Growing Diversity In Family Type And Structures

Question 1

Beck- less marriage due to increased risk consciousness

Answer 1

People see that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce so less willing to take a risk and get married.

EG More freedom of choice/individualisation – desire more than social commitments/more cohabitation/more self-discovery than wanting marriage

A03- More cohabitation with couples then marriage/More same-sex couples/more diversity due to female empowerment – don’t rely on marriage for financial gain/people less able to get married = expense

Question 2

Rapoports - Britain accept different cultures and lifestyles

Answer 2

Britain adopted pluralistic society meaning excepting different cultures and lifestyles.

EG More freedom/ethnic differences such as black African = high alone parent households, make sure focal household/Bangladeshi/Indian household larger families – extended as the place more value on culture, house is shared with extended family members/joint conjugal roles

A03- No longer sticking to conventional standards of family/changing roles/changing patterns in marriage

Question 3

Willmott and young - symmetrical family

Answer 3

Emergence of symmetrical family whilst maintaining nuclear family. Role of wife and husband not completely equal but similar.

Eg : Women in employment (can be full time)/ Men help with housework and childcare/couples spend leisure time together

A03- Women going into work now But still there is lack of equality

Question 4

Increase in lone parent families

Answer 4

Decline in nuclear families due to changing norms and values/changing attitudes/less stigma

Eg 1.75 million single-parent families in Britain are divorced or separated/ 53% lone parent mothers divorced / 6% mothers widowed/ Payment of child benefits to mothers/ 5% lone parents teenagers.

A03 - Functionalists argue lack of primary socialisation and acted effectively onto children not receiving expressive and instrumental role

New right argue with estate give handouts making nuclear family decline/encouraging single parenting which creates bad socialisation

Question 5

Giddens - More choice and equal relationship therefore MORE COHABITATION

Answer 5

Family has been transformed by greater choice.

EG Trying different relationships/establishing who we are through self-discovery/ Cohabiting doubled since 1996 from 1.5 mil to 3.3 mil in 2016/ Decrease value in religion (Secularisation)/ Less marriage more cohabitation/large influx of divorce due to 1969 divorce reform = marriage not glamorised anymore/freedom and flexibility for women/can’t afford divorce don’t get married

Question 6

Same-sex families

Answer 6

Same-sex families accepted/less taboo/post-modernism/decline in tradition – nuclear family

E.g. same-sex marriage law 2014/adoption and children act 2002 past – same-sex couples can adopt even if on married/2004 civil partnership act allowed homosexual couples to marry

A03- New right dislike same-sex couples favour nuclear family, seen as destruction causing social problems/lack of socialisation = unstable home

Question 7

Conclusion

Answer 7

Growing diversity due to post modernism and law/changing attitudes more choice and freedom/however changes slow unlimited/exaggerated