Family Diversity

Question 1

New Right / Functionalist

Answer 1

-Nuclear family natural, based on biological differences
-Lone parent family growth from increase in couple breakdowns
-in adequate for socialisation

Question 2

Benson

Answer 2

Cohabitation vs marriage
-Only marriage can provide a stable environment for children
-Rate of divorce lower than breakup (6% vs 20% within 3years of having child)
-Only policies promoting traditional values prevent social disintergration
-Easy divorce access, same sex marriage, benefits undermine nuclear family

2006

Question 3

Chester

Answer 3

Neo Conventional family
-Accepts diversity increase, insignificant/ exaggerated
-Rise in NCF, dual earner (instrumental), shared conjugal roles/ DofL
-No major change, rise in one person households due to life cycle and changing expectations

1985

Question 4

Rappoprts

Answer 4

5 Types of Family Diversity
-Organisational, roles organised
-Cultural, structural differentiation between ethnicity/ religions
-Social class, result of income differences
-Life stage, young newlyweds, retired, child dependent
-Generational, reflection of historical periods

1982

Question 5

Stacey

Answer 5

Postmodernist
-Individuals hold greater freedom, increased instability
-Women free from patriarchal oppression
-Women subject to change, reject traditional household role
-Rise in divorce extended family (life course analysis)
-Shape dependent upon active choice

1998

Question 6

Giddens

Answer 6

Individulisation Thesis
-Traditional structures lost influence, fewer certainties + fixed roles
-Family + marriage transformed by contraception + female independence
-Couples define relationships for themselves, not goverened by laws (sex outisde marriage)
-People emphasise ‘pure’ relationship as a means of personal satisfaction over traditional families (greater diversity)

1992

Question 7

Beck

Answer 7

Negotiated family
-Patriarchal family undermined by greater gender equality + individualism
-Relationships no longer conform to tradition, vary according to wishes + expectations (rise in blended families)
-Zombie catergory, apparent ‘haven’ in a world of insecurity, family unable to provide due to instability

1992

Question 8

Smart

Answer 8

Connectedness Thesis (PLP)
-IT exaggerates choice + freedom (NL ideology)
-Ignores personal context/ experiences (everyone modelled as an idealised white man), ignores MD, racism, gender
-Web of connectedness, woven by a range of relationships (divorced parents connected by biological children)

2007