family diversity

Question 1

functionalism AO1

Answer 1

‘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

Question 2

new right AO1

Answer 2

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

Question 3

new right - cohabitation v marriage AO2 Benson

Answer 3

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

Question 4

new right - cohabitation v marriage Benson Ao1

Answer 4

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

Question 5

new right AO3 Oakley

Answer 5

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

Question 6

new right AO3 - Feminists

Answer 6

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

Question 7

new right AO3 - poverty

Answer 7

cohabitation is higher among poorer social groups because it may be poverty that causes the breakdown rather than the decision not to marry

Question 8

chester: Neo-conventional family view AO1

Answer 8

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

Question 9

chester: Neo-conventional family - AO2 - evidence for little has changed

Answer 9

cohabitation has increased but because its temporary phase before before marry or re-marry

most adults marry

Question 10

how to use Chester’s neo-conventioanl view in a paragraph

Answer 10

AO3 for Rapoports

Question 11

Rapoports

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Rapoports - 5 different types of family diversity - organisational diversity

Answer 12

differences in the way family roles are organised - some couples have joint conjugal or segregated conjugal roles

Question 13

Rapoports - 5 different types of family diversity - generational diversity

Answer 13

older and younger generations have different attitudes
e.g different views on divorce or cohabitation

Question 14

postmodernism AO1

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Rapoports AO3 - postmodernism

Answer 15

its more diverse than the R’s say - there is no longer 1 dominant family type

Question 16

postmodernism AO1 - Giddens

Answer 16

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

Question 17

postmodernism AO1 - individualisation thesis

Answer 17

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

Question 18

postmodernism AO1 - Giddens - same sex couples

Answer 18

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

Question 19

postmodernism AO3 - Giddens - less stable

Answer 19

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 …

Question 20

postmodernism - AO1 - Beck - negotiated family

Answer 20

tradition has less influence on people so there is more choice

things like gender equality has challenged the patriarchal family so the new negotiated family has started

Question 21

postmodernism - AO3 - Beck - negotiated family - less stable

Answer 21

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

Question 22

postmodernism - AO3 - Beck - negotiated family - zombie family

Answer 22

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

Question 23

postmodernism - AO1 - Beck - connectedness thesis

Answer 23

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

Question 24

postmodernism AO3 - Giddens - connectedness thesis

Answer 24

challenged the pure relationship as families include more than just the couple - lives are interwoven

Question 25

postmodernism Ao3 - personal life perspective

Answer 25

individualisation thesis ignores structural factors such as social class inequalities and gender norms in limiting and shaping relationship choices

Question 26

causes of family diversity - changes in law

Answer 26

divorce reform act
contraception

Question 26

causes of family diversity - secularisation

Answer 26

decline in the power of the church has lessened its influence over the family

Question 27

causes of family diversity - changing role of women

Answer 27

rise in feminism and growing equality has given women more freedom and independence from men

Question 28

causes of family diversity (3)

Answer 28

changes in law
secularisation
changing roles of women