family diversity

Question 1

Social trends show there is more variety in families and households

Answer 1

• single-personal households and lone-parent households on the rise
• single-person = increase in divorce rates, rise in people over 65 living alone
• cohabitation (living with partner) - secularisation, changing attitudes towards women/position in society etc

Question 2

Individual choice dictates family diversity - individualisation thesis

GIDDENS

Answer 2

• people are free to make their own individual decisions and choices without rigid norms and expectations regarding gender, religion, family, class roles which would otherwise dictate choice - e.g expressive role dictating woman
• people don’t have to stay in relationships because of social expectations (e.g religion opposes divorce, but secularisation means it’s less influential)

Question 3

Post-modernist view on family diversity

fragmentation is the new norm

Answer 3

• women’s rights and contraception have given women more choice in their type of relationship
• people are in relationships based on love and happiness (to suit their own needs) rather than following traditional values of religion or the government
• relationships only last as long as needs are met, otherwise divorce/break up: instability

Question 4

cohabitation increase

Answer 4

• post-modernist individualisation thesis means that more people do not feel bound by traditions and expectations to get married, and so may choose not to and instead live with their partners
• secularisation means religion has less of an influence so people no longer feel the need to put marriage first
• changing position of women - careers + education, less want families, marriage later on in life so temporary increase in cohabitation

Question 5

Serial monogamy

Answer 5

several serious relationships in your lifetime (not all at the same time)

Question 6

polygamy

Answer 6

more than one partner/husband/wife at the same time

Question 7

Why has divorce rates increased?

Answer 7

• divorce is more easily available (especially to women after the introduction of laws as a result of feminism, no longer need man’s permission for divorce)
• divorce is not socially acceptable - norms and values have changed e.g through secularisation + more individualism
• post-modernists - women’s rights = more choice = women have greater expectations of relationships (happiness first)
• better employment = no longer financially dependant on men

Question 8

What do the new rights think caused family diversity?

Answer 8

Failing moral standards

• decline in traditional values = diversity

• Murray - single mother families cause higher rates in crime due to lack of good male role model