Family Diversity Flashcards
Functionalism (modernism and the nuclear family)
Because of family’s ability to perform essential functions (primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities) we will find a nuclear family in society
Other family types dysfunctional, abnormal as they can’t perform functions
New right perspective on family diversity
Traditional nuclear family. Natural. Oppose family patterns (cohabitation, lone parenthood)
Growth of family diversity cause social problems
Why do the new right see lone parent families as harmful to children
Mothers cannot discipline children properly
Boys with no role model
Poorer so burden on welfare state and taxpayers
Benson (new right- family diversity)
Couples more stable when married. Deliberate commitment.
New rights view on society being broken
Only a return to traditional values can prevent social disintegration and damage to children
Laws and policies widespread availability undermines nuclear family.
New right ao3 on family diversity
Feminists- Oakley says they wrongly assume roles are fixed by biology. Negative reaction against feminist campaign for women equality
Nuclear family prevents women working and denies them equal say in decision making
- no evidence children from lone parent families are more likely to be delinquent
-cohabitation can also be commitment as some see it as a permanent alternative
Chester- neo-conventional family
Dual earner (similar to symmetrical family)
Nuclear family remains ideal
Everyone is part of a nuclear family at some part of life
Patterns identified by Chester on family diversity
Most people live in household headed by married couple
Most adults marry and have children
Most marriages continue until death
Cohabitation increased
The difference between Chester’s view and functionalists view on family diversity
Chester- change from conventional to neo-conventional nuclear family where both spouses have breadwinner role
Rapoports overall view on family diversity
Moved away from traditional nuclear family. Families have adapted to “pluralistic society”- culture and lifestyles more diverse.
Diversity- positive response to different needs and wishes
Rapoports- 5 types of family diversity
Organisational diversity- differences in the way family roles organised. Some couples joint conjugal
Cultural diversity- different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different structures. Eg more black female headed lone parent
Social class diversity
Life stage diversity- eg young newlyweds and widows
Generational diversity- different attitudes and experiences reflect historical periods they lived. Eg different views on morality of divorce
Postmodernism view on family diversity
No longer one stable dominant family structure. Fragmented and individuals have more choice
Ao3- greater risk of instability
Stacey (postmodern families)
Greater freedom and choice benefitted women
Life history interviews- found women rather than men have been main agents of change in the family. Many women rejected housewives role.
Divorce-extended family- members connected by divorce
Giddens and beck - individulisation thesis
Traditional social structure eg gender family have lost influence. Past- roles fixed.
Disembedded from traditional roles
Giddens- why is there greater choice and equality?
Contraception- intimacy rather than reproduction
Women’s independance
Giddens pure relationship (postmodern)
More choice- less stable. Rolling contract rather than permanent commitment.
Same sex couples as pioneers
Giddens- create more democratic and equal relationships as not influenced by tradition.
Beck- the negotiatied family
“Risk society” - tradition has less influence and more choice.
Past- marry for life and segregated conjugal roles
- patriarchal family undermined by greater gender equality and greater individualism
Do not conform to traditional family norm but vary according to wishes and expectations of members. Less stable so more family diversity.
Beck- zombie family
Family relationships now subject to greater risk and uncertainty. Want to be a haven of security but in an insecure world family cannot provide this
Personal life perspective’s criticisms of individualisation thesis (Giddens and beck)
Exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships
Wrongly sees people as independant, our decisions about personal relationships are made within social context
Ignores importance of structural factors eg social class inequalities in shaping relationship choices
May- “idealised version of a white middle class man” not everyone has same ability as this privileged group to have choice about relationships
Smart- connectedness thesis
Fundamentally social beings whose choices are made within a web of connectedness.
Live within networks of existing relationship and interwoven personal histories.
Even couple relationships not always “pure” - eg separated parents and their child
Class and gender limits our choice
After divorce- women have custody, men freerer to start new relationship
Men better paid so more freedom
Power of structures
May- while women now pursue traditional masculine goals like careers , still expected to be straight.
