Family Diversity Perspectives Flashcards
Diversity is Exaggerated
Functionalism
Parsons - func fit between soc & fam struc - nuc fam = best - can perform nec funcs - others = dev & dsyfunc
Chester - some inc fam diversity but nuc = dom - stats exag - UK = ageing pop so old ppl inc num X in nuclear fam
nuc fam = less trad & m symmetrical
Chester & The Neo Conventional Family
1985
not much change ppl still aspire to nuc fam - only X for short periods - have been in/will be in nuc fam - life course
= lab division in N-C fam & = dual earner
Evidence for Chester’s View
m hh’s = headed by mar couple
m adults marry & have children
m children raised by 2 natural p’s
m mars last until deathdivs usually remarry
Wider New Right Perspective
inc fam diversity to blame for:
high crime, edu failure, other soc probs
op changing fam patterns
Charles Murray (1989)
LP Fams - unnatural & harmful
Single mums - unable to disci, burden on welfare state, no male RM = in delinq & threat to soc stability
New Right
working mums - X nat, should = caring, have wrong priors
mar - essen for stabilty, cohab/div = unstable, make easy to avoid respon
shows fam & soc = broken - need mar, nuc fam, div of lab & houswife role
New Right & Policy
op to fam changing pats bc - inc tax & welfare state
high bens = incen for laziness, pun respon, reward irrespon behav - should be mini/abol, encour conven fam to red depen cul
Studies on New Right
Benson (2006) 1/5 mums become single parent b4 child = 3 - fam breakdown less common in mar fams
Amato (2000) fam breakdown inc risk to children - pov, edu failure, crime, health & future fam breakdown
Critcisms of New Right
Oakley - fem - roles not fixed by bio, cross cul evidence, neg reaction against fem successes, nuc fam based on patri
no evidence LPs = part of depen cul, proba of delinq linked to social class
The Rapoports
diversity = key to understanding fam life
nuc X longer dom = range Brit = pluralistic & = greater freedom of choice & m acceptance
The Rapoports 5 Types of Family Diversity
Organisational - difs in struc, exten, beanpole, nuc
Cul - difs in N’s & V’s of culs
Soc Class - dif views of dif soc groups - wealthy m likely to send to boarding school - leads to dif relas
Life Stage - dif stages in life - relas = dif between newly weds & couple w/ grown children
Generational - difs by historical periods - children who = 18 in 80s may = depen on p’s for longer bc of lack of employ
