Family Diversity Flashcards
what is the functional fit theory towards the family
- nuclear family uniquely meets needs of modern society for a geographical + social mobile workforce
- nuclear family creates a stable and effective society
- other family types are dysfunctional, abnormal and deviant
what two functions to functionalists (parsons) believe the family performs
- primary socialisation
- stabilisation of adult personalities
what is the new right views on the family
- oppose family diversity like functionalists, only one ‘normal’ family type- patriarchal, married, clear division of labour (instrumental and expressive roles)
- family is a place of refuge, contentment and harmony
- oppose gay marriage, cohabitation and lone parents
why do new right argue that lone parenthood is a threat
- lone mothers cant discipline children properly
- leave boys without a role model
- likely to be poorer and claim benefits
what do new right believe the main cause of lone parenting is
the collapse of cohabitating couples
what did Benson say about cohabitating couples
data of parents of 15000, First three years, family breakdown higher in cohabitating couples
what is the new right view about marriage
only marriage can provide a stable environment because it is a commitment to each other
why do new right argue that society is broken
- laws and policies such as gay marriage undermine conventical family
- only a return to traditional values will prevent damaging children
what are the criticisms for the new right
- feminists: nuclear family is an oppression of women
- no evidence that children from single parent families are delinquent
- Oakley= wrongly assumes roles are fixed by biology
what is the neo conventional family (chester)
- different to new right: move from traditional nuclear family to dual earner families (symmetrical)
- argues that nuclear families is still ideal for a number of people
- stats are misleading as its only a snapshot
why does Chester argue that little has changed
- most people live in a house with married couple
- most adults get married
- most divorcers get remarried
- cohabitation is a temporary phase
- births outside of marriage is jointly
name a slight overview of Chester’s view on the family
like functionalists, Chester sees nuclear family as dominant however both spouses now play an expressive and instrumental role
according to the Rapoports what are the five types of diversity
- organisational diversity
- cultural diversity
- social class diversity
- life stage diversity
- generational diversity
what does organisational diversity mean
single and dual roles/ earners
what does cultural diversity mean
different cultural/ religious groups have different structures eg black lone households
what does social class diversity mean
difference in child rearing etc
what does life stage diversity mean
young, newlyweds, retired etc
what is generational diversity mean
older generations have different values
what did the Rapoport’s say about the family
moved away from traditional types to different types ( pluralism)
what does modernism mean
rational thinking, logic , and the scientific processes