family diversity

Question 1

modern society
- func & new right

Answer 1

functionalists argue we live in a society that has a fairly fixed and predictable structure.
a historical period characterised by industrialisation, rationality and belief in progress

Question 2

postmodern society

Answer 2

questions modern society principles and looks at embracing diversity, individualism, consumerism, pick n mix society, media saturation

Question 3

briefly explain Parsons view of the functional fit between the nuclear family and modern society

Answer 3

it meets modern societies needs by being a socially and geographically mobile workforce providing 2 necessary functions of: socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities (warm bath theory)

Question 4

how do functionalists and new right view other family types beyond nuclear in modern society

Answer 4

they are dysfunctional and abnormal as less able to perform the required functions of the family

Question 5

briefly explain new right view of the growth of lone parent families

Answer 5

they see them as harmful to children as parent is likely to a burden on welfare state and tax payers (dependancy culture), and leaves boys without male role model

Question 6

briefly explain Benson (2010) view of marriage creating stability in families

Answer 6

he believes marriage is more stable to bring kids up in than cohabitation because it requires deliberate commitment whereas cohabitation allows partners to avoid commitment.

Question 7

what are the 2 solutions new right propose to solve family problems?

Answer 7

• argue traditional values of marriage can prevent social disintegration
• removing laws and policies that make it easier to get a divorce and welfare benefits that undermine conventional family

Question 8

briefly explain feminists criticisms of new right view on family diversity (eval)

Answer 8

• conventional nuclear family is cause of gender inequality that prevents women working.
• no evidence to show lone parent children more likely to be delinquent
• marriage doesn’t always mean commitment
• Smart argues it is poverty that causes breakdown of relationships rather than decision not to marry (cheaper to cohabit)

Question 9

Neo-conventional family (Chester)

Answer 9

a dual earner family with Bothe spouses going to work and earning money

Question 10

briefly explain Chesters view on family diversity

Answer 10

• unlike new right he doesn’t see the increase in diversity in a negative light
• argues only important change is the move from nuclear to Neo-conventional
• argues many people still aspire to have a nuclear family and will have or will in the future be part of a nuclear family due to the life cycle
• argues stats on household composition are misleading as they’re only a snapshot of one moment that don’t show how many people will live in a nuclear family at some point and instead exaggerates family diversity

Question 11

briefly explain The Rapports ideas on family diversity

Answer 11

• argue diversity is of central importance in understanding family life today and how families have adapted to a pluralistic society.
• argues family diversity reflects greater freedom pf choice and acceptance of cultures and ways of life
• unlike new right they see diversity as a positive in response to peoples needs/wishes

Question 12

pluralistic society

Answer 12

society where cultures and lifestyles are more diverse

Question 13

Rapports 5 types of family diversity

Answer 13

• organisational diversity: differences in the way roles of family are organised (e.g. lone parent vs nuclear)
• cultural diversity: families differ with beliefs and values
• social class diversity: differences in family structure are partly result of income differences (e.g. m/c more involved in childs life/cultural capital)
• life stage diversity: family structure depends on where you are in your life cycle (e.g. divorce from a nuclear)
• generational diversity: older and younger generations have different attitudes (e.g of divorce and homosexuality)

Question 14

briefly explain Cheal’s postmodernist perspective of family diversity

Answer 14

argue society has entered a new postmodern phase with 2 main characteristics:
- diversity and fragmentation (pick n mix families)
- rapid social change: new technology has removed old barriers of work and leisure time (lead to consumerism)

he argues there is no longer one dominant stable family structure instead families have become fragmented into more types and individuals have more choice in personal relationships and lifestyles.

Question 15

briefly explain Stacey’s ideas of the postmodern family

Answer 15

argues greater freedom has benefitted women as enabled them to be free from patriarchal oppression and shape family life to their needs.
- identified the divorce extended family where members are connected by divorce (usually female, e.g. ex wife and new partner of man)

Question 16

briefly explain Hareven and Morgans idea of postmodern family

Answer 16

argue it is pointless trying to make large scale generalisations about the family like functionalists do. Instead sociologists should focus on using life course analysis to see how people create their own family lives and practices.

Question 17

briefly explain Beck and Giddens postmodernist reasons for family diversity

Answer 17

individualisation thesis shows how traditional social structures (e.g. class) have lost influence over us and increasing individual choice has meant more family types have evolved - e.g. through contraception, change of laws

this increased choice means personal relationships become less stable as can be ended at any time so greater family diversity (e.g. lone and step families)

Question 18

briefly explain Giddens ideas of same sex relationships creating greater family diversity

Answer 18

these relationships have created more democratic and equal relationships as they don’t have gender roles and not influenced by tradition so develop family out of choice.

Question 19

briefly explain Beck’s ideas of postmodern families and the negotiated family (another version of individualisation thesis)

Answer 19

argues we now live in a risk society where tradition has less influence and people have more choice and as a result people are more aware of the risks (so less likely to get married)

negotiated families vary accordingly to the wishes and expectations of other members who decide what is best for themselves by negotiation as they enter the relationship on an equal basis and can leave at any point (=less stable families = family diversity)

Question 20

briefly explain Becks idea of a zombie family in postmodern society

Answer 20

the family appears to be alive but in reality it is dead because people want their family to be a haven of security that will protect them however the family cannot provide this due it’s instability

Question 21

briefly explain Smart and May personal life perspective in explaining post modern society
-and what are their thoughts on family diversity

Answer 21

aims to research individual choices and influences behind them when it comes to family formation and general life experiences.
-agree there is more family diversity but disagree with Beck and Giddens explanation of it being due to individualisation

Question 22

give Smart and May’s 4 criticisms of Beck and Giddens invidualisation theory that aims to explain family diversity

Answer 22

• exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships today. People don’t have complete freedom as traditional norms limit relationship choices.
• wrongly sees people as individual as they haven’t actually become disembedded as all relationship choices are still made with social context
• ignores structual factors, such as class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms, that limit and shape our relationships
• argue Beck and Giddens ideology of it being an idealisation of a white m/c man, ignores the fact that not everyone has the same ability as this privileged group to exercise choices about relationships.

Question 23

briefly explain the ideas of Smart’s connectedness thesis

Answer 23

• she argues we are social beings whose choices are always made within a web of connectedness, a web of past relationships that shape their choices and family patterns
• this challenges idea of a pure relationship as families include more than just couples that Giddens fixates on.
• emphasises role of class and gender structures embedded that limit our choices of relationships, identities and families: e.g. relative powerlessness of women and children, men better paid, women gain custody of children in divorce (limits choice of a new relationship and working)

Question 24

give a brief evaluation of the power of structures that dicatate relationships and families

Answer 24

Beck and Giddens suggest these structures that used to control us and limit our choices are weakening but May suggests they are instead being reshaped (e.g. lesbianism is tolerated but heteronormativity means lesbians have to remain in the closest = limits relationship choices)

Question 25

heteronormativity

Answer 25

norms that favour heterosexuality