of babies - over the first 3 years the rate of family breakdown was 20% for cohabitating parents and 6% for married
new right - cohabitation v marriage Benson Ao1
marriage is most stable as it requires a deliberate commitment to each other
only a return to traditional values (eg marriage) can prevent social disintegration and damage to children
new right AO3 Oakley
NR wrongly assume that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology - it is just a negative reaction against the feminist campaign for women’s rights
new right AO3 - Feminists
the traditional nuclear family is based on the patriarchal oppression of women and is the cause of gender inequality and prevents women working as it keep them financially dependent on men
new right AO3 - poverty
cohabitation is higher among poorer social groups because it may be poverty that causes the breakdown rather than the decision not to marry
chester: Neo-conventional family view AO1
doesn’t regard FD as significant or as negative - only important change is the move towards the Neo-conventional family
dual-earner family
nuclear family remains the ideal
chester: Neo-conventional family - AO2 - evidence for little has changed
cohabitation has increased but because its temporary phase before before marry or re-marry
most adults marry
how to use Chester’s neo-conventioanl view in a paragraph
AO3 for Rapoports
Rapoports
diversity is important and a positive repose to meet the families needs
moved away from traditional nuclear family
identifies 5 different types of family diversity
example:
- organisational diversity
- generational diversity
- life cycle
- cultural
- class
Rapoports - 5 different types of family diversity - organisational diversity
differences in the way family roles are organised - some couples have joint conjugal or segregated conjugal roles
Rapoports - 5 different types of family diversity - generational diversity
older and younger generations have different attitudes
e.g different views on divorce or cohabitation
postmodernism AO1
we have entered a new type of society - its no longer predictable instead its chaotic and family structures are fragmented and people have more choice
more diversity = more freedom to create a family that meets individual’s needs
but - greater freedom = greater instability as relationships are more likely to break up
Stacey - greater choice has benefited women to free themselves from oppression
Rapoports AO3 - postmodernism
its more diverse than the R’s say - there is no longer 1 dominant family type
postmodernism AO1 - Giddens
greater choice in marriage and relationships means there’s a more equal relationship between men and women
relationships are based on individual choice - couples are free to define relationships without tradition
because..
contraception has allowed sex for intimacy rater than reproduction
women have gained indepependnece by being able to work
postmodernism AO1 - individualisation thesis
traditional social structures have lost they influence over us
we have been freed from traditional roles and now have more freedom to choose how we lead our lives
postmodernism - pure relationship ao1 B
giddens
relation ships are based on individuals choice and equality - no longer bound by traditional norms
exist solely to meet individuals needs
stay together because fo love rather than tradition
postmodernism AO1 - Giddens - same sex couples
same sex couples are leading the way to new family types because they aren’t bound by traditional norms
make relationships based on own needs
postmodernism AO3 - Giddens - less stable
with more choice relationship become less stable
they can be ended quicker than married couples
this then creates more family diversity by creating more lone-parent families …
postmodernism - AO1 - Beck - negotiated family
tradition has less influence on people so there is more choice
Negotiated families vary according to the wishes and expectations of the members
things like gender equality has challenged the patriarchal family so the new negotiated family has started
postmodernism - AO3 - Beck - negotiated family - less stable
the relationships are more equal but are also less stable as individuals are free to leave in=f needs aren’t met - bu this is also a good thing
postmodernism - AO3 - Beck - negotiated family - zombie family
the family appears to be alive but its dead
people want it to be a safe haven of security but todays family cannot provide this because of its own instability
postmodernism - AO1 - Beck - connectedness thesis
we have limitless choices
choices are made with a web of connectedness
we have some extent to negotiate relationships they are also embedded within family connections and obligations which restrict their freedoms
