Family&Households: Topic 6- Family diversity Flashcards
Modernism and the nuclear family
What are functionalists view of family diversity?
That nuclear families are the only family type that can perform the 4 function society needs to provide a stable society
Modernism and the nuclear family
What are the new rights view on family diversity?
Other family types are dysfunctional, and that the family should remain a traditional/nuclear family. They believe lone women families cannot socialise boys.
Modernism and the nuclear family: The new right
What does Benson argue about cohabitation vs marriage?
- Analysed data of parents of over 15000 babies- families breakdown more when in cohabiting couples. 20% compared to 6% of married couples
- Argues couples are stable when married
- Marriage is stable- requiring commitment which cohabitation doesnt
- Benson argues the gov needs to encourage couples to marry by the means of policies
Modernism and the nuclear family
What are some criticism against the new right?
No evidence that children in lone-parent families are more likely to be delinquints that those brought up by nuclear families
Modernism and the nuclear family
What does Chester argue about the neo-conventional family?
- There is not much diversity as everyone has experienced being in a nuclear family
- An important change is the move from nuclear families to the ‘neo-conventional family’ (dual earners)
- Argues people who live alone used to be in a nuclear family and will be in the future
- Most marriages carry on until death and divorcees remarry
Modernism and the nuclear family
What are the criticis of Chesters argument of the neo-conventional family?
- Same sex relationships are not included
- Some people want to stay single
Modernism and the nuclear family
What do the Rapoports argue about the 5 types of family diversity?
Family diversity reflects greater freedom of choice.
* Cultural diversity: Different cultural, religions & ethnic groups have different family structures
* Life-stage diversity: Family structures differ by the stages met in a life cycle
* Organisation diversity: Different ways familiy roles are organised
* Generational diversity: Older & younger gen have different attitudes and experience reflects their periods
* Social class diversity: The result of income differences between different social class
Postmodernism and family diversity
What do postmodernists argue about family diversity?
That due to increased choices, our society is like a ‘pick and mix’. Which allows for more freedom of choice but greater risk of stability
Postmodernism and family diversity
What does Stacey argue about postmodern families?
- Greater freedom helps women be free from oppression
- She used life history interviews and found women were the main reason for change: rejected tradtitional mother roles
- They create family types to meet their needs
Postmodernism and family diversity
What is the individualisation thesis?
We have become free or ‘disembedded’ from traditional roles and structures leading us to have freedom when choosing how we live our lives.
Postmodernism and family diversity
What are the key factors of the individual thesis?
- Giddens: Choice and equality
- The pure relationship
- Same-sex couples as pioneers
- Beck: the negotiated family
- The zombie family
Postmodernism and family diversity: Individual thesis
What does Giddens argue about choice and equality?
Argues before trad families were held together by external forces like laws and norms but now the family has transformed by greater choice becasue:
* Contraception has allowed sex and intimacy
* Women have gained independece as a result of feminism
Postmodernism and family diversity: Individual thesis
What does Giddens argue about pure relationship?
- A pure relationship is no longer bound to norms and is to satisy partners needs
- Relationships become a part of process of self-discovery
- However with more choice comes less stability, this causes more lone-parent, step families
Postmodernism and family diversity: Individual thesis
What does Giddens argue about same-sex couples as pioneers?
- Sees same-sex relationships leading to new family types and creating more equal relationships
- Not influenced by trad norms
- They create family structures to serve their needs
Postmodernism and family diversity: Individual thesis
What does Beck argue about the negotiated family?
The family has become more equal and they are now sharing or negotiating tasks, resulting in the family becoming more equal. But although its more equal its more unstable becasue individals are free to leave if needs are not met.
