Family Diversity in the terms of: Ethnicity, Social class and Sexuality Flashcards
What do some sociologists argue about family diversity
That we have to acknowledge that the UK is no longer dominated by one family type. They argue that we should be celebrating ‘family diversity’ - there now exists a greater choice and variety than ever before in terms of family lifestyles
What does cultural diversity refer to
The distinct differences in the lifestyles of families of different ethnic origins and religious belief.
It is often the result of global migration
How have sociologists taken interest in Asian families
How the Asian families differ from White families in terms of structure, family roles and functions, obligations and duties.
What did Rodger Ballard (1982, 1990) carry out research on and what did he find
Carried out research into South Asian migrants who settled in the UK from the 1950s.
He found that they brought many of their traditions with them which include:
- Living in large-multigenerational households
- Having traditional gender roles
- Having a strong sense of family honour
- Arranged marriages
What did Richard Berthoud (2001) research show
That although the majority of Asian families in the UK are nuclear in structure, about a third have adapted existing housing in order to live in three-generation vertical extended families
What did Berthoud find about Sikhs
They have adapted housing to accommodate their horizontal version of the extended family in which brothers and wives and their children share housing
What did Berthoud find about marriage
Marriage is highly valued and that arranged marriages are still relatively popular
What did Berthoud find about cohabitation
Is rare in Asian communities while divorce is regarded with shame
What did Berthoud (1997) find about African-Caribbean families
- Only 39% of British born African-Caribbean adults under 60 are formally married
- African-Caribbean communities have a higher proportion of one-parent families compared to White communities
What did Sewell observe
That absent fathers are particularly problematic in the African-Caribbean families
What is the main reason for the amount of single-parent households in African-Caribbean communities
The African-Caribbean mothers are choosing to live independently from their children’s father
What does Berthoud (2003) suggest about the attitudes of the Young African-Caribbean women
The attitudes are characterised by ‘modern individualism’ - they are choosing to bring the children up alone as the women are more likely to be employed than men, which the men experience high rates of unemployment.
The women see them men as the burden financially
What does research by Platt indicate
That African-Caribbeans are more likely than any other ethnic minority group to inter-marry with members of other ethnic groups, especially White people.
What does Ali (2002) note
That such inter-marrying results in mixed-race children.
What did Platt find about Mixed-race children
That the number of mixed-race children have grown significantly in recent years
What does Class diversity refer to
The differences between middle-class and working-class families in terms of the relationship between husband and wife and the way in which children are socialised and disciplined
What do some sociologists argue about social class diversity
They argue that middle-class parents are more child-centered than working-class parents.
Middle-class parents supposedly take a greater interest in their children’s education, and consequently pass on cultural advantage in terms of attitudes, values and practices which asset their children through the educational system
What did Van Gillies survey of a thousand parents find
She found that middle-class parents emphasised their children individuality and used their economic, cultural and social capital to support their children’s progress through the educational system.
What did Van Gillies survey find about working-class parents
They were less likely to view their children as special and were more concerned that their children should stay out of trouble. They were also less confident in their dealings with teachers.
What do critical sociologists argue
That working-class parents are just as child-centered, but that material deprivation or poverty limits how much help they can give their children.
Therefore the working-class child’s experience of family life may be undermined by poverty.
What evidence suggests extended kinship ties are important to the upper class
In the upper classes attempt to maintain wealth and privilege. The economic and political elite may use marriage and family connections to ensure ‘social closure’
What does sexuality diversity refer to
The fact that in 2014 homosexual marriage was legalised and that in 1999 it was legal for homosexual relationships to be defined as a family
What do Weeks, Heaphy and Donovan (2001) observe
That many gay and lesbian people see their households and friendships as their ‘chosen families’ rather than following traditional heterosexual family norms.
It is also claimed that their domestic relationships are more egalitarian and less exploitative than the heterosexual couples
What does Calhoun (1997) say
Describes gay families as ‘family outlaws’ because gay families differ so much from heterosexual families and because conservatives see them as threatening the sanctity of family life which has been traditionally dominated by heterosexual norms
